# Live From The HIBT Summit: Troy Carter

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Length: 16m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter

## Summary

Troy Carter, founder of Atom Factory and Lady Gaga's former manager, discusses his journey from financial insecurity in West Philadelphia to managing one of the world's biggest pop stars. He explains how he identified Gaga's potential through her unique look and hunger, and how they built her career by giving away music and selling merchandise directly to fans. Carter also shares his investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of founder hunger and self-awareness over pedigree, citing his investment in an esports company founded by a Detroit street kid.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=0) Introduction: Troy Carter and the HIBT Summit
- [1:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=111) Identifying Lady Gaga's Potential
- [3:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=203) Building the Brand from Scratch
- [5:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=310) The Financial Risks of Early Management
- [7:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=433) Music as a Marketing Tool for Touring
- [9:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=561) Overcoming Financial PTSD
- [13:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=809) Investment Philosophy and Founder Traits
- [15:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-12-live-from-the-hibt-summit-troy-carter#t=954) The Power of Asking 'I Don't Know'

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lady Gaga (other)
- Def Jam (company)
- Pussycat Dolls (other)
- Britney Spears (other)
- Logic (other)
- SoundCloud (other)
- YouTube (other)
- Uber (company)
- Lyft (company)
- Warby Parker (company)
- Shark Tank (other)
- Instagram (company)
- Will Smith (other)
- Kevin Hart (other)

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- [#237 - Inside Founders & Funders with Alex Michaelsen from Leisure Hydration and Alex Malamatinas from Melitas Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-02-24-237-inside-founders-funders-with-alex-michaelsen-from-leisure-hydration-and-alex) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Investor Spotlight: Andrew Montgomery, Partner at Collaborative Fund](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-23-investor-spotlight-andrew-montgomery-partner-at-collaborative-fund) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#035 - How a hardware startup’s product goes viral, with Christian Smith of TrackR, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-08-16-035-how-a-hardware-startups-product-goes-viral-with-christian-smith-of-trackr-us) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Investor Spotlight: Jaxon Stuart, Spacestation Investments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-29-investor-spotlight-jaxon-stuart-spacestation-investments) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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