Introduction
David Murray-Hundley’s story began his journey with fake CVs, crashes (literal ones), and nights so broke his girlfriend slept on a desk while he chased code and chaos. By 24, he helped build a $22 billion company. By 30, he was bankrupt. In between homelessness and the hustle came more hard lessons than most founders ever admit.
They call him The Grumpy Entrepreneur , not because he failed, but because he tells the truth with no hype, just the scars that come with building for real. Today, he co-runs Pario Ventures, backing heavyweights like Rivian and Revolut, but still plays by one rule: skin in the game, always.
In this unfiltered conversation with Inside Success CEO David Sonowo, David Murray-Hundley lays it bare, not to inspire, but to challenge everything you think you know about winning.
Murray-Hundley’s: From Tech to VC
David M.: Nice to meet you David, it’s cool that I’m a David as well.
David S.: I know. When I first heard David, I said, “Oh really, that sounds interesting.” So you’re not actually a VC?
David M.: No, I’m a techie guy. I have a VC company, Pario Ventures. I’ve run it for 15 years. But I started as a techie. Made a lot of money, lost some. Pario is co-owned with my best mate, Kevin Doyle. Started our first pop-up hand bank in New York. VC wasn’t the original plan.
David S.: That’s good to clarify. Our audience is mostly 25–35 and some just read to support. Others come for advice and info.
Where he started
David M.: So at 25, I had a $22 billion market cap company. I was sleeping rough at 17. Went bust at 30. You still have a chance when you’re young. Don’t listen to people for advice, including me, haha
David S.: But that’s why we listen to you, you’ve got real experience
David M.: My daughters don’t listen to me. Haha. But when they’re older, they’ll say, “Daddy was right.” Being a VC isn’t like being a Formula 1 driver now. People see it as the new rockstar. But honestly, it’s boring.
I sit on calls, mostly from California. Lots of capable young people say they’re with a VC. But they’ve never risked money. They’re just selling themselves. There’s no quick money. We love glory stories, but 99% don’t go that way. And most deals take eight years. If you’re 25 now, you’ll be in your 30s before you see results. I got lucky with Commerce One and some other stuff. But it was luck. Not brains.
David S.: I don’t believe in luck. I think it’s about constructive knowledge, putting systems in place.
David M.: You know what, David? I’m not that smart. Commerce One hit $22 billion when I was 24 and I was really young at the time, I didn’t know it’d be that big.
Get to know David Murray-Hundley’s
David S.: I want the audience to get to know you. Can you tell us about yourself, the VC company you run, and your background, like being homeless at 18 and how you “fell into” all this?
David M.: Sure. I’m David Murray-Hundley; The grumpy entrepreneur. My wife named me that in 2012. Life’s been weird but amazing. At 11, I wrote a computer game that hit No. 2 in the charts. My parents were going bust, and I gave them £25k. At 16, my dad died, he was my best friend. My mum moved away, and I ended up on the streets.
I got in trouble. Cars, bad stuff. But I had a little fire inside, even when people said I’d never be anything. At 21, I walked into a newsagent owned by Gordon Ramsay’s dad, and bought a Computer Shopper magazine. I used it to fake my CV.
Got an interview at BVR, partly owned by Barclaycard. I blagged three hours with the directors. They knew the CV was rubbish, but I worked hard even while others went partying. I once made my girlfriend sleep on the desk as I worked. In my 20s, I just worked. I ended up in New York, living the dream. Then Commerce One happened. Changed my life. I still feel like the luckiest.
How his Vision at 24 lead to his success
David S.: I like how you mentioned being 24, having a vision for your company, and working incredibly hard, when others partied, you stayed back. What drove that mindset?
David M.: Honestly? Everyone’s a quitter. I didn’t stick around to prove a point, I just wanted the company to succeed. My co-founder, BVR, was actually my first boss, and we’re still best friends 30 years on. We built that company because we believed in the tech, not for the money. That belief was everything, and I learned that again from Reid Hoffman, who mentored me later. If you do it for money, you’ll burn out. But if you believe in the product, truly,you’ll give your time freely. That time is your most valuable currency, whether it’s worth ten pounds a day or a million.
Commerce One
David S.: You were one of the key players in Commerce One, right? It seemed huge from the outside.
David M.: People read about Commerce One in the Wall Street Journal and think it was smooth sailing. It wasn’t. It was brutal at times. But I always put in the work. In my 20s, I probably didn’t even realize the value of that discipline. I’d party later, in Santa Monica, drink too much, live wild. But that early grind built everything.
David S.: So for young people now trying to build something, what would you say?
David M.: First, stop looking at Instagram. It’s all crap. It’s fake. Same with LinkedIn, loads of people pretending they’ve raised millions or sold companies when they haven’t. I tell my daughters, especially Harriet, who’s 11: unless you’ve seen the actual shoes, the real numbers, it’s all just noise. Believe in yourself instead. Dig deep. The truth is in the effort, not the optics.
