Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech Leaders

Hojjat Jafarpour, Founder and CEO of DeltaStream with a PhD in databases and an early engineer at Confluent, shares insights on simplifying cloud-based stream processing. He discusses his journey from building kSQL to creating DeltaStream's serverless platform. Hojjat emphasizes the importance of solutions over mere technology and highlights features like real-time materialized views. He also reflects on recruitment challenges, scalability decisions, and the importance of early market feedback. Exciting plans for integrating real-time data with AI agents are also on the horizon!

Svyatoslav Babinets, an Engineering Manager at Meta, boasts a rich background in large-scale multiplayer games and 3D systems. He delves into the intricacies of building architectures that support millions of users, highlighting the balance between high development velocity and user experience. The discussion covers effective strategies for fostering cross-functional collaboration through virtual mission squads. Svyatoslav shares insights on designing reliable platform ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of trust in engineering decisions while envisioning the future of human-digital interaction.

Spriha Baruah Tucker, the Field CTO at Buildkite and former Google engineer, shares her journey from startup founder to shaping innovative CI/CD solutions. She discusses how customers’ enthusiastic feedback led her to Buildkite, and reveals her MVP focused on connecting technical contexts with engineering. Spriha talks about the balance between catering to power users versus creating curated experiences. She also predicts the future of CI as a risk-based system and offers invaluable advice for startup founders on maintaining enthusiasm and addressing major risks.

Gajus Kuizinas, the founder and CTO of Contra, discusses his unique journey from a non-traditional upbringing in Lithuania to developing a commission-free talent marketplace. He highlights the creative process behind Contra’s redesign, emphasizing user feedback and competitive analysis. Gajus also shares insights into hiring strategies, such as using Stack Overflow for recruitment, and reflects on critical decisions like prioritizing feature parity. He reveals ambitious plans for integrating AI and personalized identity while advising entrepreneurs to trust their vision.

In this conversation, Oleksii Ianchuk, Product Lead at Railsware, shares his journey with Mailtrap, which transformed from a mishap into a thriving email tool. He discusses the challenges of expanding to Email API and SMTP services, highlighting the complexities of compliance and deliverability. Oleksii reflects on early mistakes like splitting products into different repositories and the lessons learned from costly operational choices. His insights emphasize the balance of innovation and reliability in product development and the importance of user education.

Raj Dosanjh, co-founder and CTO of Paid, shares insights from his journey in tech, including his past as a Palantir engineer. He details the origin of Paid, a revenue engine for AI agents, emphasizing quick MVP development and the importance of early adopters. Raj discusses hiring preferences that prioritize hands-on talent and the critical role of observability in scalability. He also reflects on co-founder dynamics, his vision for turning student projects into businesses, and advises founders to focus on proving demand through revenue.

Emmanuel Straschnov, co-founder and co-CEO of Bubble, shares his journey from rural France to tech innovator. He discusses the creation of Bubble, a no-code platform empowering non-technical founders to build apps effortlessly. Emmanuel reveals the challenges of developing an MVP, the importance of user feedback in product roadmapping, and scaling with smart tech choices. He highlights the pride in pushing no-code limits and offers advice to young founders about trusting their instincts when making decisions.

In this engaging discussion, Kate Lowry, a CEO coach, author, and comedian, shares her insights on rising fear-based leadership in tech. Drawing from her extensive startup experience, she explains how this leadership style harms innovation and promotes insecurity. Kate offers practical tactics to thrive under such leaders, emphasizing the importance of predictability and strategic behavior. She also shares how leaders can foster healthier cultures despite these challenges, providing a roadmap for a more collaborative and inspiring workplace.

Julia Starun, Product Director at Railsware with 17 years in product management, dives into the impact of her recent MBA on product leadership. She highlights the gap between MBA theory and the fast-paced startup environment, especially in people management. Julia discusses how MBA frameworks can simplify uncertainty but warns against over-complication. She also shares insights on how understanding business metrics, like P&L, reshaped her product decisions and improved strategic thinking for market positioning.

Marco Rodrigues, co-founder and customer engineering lead at ExaForce, shares his journey from Canada to Silicon Valley and his passion for hockey. He discusses the motivation behind creating an AI-driven SOC platform to help overwhelmed security teams. Marco emphasizes the importance of semantic data models and collaborating with design partners to enhance the product roadmap. He also reflects on building a diverse global team and the future of AI-human analysts in cybersecurity, while offering wisdom for budding entrepreneurs.