StartupExperts

AI Roundtable Recap: Exploring AI-First Strategies & Tools 🚀 At our latest StartupExperts AI Roundtable, we had an incredible discussion on how HR, Finance, and Ops leaders are integrating AI into their work—and what it really means to become an AI-first company. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✅ AI’s role in task automation, data analysis, and reducing admin work ✅ How leaders are leveraging ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot, and you.com ✅ The shift toward agentic AI and building company-specific AI solutions ✅ Insights into AI in HR consulting, LMS transformation, and AI-powered recruiting The conversation was packed with practical AI applications, challenges, and opportunities. Big thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and insights! Looking forward to the next session as we continue exploring how AI can enhance leadership and productivity. 💬 What AI tools have been a game-changer for you? Drop your thoughts below! 👇 #StartupExperts #AIinBusiness #HRTech #AIforOps #AIinFinance #FutureofWork #AIAutomation

Last week, we brought the StartupExperts community to the East Bay for an incredible evening of connections, conversations, and collaboration at La Ezkina Grill & Cantina in Walnut Creek! Thank you to Rosa Andrews and Holly Jett Kraiker for organizing the event! From HR, Finance, and Ops leaders catching up with familiar faces to new members joining the mix, the energy in the room was a testament to the power of community. The discussions spanned everything from startup challenges to leadership strategies, all over great food and drinks (huge thanks to Sequoia for picking up the bill🍸). We’re grateful to everyone who came out to make this event a success. Startup leadership can be a lonely road, but not when you have a network like this. Looking forward to more meetups, more shared insights, and more opportunities to support each other! 📍 Where should we host the next one? Drop your suggestions below! 👇 #StartupExperts #Networking #HRLeadership #FinanceLeaders #OpsCommunity #StartupNetworking #ScalingStartups

🚀 A Warm Welcome to Our 49 New Members from February! Last month, the StartupExperts community grew even stronger, with 49 incredible new members joining us! 🎉 📍 14 from Northern California 🌴 6 from Southern California 🏙 6 from New York 🌎 And 23 more from across the country! Each new member brings fresh perspectives, valuable expertise, and new energy to our growing network of HR, Finance, and Ops leaders in the startup world. It’s amazing to see this community expanding, creating more opportunities for connection, collaboration, and shared learning. We’re excited to have you all on board—let’s continue supporting each other and driving impact together! Welcome to StartupExperts! 💡🔥 #StartupExperts #CommunityGrowth #WelcomeNewMembers #HRLeaders #FinanceLeaders #OpsCommunity #Networking

StartupExperts Meetup: Walnut Creek Edition! 🌟 East Bay, we heard you—and we’re bringing the StartupExperts community to Walnut Creek! Join us for an evening of leader connection, collaboration, and great conversations with fellow HR, Finance, and Ops professionals in the startup world. This casual meetup is the perfect chance to expand your network, share insights, and exchange ideas in a relaxed setting. 📍 Where: La Ezkina Grill & Cantina, Walnut Creek 📅 When: Thursday, March 6 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST 💡 Bonus: Arrive early, and enjoy the first round of drinks & appetizers on Sequoia! 🍸🍽️ 🔹 RSVP here: https://lu.ma/9wvgsqua We’re looking forward to seeing both familiar faces and new ones—bring a colleague, grab a drink, and let’s connect! #StartupExperts #Networking #StartupCommunity #HRLeadership #FinanceLeaders #OpsCommunity #EastBayNetworking

AI Learning Journey: Session 2 Recap 🚀 Last Wednesday, we continued our AI Learning Journey with Session 2: "Hype-Spotting: Know When AI is Worth It"—an insightful session focused on helping HR, Finance, and Ops leaders cut through AI noise and identify tools that truly drive business impact. Led by ApplyAI, this session provided practical frameworks and real-world examples to assess AI applications strategically and avoid common pitfalls. With engaged discussions and interactive exercises, participants walked away with a clearer roadmap to lead AI transformation in their organizations. 📅 Next up: Session 3 on March 26 → "Use-case Playground: Explore and Demo User-Submitted Use-Cases." This hands-on session will dive into real-world AI applications and best practices. Register below! A big thank you to ApplyAI for leading another incredible session and to everyone who joined! Looking forward to continuing this journey together. 🚀 #StartupExperts #ApplyAI #AILearningJourney #AIforBusiness #FutureOfWork #AIDrivenLeadership