David M.: Sorry about that, I’ve got an eight-year-old. She’s over there right now. She’s like a 20-year-old.
David S.: Yeah, last week was half-term. I was doing VC calls with my 8-year-old next to me. It’s chaos, but it’s also beautiful. That’s real life.
David Murray-Hundley’s Journey in Starting his own VC
David S.: Speaking of VC, why did you start your own venture capital company?
David M.: Kevin and I started it because we thought, why not invest in companies ourselves? We’ve both done well. Kevin, arguably even better, he’s a smart cookie. We wanted to use that success to back founders we believe in. No middlemen. Just our own skin in the game. So we originally started it as a way to invest in companies. We didn’t even have a website until about two years ago, around when Kevin got sick. It just grew on its own over time. We ended up investing in companies like Rivian and Revolut. We’re not geniuses or anything, just used common sense.
His greatest accomplishment
David S.:What’s been your most successful Investment?
David M.:Rivian’s IPO was rubbish, but we got out early. My proudest moments are exits where we took care of shareholders. Like with E Fundamentals, I was chairman for six years, started when they had no revenue, and despite a tough journey, we sold it for half a billion. Two years before the sale, we were almost bust. I’m proud of the shareholders and board we had.
David S.: I feel like it was quite a journey because you mentioned, you were about to go bust and then selling for half a billion?
David M.: In April 2020, we were basically insolvent, which is illegal in the UK. I probably won’t get any thanks for it, but I was annoying, pushing the team, but we kept putting money in. That half billion sale was hard work. What I’m proud of is that I never actually looked for these big opportunities, they just came to me.
David S.: You were ready because you put in the work and were able, so the opportunity found you.
David M.: Honestly, I just think I’m lucky.
David S.: I like how you sum it up as luck, that’s cool.
David M.: I’m really lucky to still be here, even after some tough times, mind you, I went bankrupt at 30. Not many people actually make real money as VCs because most don’t risk their own cash, just other people’s. I always risk my own money, so it’s real for me. I think anyone wanting to be a VC should start small with their own money, even just £100 on a credit card, that’s real skin in the game and shows real commitment.
His biggest lesson
David S.: I’m a business owner too, so I totally get that, it feels different when it’s your own money versus other people’s. It’s real. So, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from all this?
David M.: When I was 25, when we hit a worth of £22 billion, living it up, I even bought a Ferrari but ended up crashing it. I lived in Monaco just to party and had no real family connection because I was arrogant and shut people out. So my biggest lesson: what goes up comes down. Money isn’t who you are. Don’t burn bridges with family, I regret pushing my sister away. My wife says if she’d known me back then, she wouldn’t have looked at me. The real lesson is; it’s all about being nice.
Advice for our young readers
David S.: What lessons would you share with a young entrepreneur, especially about getting investment or running a business?
David M: Just be yourself, no fake stuff. People will see through it anyway. Be genuine, care, and know your weaknesses. Don’t buy into the Instagram perfection nonsense, it’s mostly fake. Talk less, do more. The reason people have backed me is because I’m real and open, even if it’s a bit cringe sometimes. Being authentic is what really matters.
The decision-making process and mindset
David S: How do you decide which industries to invest in or how do you choose where to put your money?
David M: It depends on the market. We used to focus on net zero, but now it’s tough to raise money unless you’re making real revenue. I invest in what I’m interested in, like cars, and look for humble founders who’ve proven they can make money. It’s less about the sector and more about knowing the business and making cash, which is what really matters right now.
David S: Have you ever passed on investing in a company and later watched it become successful?
David M: Yes, I’ve passed on some companies, especially in mobility and fintech. Fintech was crowded and tough, but I’ve been lucky with the ones I backed. It’s great when I hear from people years later saying they’ve succeeded, even if I didn’t invest initially, it’s awesome to see them do well.
David S: You seem to have a grateful attitude. Where did that come from and why does it seem like it’s something you’ve learned over time?
David M: It comes from going through tough times, like living on the streets and going bankrupt. Losing everything forced me to really understand who I am. After that, I started appreciating the little things again, like waving to a neighbor. As for missed opportunities, I believe they just weren’t meant for me. There’s plenty more out there, and obsessing over what you missed only stops you from finding the next big thing.
Discussing the growing diversity of VC
David S: You’ve probably heard a lot about growth, diversity, and Africa as a rising market. Have you looked into that?, or do you think it’s just a passing trend?
David M.:Diversity is definitely important, especially in 2025, we should be past the old barriers by now. But diversity only matters if the person can do the job well. It’s not about hiring someone just to tick a box or look good on paper. The focus should always be on skills and fit. And honestly, some of the barriers we still have today feel outdated and ridiculous, like how society still struggles with things that should be a non-issue by now.
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