Shark Tank success story Neal Hoffman speaks at HCDC March 13

Neal Hoffman is pretty famous.
 
The former Hasbro executive and Procter & Gamble veteran was offered a $1 million investment on the television show Shark Tank in December. The ABC show allows startups and entrepreneurs to present their business plan in front of high-profile investors.

"Thank goodness for the editors who made me look intelligent," Hoffman says of his experience on the show. "I was in there for an hour. They definitely could have made me look dumb."

Hoffman appeared on the show after developing an idea conceived during holiday discussions with his son. Two years before, Hoffman's son pleaded for an Elf on the Shelf, the popular holiday toy/accessory that establishes residence during the Christmas season to bring treats and surprises to the children living there. Since the Hoffman family is Jewish, Hoffman joked that his son could have a Mensch on a Bench instead of an Elf on the Shelf.
 
By the 2013 Hannukah season, Hoffman and his "Mensch on a Bench" had a successful sales record under his belt. By Hannukah 2014, he'd reached revenues of $1 million.
 
The Hoffmans returned to Cincinnati when Hoffman's wife received a promotion at P&G. They now live in Madeira, and the Mensch on a Bench enterprise is still kicking.
 
This Friday, March 13 at 7:30-9 a.m., Hoffman will speak at HCDC in Norwood in the hopes of engaging aspiring entrepreneurs in a discussion on turning a casual idea into a successful business plan. He sees the eKickStart event (register here) as a way to connect with other entrepreneurs in the area.

"When I got started, I didn't realize there was a whole network in Cincinnati," Hoffman says. "It was a very lonely process. Through Cintrifuse, which connected me with HCDC, I realized that there are so many people here in the same boat."

Hoffman says he could talk forever about his story. When he arrived back in Cincinnati four years ago after working for Hasbro, he was looking for a way to explore his passion, the toy industry. Without spending more than $1,000 to get started, Hoffman's joke with his son is now a Hanukkah season essential nationwide.

While speaking at HCDC Friday, Hoffman hopes to emphasize that not all businesses require a huge investment.

"Starting a company doesn't mean going broke," he says. "With crowdfunding, you can test an idea before you bring it to market."

Hoffman is particularly excited about the Q&A section of the HCDC event, saying he's anxious to hear about what other people in his field are doing or hope to do. As for Mensch on a Bench, the business is still doing well, and Hoffman hasn't even had to reach for his Shark Tank millionaire rolodex yet.

"Whatever Mensch on a Bench brings in the future, this has become my resume for the rest of my life," he says.