Last night, the StartupExperts brought together an incredible group of HR, Finance, and Ops leaders in for an evening of great conversations, delicious cocktails, and stunning views of the city. This wasn’t just another networking event—it was a safe space for meaningful discussions about the rapid changes shaping our industry since the November election and how we, as leaders, can navigate them. From reconnecting with familiar faces to meeting new ones, the energy in the room was inspiring. A huge thank you to Stephen Cisarik at Newmark for providing such an amazing venue, and to our generous partners VISTRA, Network Right, and Sequoia for making the evening great. We also want to thank Kim Minnick for sharing her thoughts about the current state of affairs and for encouraging us all to lean in as leaders. We also want to give a shout-out to the over 25 attendees that took the time to write a personalized and supportive note to a senior citizen at part of Sequoia's #Random Acts of Love campaign and their partnership with the Letters Against Isolation non-profit. #myactoflove #StartupExperts #HRLeadership #FinanceLeaders #OpsCommunity #Networking #Leadership

Huge shout-out to our NYC Hub for hosting a great event last night! And special shout-out to Network Right for supporting both our NYC and our SF events on the same evening!

Two Incredible Nights of HR Leadership & Connection – Thank You! This past week, we had the absolute privilege of bringing together some of the most brilliant and passionate HR leaders for two unforgettable CPO Dinners—one at Leo's Oyster House in San Francisco and another at Bardo Supperclub in Oakland. A huge, heartfelt thank you Clay and Sebastian Jacobs for their partnership in cohosting these gatherings, and to Jesse Freese for joining us. Your insights, generosity, and willingness to share made these conversations truly special. Some of the thought-provoking discussions that took place: 🤖 AI in HR: Can AI automate tasks without replacing human empathy? Could it even enhance workplace relationships? 👥 The HR Leadership Experience: Many HR leaders say their role can feel lonelier than being a CEO—so who do they turn to for support? 🏢 HR’s Role in Business: The phrase "a seat at the table" came up again and again. How can HR leaders push for greater strategic influence? Beyond the insights, these nights were filled with meaningful connections, great food, and a sense of belonging that reminds us why we do what we do. If you were part of these evenings—thank you! And if you’d like to join us for the next CPO Dinner or HR Leadership event, we’d love to have you. #Gratitude #StartupExperts #HRLeadership #AIandHR #FutureOfWork #PeopleOps #Leadership #HRCommunity

🌟 The First Chicago StartupExperts Meetup is in the Books! 🌟 Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for our first-ever Chicago SuE meetup! It was incredible to connect in person and dive into meaningful conversations about change management through the People Ops lens. A special shoutout to Victoria P. Mitchell for leading such a thoughtful discussion, and to Jason Bruner for hosting this great gathering. 💫 One of the best parts of this community is sharing what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in the startup world—learning from each other, exchanging ideas, and building connections that truly make an impact. This is just the beginning! We’re looking forward to growing this chapter and hosting another meetup soon—stay tuned! 🚀 #StartupExperts #ChicagoStartups #PeopleOps #HRLeadership #Networking

📍 Meet Jessy W., People Ops and Culture Manager, at Second Dinner Studios—and a proud member of StartupExperts. For Jessy, joining StartupExperts was a game-changer. A few years ago, she was part of a tiny team, navigating big challenges alone. Without a dedicated community to turn to, every decision felt like starting from scratch. Now, as a member of StartupExperts, she’s surrounded by experienced professionals who openly share their knowledge, resources, and time—so others don’t have to reinvent the wheel. 💡 What does having a strong professional community mean to you? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #StartupExperts #HRLeadership #OpsCommunity #ScalingStartups #PeopleOps #Leadership