Robert Ross

Keep Learning New Things... Indeed, the path to efficiency requires discipline, consistency, and sacrifice. I can't believe that it is already the 3rd week of the Headstarter Fellowship! To be honest, I felt quite lazy throughout this week, with low dopamine levels. However, I'm getting back on track and am ready for the next week of the fellowship. During the previous week, I had the opportunity to work on some exciting projects: - The Pantry App Project: I focused on the Firebase backend, learning how to integrate features such as authentication, analytics, and database CRUD operations. Live: https://lnkd.in/dCGFCiH5 Github: https://lnkd.in/dWpHgc4y Pathway to Tech Event 2: Here's My Key Takeaways: Dennis Crowley: Founder of Foursquare ($150M Revenue) When asked about the ideal tech stack, He emphasized the importance of being "willing to fill in gaps." It's not just about knowing specific technologies but being able to and ready to learn. His experience on failures "People quit on themselves or quit on their startup.", reminding me to stay resilient and never quit Tariq Afaq: First Engineer at AppLovin ($30Bn IPO) Tariq's talk was packed with valuable information. when he mentioned that this field is more than just coding, like being an engineer we can solve problems under pressure and get things back on track He also mentioned that you don't need to be super intelligent to succeed. Instead, focus on creating in-depth products, being quick and responsive, and working hard. Julian Alvarez: Ex-Meta, CEO of Wisdolia ($20K+ MRR) The most energetic speaker at this event! , His thoughts on how startup founders stick to their ideas rather than believing in their team's capabilities become the reason for their failure something exceptional and new for me to learn. His startup Wisdolia— is truly something. It generates flashcards for you from any YouTube video, blog, article, or PDF. I can already see it becoming a vital part of my learning routine! Hamza Ali - CEO of Olostep I was deeply inspired by Hamza Ali's vision for Olostep, which is enabling APIs to interact with the web as humans do. It's truly a brilliant idea that showcases his commitment to shaping the future of tech. 🔗 Here's the link to the recording: https://lnkd.in/dzX6Saaz

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Day 2 of Tech Equity Collective Innovate 2024 NYC: A Google Initiative Just like yesterday, Rachelle Olden gave us a warm welcome, and encouraged us to "be curious". I listened in on a panel of 4 well informed speakers Devin Graham, Gavin Leo-Rhynie, Frank Lamar, and Jessica Theodat (SiliconAlley Jess). My biggest takeaway from this discussion is to stay updated on tech news, be open to feedback, indulge in passion projects surrounding my interests. At its core, tech is about solving real human issues. I attended a small session led by Diogo Botelho (He/Him) focused on 7 tools that software engineers can use to level up their toolkit. It takes a lot more than writing great code, to be an effective team member. Following this was another small group session about how to thrive in the dynamic tech industry. Landis Huey discussed the importance of taking accountability, demonstrating flexibility in learning, willingness to receive feedback, and engaging in continuous learning. We broke into lunch, where i had some tacos along side a great conversation about the lack of representation of minorities in tech spaces. I also got a professional headshot taken! I joined my last session led by Saad Tariq where we used lego blocks to talk about innovation. In teams, we built structures that represented where who we are as individuals, and what innovation means to us. This hands on experience exceeded my expectations. We joined in a large group for the last time, with another wonder panel of speakers Dale Allsopp, Brooke Pearson, and Ruben Harris. They shared vulnerable stories from their own journeys in tech, and moments where tehy had "AUDACITY". They discussed the importance of simply introducing yourself, and saying "hello" without any expectations, and following up when given advice or recommendations. One question i will forever ask myself is "What will you do without any limits? Thank you #TechEquityCollective and MLT for organizing this wonderful event!

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🚀 Today's the day, engineers and operators! In a few short hours, I'll be hitting the stage for a fireside chat at the Going Early: Engineering & Operator Meetup, co-hosted by Asymmetric and MGMT Boston Expect some AI wisdom, a dash of startup reality, and maybe a bad joke or two (no promises on the quality, folks). Afterwards, grab a drink at the happy hour and find me or Hao Xu (our Founding Engineer extraordinaire), and let's geek out about the latest in AI and tech. Last chance to be part of the action! Drop a comment if I’ll see you there tonight! 👇 #AIRevolution #StartupMeetup #TechNetworking #GenerativeAI #BostonInnovation

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🚀 Who else is applying for Y Combinator? 🚀 As the application deadline approaches for YC's F24 batch, I’m curious—who else is taking the plunge? We’re gearing up to apply with Med, and I'd love to hear from others going through the process. What do you think—how strong are our chances? Drop your thoughts and let’s share some encouragement like it does Yurii Rebryk with his insane hidden gems! #YCombinator #Startups #MedTech #F24Batch

