Feb 27 2025 52 mins 19
In this episode of Unicorn Bakery, Hunter Walk, co-founder of Homebrew, joins Fabian Tausch for an in-depth conversation about his journey from product management at Google and YouTube to building one of the most respected early-stage venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Hunter shares the story behind Homebrew’s evolution, why he and his co-founder Satya Patel decided to rethink the traditional VC model after nearly a decade, and how they now operate as a self-funded evergreen fund.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The Transition from Builder to Investor:
- Why Hunter left YouTube and Google after a decade to explore what truly mattered to him in his career.
- How Hunter and Satya Patel created Homebrew out of a shared desire to work together and support founders authentically.
The Philosophy Behind Homebrew:
- Why Homebrew recently transitioned into a self-funded evergreen model after a decade of operating traditional VC funds.
- How this shift allows Hunter and Satya to focus on what they love: helping founders succeed without the constraints of managing external LP capital.
How to Evaluate Investors as a Founder:
- The importance of speaking to other portfolio founders to understand how investors behave in both good and tough times.
- Why do the best investors focus on backing founders, not just companies, and how do you identify those who align with your needs?
Key Traits for Long-Term Success:
- Why joy and purpose are critical for sustainable professional success.
- How to avoid being trapped in "good enough" situations and make bold career decisions that align with your values and ambitions.
ALL ABOUT UNICORN BAKERY:
Where to find Hunter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterwalk/
Website: https://homebrew.co/
Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter:
2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach:
https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/
Chapter:
(00:00:00) Why did Hunter decide on the identity-change?
(00:08:50) How to make bigger decisions
(00:14:24) Hunter's advice for potential founders
(00:20:15) The hardest part about building a venture firm
(00:24:14) Hunter's advice on finding an excellent investor
(00:27:51) Longterm-Building vs. Short-term-Building: Not to be the loudest
(00:32:47) "The Homebrew 2.0"
(00:37:07) The journey to more self-fulfillment
(00:40:50) What would set me apart from the mediocre when building a venture?
(00:46:50) On top of the world and NOT crazy: What are the characteristics of these people?
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