In a dynamic episode of HawkeTalk, Erik Huberman sits down with Shadi Bakour, the innovative co-founder and CEO of Pathwater, to explore his remarkable journey from a Silicon Valley childhood to revolutionizing the bottled-water industry. This episode isn’t just a business story; it’s a testament to the power of persistence, creativity, and turning challenges into opportunities.
PATH TO PURPOSE
Shadi Bakour’s life is a master class in resilience and resourcefulness. From the outset, Bakour’s narrative is about harnessing the challenges he faced and transforming them into stepping stones toward success.
“It’s not about the idea; it’s about executing on that idea,” he says, highlighting a core principle that has guided him throughout his journey.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bakour was instilled with a strong work ethic by his Syrian and Jordanian immigrant parents. His parents’ journey from Northwestern University to Silicon Valley profoundly influenced him, embedding a relentless drive to succeed and provide financial security for his family. This early influence set the stage for his future entrepreneurial endeavors.
Bakour’s childhood was marked by academic excellence and a diverse range of interests. From taking community college courses in fifth grade to attending a military boarding school, his upbringing was anything but ordinary. His academic rigor was matched by an entrepreneurial spark, evident from his early fascination with finance and business.
Shadi Bakour and Amer Orabi of PathWater
PIVOTING FROM WALL STREET DREAMS TO ENTREPRENEURIAL REALITY
Despite his passion for finance, Bakour’s attempts to break into Wall Street were met with repeated rejections.
“I never got an interview or a job offer,” he says. Instead of succumbing to disappointment, he pivoted to entrepreneurship, embracing the unknown with unyielding determination.
A defining moment in Bakour’s journey came from an unexpected place. While working as a waiter at an Italian restaurant, he met a business owner.
“One of the tables I was waiting on was the owner of a large case company,”
Bakour reflects on this testament to the unpredictable nature of opportunity. This encounter led to the sale of Bakour’s first entrepreneurial venture, providing a modest financial cushion and a wealth of experience. Facing a world drowning in plastic waste, Bakour saw an opportunity to make a difference.
He and his co-founders bootstrapped the company, often working 12-hour days and living on a shoestring budget. “We were working full time on the business and living very broke,” he says.
A critical pivot for Pathwater came when they decided to target 7-Eleven stores. Shadi and his team meticulously planned their approach, visiting every 7-Eleven in Northern California.
“We drew a map and connected the dots,” Bakour says. This hands-on, relentless effort paid off, placing Pathwater in 220 7-Eleven stores within a month and securing its first significant funding.
The culmination of years of perseverance came in 2023 when Pathwater secured a $30 million investment from Altos Ventures. This milestone marked a turning point, enabling the company to scale and expand its impact.
Since 2014, PathWater has gone from being sold in Safeways and 7-Elevens throughout the Bay Area to becoming an international brand
LOOKING AHEAD: THE VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
With Pathwater on a trajectory toward significant growth, Bakour remains focused on the long-term vision.
“Sustainability is not a trend,” he says, emphasizing his commitment to creating a lasting impact.
The journey has been long and arduous, but his unwavering belief in his vision continues to drive him forward.
Bakour’s interview on HawkeTalk is a riveting tale of turning obstacles into opportunities. His journey is a powerful reminder that success is not a straight path but a series of strategic pivots and relentless efforts. His story can inspire entrepreneurs and dreamers alike to embrace challenges, execute their ideas, and persistently pursue their vision, no matter the odds.
CEO & Founder Erik Huberman launched Hawke Media in 2014. Now valued at over $150 million, Hawke Media is the fastest growing marketing consultancy agency in the United States