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I am incredibly inspired by and grateful for my teammates at Verse for achieving our first fundraising milestone together: we recently secured $20.5 million in Series A financing led by GV (Google Ventures) 🙌🏾 🎉 with participation from Coatue, CIV, and MCJ Collective. I've been trying to contain my excitement for weeks 😊 as am sure are my colleagues now that we can share the good news. I'd like to give a big shout out to the engineering team - Jessica Greenfield, Kaleb Pace, Shawn Toubeau, Brandon Clayton, Ryan Kladar, Ryan Triolo, Yuzhou Jiang, and Mahdi Kohansal - for the speed and precision of every line of code they've written, and to Seyed H. Madaeni, Ph.D., Matt Penfold, Shehzad Wadalawala, Dane McKay, Alison Mickey, Debi Ryan, and Tanner McAuley for leading and driving us on the business front. We'll be on the look out soon for more folks to join us 😉 As we used to say at my last job: "We haven't won yet." The path to decarbonization will be a multi-decade, if not multi-generational effort. Verse is just one organization in a constellation of thousands developing real solutions to the climate change problem. Until we achieve net zero emissions at a global scale 🌏 🌍 🌎 our mission remains to be done. #software #ai #energy #sustainability #climatechange #startups https://lnkd.in/gG-DEX5x

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Big thanks to Jillian Forde for inviting me to chat about my #YCombinator journey on #AWS-ON-AIR! Quick summary about our chat: 1. YC is a game-changer for first-time founders—think fewer rookie errors, faster product development, and sharper GTM strategies. Plus, it boosts your fundraising game. 2. YC isn’t just a three-month sprint; it’s a marathon with a lifetime network and friendship of fellow founders. 3. Heads up: snagging a spot in YC isn’t a golden ticket. It doesn’t guarantee a successful exit. Keep running! Check full podcast at https://lnkd.in/g2YJbSFw

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**Day 2 as a Headstarter AI fellow with Jack O'Brien** Today, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Jack O'Brien (former Google software Engineer and tech lead, & former CTO of A16z-backed company “stonks”). In todays meeting Jack O'Brien shared valuable insights on how to acquire your first users, build a waitlist, and generate your first $1,000 in revenue. Here are some key takeaways. 1. **Create something cool enough**: Develope something as little as a landing page to get people to sing up and test if people would actually use your product. 2. **Leverage your network**: Get friends, family, and acquaintances to use your product and provide feedback. 3. **Promote Widely**: Share your product all over social media to gain visibility and attract users. A huge thank you to Jack O'Brien for the insightful session and to the Headstarter AI team Faizan Ahmed Yasin Ehsan 🚀 for organizing another great day of learning!

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I’ve been playing around with YC Founder Matching and it seems like everyone and their mother is interested either in 2-sided marketplaces or B2C businesses, even though they’re ostensibly the least profitable and hardest-to-get-off-the-ground business models there are. Why do people do this? You only have to take a glance at enterprise vs individual pricing to want to switch gears.

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We at Boost VC have been investing into both hardware and crypto for over a decade, and we think that right now is the best time to double down on the intersection of the two. If you're a founder in hardware, robotics, biotech, or any other hard-tech discipline: there's never been a better time to get into crypto. Latest thesis here:

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It is absolutely abhorrent that Columbia University, a place that claims to value diversity and intellectual rigor, has become a cesspool of anti-Semitic activity. Jewish students and professors are systematically discriminated against, with threats to their safety and barriers to their professional duties, are deeply disturbing and demand immediate action. This isn't merely about politics; it's about the basic rights of individuals to study and teach without fear of persecution. The fact that there are calls for the eradication of Jews, Zionists, and Israelis in an academic setting is not only a moral disgrace but also a grotesque violation of every conceivable standard of decency in a free society. This is not a time for platitudes or mealy-mouthed administrative emails promising "dialogue." This is a time for clear moral leadership. Columbia University, you are currently failing your students, your faculty, and your historical legacy of scholarship and tolerance. Rectify this—now. #ColumbiaUniversity #StopAntiSemitism #AcademicFreedom #MoralCourage Columbia University Renny Grinshpan

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Last night I had the fortune of representing LaunchDarkly at Sourcegraph's CodeAI Summit NYC. An important theme I took from last night's event? Context. Models like specifics. Computers can't read our brains or know what we want to achieve. Technology is kinda useless without the right context. As we move forward in this increasingly AI-generated world (for better and for worse) let us not forget the importance of adding context to the equation. Whether that's providing context to a dataset through how it was collected, sharing context of your repo to better aid a code assist tool, or simply providing context behind the why of our decisions. It's an interesting (and important) place to keep in our minds. #AI #MachineLearning #DeveloperAdvocacy #DeveloperEvents

