Welcome to Hunter Labs

A newsletter for builders and the investors who back them

Hey there 👋, I’m Daniel Hunter.

I hope to provide a clear signal in a world drowning in AI slop and noise.

We don’t need more newsletters.

Yeah... I know 😅, but it’s a medium I fully control and value.

Hunter Labs is more of a digital playground than a conventional newsletter.

No fluff. No jargon. No recycled opinions.

Just clear analysis and unique perspectives.

My goal is to deliver value every week and cut through the crap, whether you're building, investing, or curious about where technology is headed next.

Why?

For the past decade, I’ve worked as a software engineer in the startup world. I’m fascinated by the intersection of technology and business, particularly the angel investment and venture capital landscape that’s tied directly to innovation.

I could talk for hours about my journey, but the “why” behind Hunter Labs comes down to three key reasons:

1. I value learning in public. I’m new to venture capital and angel investing. I’ve observed funding rounds at companies like Crossbeam and Audigent, but I’m still learning how startup investors evaluate opportunities, how trends are created, and how founders position themselves. Writing will strengthen my understanding.

2. I want to share discoveries. I’m curious about the future. I love meeting founders with fresh ideas and dissecting new market opportunities. I plan to conduct interviews with builders and investors and will share what I learn with you every week. Hunter Labs will serve as a platform to share insights and stories that highlight hidden gems in the tech and venture capital landscape.

3. I love code & prose. I love writing more than anything. Whether it’s English or Python, it brings me such joy. I’ll share a bit of both here.

Inspiration

“Some of the most influential mentors in your life may be people you never meet in person—authors, historical figures, or leaders whose work, stories, and wisdom guide you from afar.”

— ChatGPT o1

You don’t need to meet (or even speak to) a person to learn from them. Their books, essays, or podcasts can serve as a form of mentorship.

I’m inspired by remarkable writers and researchers.

This is not comprehensive, but had to name a few:

• Dan Shipper for blurring the lines of code & prose and for his innovative approach to building a multi-modal media company.

• Packy McCormick for his insightful takes on strategy and the future of tech.

• Ellen Fishbein for being one of the best editors I know.

• Eric Newcomer for his in-depth reporting and community-building in VC.

• Dru Riley for spotting emerging markets and ideas before they go mainstream.

• Mario Gabriele for weaving engaging narratives about startups and finance.

• Chenell Basilio for her legendary deep dives into the top creators.

These voices have shaped how I view the world. They’ve influenced my approach to analysis and storytelling. I’m excited to stand on their shoulders and contribute my perspective to the conversation.

A media lab

Researcher, MIT Media Lab.

For a long time, that was my ideal gig.

I spent three years at Berklee College of Music in Boston and occasionally wandered across the Charles River to hang with students in Cambridge.

What’s crazy is I didn’t even know what the Media Lab was until I started learning how to code long after my days in Beantown had passed.

I love the creative playground the Media Lab presented, and I think that’s why I’ve been drawn to early stage startups throughout my career.

Ten years later, my interest has only grown and curiosity, strengthened.

I’ve always wanted to work in a creative lab, so I’m building my own.

Hunter Labs is my personal space to explore, take risks, and build breakable toys.

Both sides of the table

I remember seeing my first options contract back in 2016 and being completely clueless. I knew that piece of paper represented the “internet money” that has changed many lives, but it still didn’t mean much to me then.

I was curious though and enjoyed reading about the finance side of startups.

There are two sides of the table in tech.

The builders and investors.

I’m enamored by both and their intersection.

I recently joined Angel Squad, a community founded by venture capital firm Hustle Fund. For years, they have been building the ‘YC of angel investing’ and I look forward to learning from investors like Elizabeth Yin.

I’ll pair their knowledge and experience with my startup reps as an operator and continue to develop a valuable perspective to share.

Fin

The lines of code & prose have blurred significantly.

I’ll explore new tools for building products and share my experience. I will also examine the technical aspects of building software in the agentic age.

I’ll build bespoke tools that aid market research and deal sourcing.

I look forward to showing you how powerful coding with prose can be and what’s possible, even without much technical experience.

Hunter Labs is all about discovery and falling down rabbit holes.

Searching for novel trends, visionary founders, wise investors, and incredible products.

I’ll only make one promise for now.

I’ll post once a week, every Tuesday at 8 am EST.

I’m going to build this in public and share lessons learned a long the way.

If you’re interested learning about builders, tech investors, emerging trends, or simply enjoy following the flow of venture capital, you should subscribe.

I’m excited (and honestly a bit nervous) to launch this new chapter of my career.

Your feedback is valuable. Whenever something resonates or I could have done something better, please share your thoughts in the comments, or reply to the email.

Let’s explore together.

— Daniel