Changelog Interviews From GitLab to Kilo Code
Jan 7, 2026
Sid Sijbrandij, founder of GitLab and now building Kilo, shares his journey from leading GitLab to navigating his cancer diagnosis. He discusses innovative cancer treatments, revealing how single-cell sequencing has impacted his health strategy. Sid describes his vision for Kilo as an all-in-one engineering platform, prioritizing open-source collaboration. With a focus on developing rapid AI-driven tools, he highlights a future where technology aids diagnostics and empowers aspiring developers. Amid his health challenges, Sid continues to inspire with his entrepreneurial spirit.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Rapid Response To A Sudden Cancer Diagnosis
- Sid discovered a six-centimeter bone tumor in late 2022 and underwent surgery, radiation, chemo, and an experimental single-patient IND treatment.
- He traveled globally for diagnostics and combined parallel treatments to maximize chances of survival.
Combining Treatments When Trials Won't
- Sid intentionally combined treatments when clinical trials lacked incentives to test combinations.
- He balanced mechanisms and organ toxicity with expert tumor-board review to make pragmatic combination choices.
Targeted Radioligand Therapy Enabled Surgery
- Sid received targeted radioligand therapy in Germany that bound to fibroblasts (FAP) and delivered lutetium, causing high tumor necrosis with minimal side effects.
- The shrinkage detached the tumor from his spinal cord, enabling a surgeon to remove most of it.