The son of a caterer and a hotelier, Pundole began his career working at the Groucho Club at age 19. After working at the Groucho Club, he decided to forgo a formal college education and pursue a career in hospitality and hotel management. At the age of 22, he became the general manager of the Met Bar at the Metropolitan Hotel in London. While working at the Met Bar, he created a pop-up bar for Sak's Fifth Avenue during New York Fashion Week. He met Amy Sacco, the owner of Lot 61, at the pop-up bar. Sacco offered Pundole the position of general manager of Lot 61, and he moved to New York City at age 24 to manage the bar.