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Thinking about launching your own tech startup? Check out Tech Startup Toolkit by Jothy Rosenberg PhD (it’s now available in MEAP through Manning Publications Co.)! It’s full of practical advice to help you get from idea to launch—and beyond. Whether you’re dealing with growing pains or just getting started, the book has strategies to keep things moving. Definitely worth a look if you’re ready to take your startup to the next level. #EntrepreneurLife #TechFounders #StartupTools

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📚 Book Title: Scaling with Soul | How I Built and Sold a $25 Million Tech Company Without Being an A**hole ✍️ Author: Sharon Gillenwater ✨ Chapter 5: Is That a Polenta in Your Pocket? ✨ 🌆 San Francisco's Resilience: Sharon takes us through how San Francisco has weathered multiple bubble bursts—from the Gold Rush to the dot-com era and 9/11—all while she was striving to stabilize her career. 💼 Lessons from a Toxic Workplace: 📊 Quality Over Quantity: In a job where managers measured success by the number of cold calls 📞 made each day, Sharon focused on measuring impact—the return on calls and conversion to sales 💰. 🕵️‍♀️ Unveiling the Truth: When her approach was challenged, she pulled out a long list from the copier machine 🖨️, revealing that a "top performer" was making cold calls to a toll-free number more than to actual leads! 💡 The Power of Asking: 📝 Despite economic or personal situations, it's crucial to ask for what you've earned. Sharon didn't hesitate to demand her $10K check 💵 for editorial work, even when the contractor tried to delay payment. A stern conversation with the contractor's lawyer ⚖️ did the trick! 🌟 Blessings in Disguise: All these challenges turned out to be blessings, leading her to make the most beneficial pivot in her life. Sometimes, the toughest paths lead to the most rewarding destinations 🚀. Can't wait to share more insights from her incredible journey! Stay tuned 📖✨ #ScalingWithSoul #CareerLessons #Entrepreneurship #WomenInTech #Integrity #AskForWhatYouDeserve #Leadership

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Pathways to Tech Week #2 at  Headstarter: Being surrounded by people who are building amazing software and companies is a truly inspiring experience. My favorite speakers were: • Tariq Ahmed: First Engineer at AppLovin ($30Billion IPO) • Julian Alvarez 🚀: CEO of Wisdolia • Hamza Ali: CEO of Olostep  Here's what I have learned from them: 𝟭- "𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁" Tariq, one of the first engineers at AppLovin, shared that AppLovin tried several things in their early stages that failed. However, the company had incredible success when it pivoted to mobile advertising; They didn't have expertise in the field. Today if you've experienced in-app advertising, AppLovin was likely behind it. 𝟮- "𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻." Julian runs Wisdolia a startup aimed at helping college students actively study. By simply asking what types of students they were. His team found that medical students were the ones the ones who converted the most into paying customers. It seemed evident because they were the most overwhelmed by the amount of information they had cram. But the evidence in their face was a lightbulb moment for Wisdolia. 𝟯- "𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗲'𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗿." Hamza, CEO of Olostep, describes his company as "a company that enables AI agents to browse the web just like humans". I was fascinated when I heard that, and as the Olostep team acquires more customers they value scrappy and people that initiative on board. Those qualities set engineers apart when building successful products.

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Founders working towards PMF often ask me how to pick a good startup idea leveraging AI. The short answer is: lean heavily in one of two directions. Either pick an idea that's LLM-agnostic, where the value is in the UX and where you're happy to swap out GPT for Claude or vice versa. Or, make deep technical progress in modeling so that you're confident GPT-5 won't eat your lunch. The long answer, and an inside-look into how we prototyped espresso, is here: https://lnkd.in/eneG7zQ8

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🚀 Excited to announce the first *SignalFire Developer Sparks* event! 🔥 Come join Alan Shreve, founder of ngrok, and a group of amazing engineers as we gather to dive deep into engineering careers. If you’re an engineer and you've ever wondered: - Am I growing fast enough in my role? - What does career progression look like at an early-stage company? - How do I balance technical depth with leadership opportunities? - What skills should I prioritize to future-proof my career? - How does a project go from hobby to vc-funded? These are the questions we’ll tackle together—because let’s face it, no career path is one-size-fits-all. 🔗 RSVP here to secure your spot --> https://lu.ma/sfsparks1023. Looking forward to a great conversation. #DeveloperCareers #EngineeringGrowth #SignalFire #DevNetwork

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Having worked at Cruise and Waymo on self-driving taught me many things. I hope to bring some of these learnings to healthcare so it too can soon have the magical, "no-driver-at-the-wheel" moment. Here's a short conversation I had with Louie Cai, MD on this topic!

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