Hughesville native Colin Hodge is celebrating the release of his first book, OUTRAGEOUS STARTUP GROWTH: Uncovering the Secrets of User Psychology to Scale Your Business, published by Wiley.

It recently arrived in bookstores.

A 2003 graduate of Hughesville High School, Hodge has built a career in technology and entrepreneurship that has taken him around the world, from roles at Microsoft and Amazon to helping scale companies that reached more than 100 million users.

According to a news release, he is the founder and co-owner of DOWN, a dating app that ranks among the top in the United States.

But Hodge said his story is still rooted in the values he grew up with in central Pennsylvania.

“I never thought this kid from Hughesville would one day build companies, lead teams around the world, and publish a book,” Hodge said, according to the news release. “I hope people back home see that you do not have to come from a big city or have everything figured out from the start to build something meaningful.”

In Outrageous Startup Growth, Hodge shares lessons from his journey as a founder, executive, and growth leader. While the book draws from the startup world, he said its ideas apply far beyond tech, especially to small business owners, community leaders, and anyone trying to build something that lasts.

“Understanding why people make the choices they do matters in every business,” Hodge said. “Whether you are running an app, a restaurant, a local shop, or a service business, success comes from knowing your customers, helping them succeed, and giving them a reason to come back.”

The book explores both the business and personal side of growth, including resilience, learning from failure, embracing discomfort, and defining success as more than money alone.

“I wrote this book for people who want to build something of their own,” Hodge said, according to the news release. “That could mean starting a company, growing a small business, or taking a chance on a new direction. A lot of my journey came down to being willing to learn, adapt, and keep going.”

Hodge said he hopes the book will especially resonate with readers in rural communities who may not always see themselves reflected in stories about entrepreneurship.

“I wrote this book first for the young Colins and Colleens who dream of starting their own company or being their own boss,” says Hodge, on his motivation for the book. “I felt I had a story to tell about surviving a wild journey as an entrepreneur, creating my own definition of success that’s not tied only to money, and sharing some lessons that might help others who want to grow their businesses.”

Readers interested in learning more about the book or contacting Hodge can visit ColinHodge.com. Hodge is an entrepreneur and author who has helped lead companies and growth teams reaching more than 100 million users worldwide.

Hodge earned a bachelor of science in computer science from Cornell University. His first book, Outrageous Startup Growth, draws on his experience building companies across industries and countries, while sharing lessons that can help founders, business owners, and ambitious professionals grow with more purpose and resilience.