The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Unity Founder David Helgason on The Hypergrowth Early Days of Unity, Why Running A Company Is Like A Liberal Art, The Secret To A Successful CEO Transition and What Makes Roelof Botha Such A Special Board Member
Oct 29, 2020
David Helgason, the founder of Unity, discusses his journey from a café startup in Denmark to leading a $10Bn+ public company. He shares insights on the complexities of leadership and the challenges he faced as CEO, including the decision to transition the role to John Riccitiello. David emphasizes that running a company is akin to a liberal art and reflects on key traits of successful board members, like Roelof Botha. He also highlights the evolving vision of startups and the necessity for adaptability in a fast-paced tech landscape.
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From Coder to CEO
- David Helgason, Unity founder, initially focused on programming but realized his co-founders were much better.
- He transitioned to other roles like cooking, writing copy, and sales, eventually embracing the CEO role.
Broad Vision's Power
- Unity's broad vision, "democratize game development," proved valuable for decision-making.
- It allowed for flexibility and expansion beyond their initial focus.
Scaling Pains
- David Helgason found scaling Unity from 30 to 60 people challenging after moving to San Francisco.
- Communication broke down, and he struggled to define the company's direction.