Benjamin Lin

The best use case for overseas development I've heard: We have customers in the eastern hemisphere. To support those customers better, we're standing up product, dev, and support teams to help serve those customers needs. Two key ingredients in making that successful: commensurate pay and the same level of performance and accountability as US peers. #software #international #teammanagement #overseasdevelopment #startup #leadership #coaching

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I have to admit, it’s fun to occasionally leave on-farm data collection & insights to hear a few AI startup pitches to #sharpenthesaw. Some of Technology Alliance #SeattleAIWeek disruptive pitches today included: - Seasalt.ai’s serial entrepreneur Xuchen Yao, formerly of Kaldi (YC W24) pitched Seasalt.ai - with a BHAG to respond to customers with contextual conversations 24/7, text or call. Voice & text chatbot agent using ChatGPT/LLM with LiveAgentTransfer, focused on disrupting traditional call center & knowledge base platforms Genesys, RingCentral, Zendesk, etc. Assuming they evolve & gain traction, it feels like a future acquisition target by Google/Hubspot or SFDC. All of us startups struggle with optimizing customer experience; Seasalt.ai seems well-positioned as a tool to simplify customer interactions. Check it out at https://chat.seasalt.ai - Luke Kim pitched Spice AI, who’s focus is to make building AI apps as easy as building a web page - accelerating data for fast access for AI apps. Very cool to see innov8.ag aligned well to use his service in the future with our #PostgreSQL db instance along with OpenAI & Databricks. Check them out at https://spice.ai #addspice More to share later today.

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Making progress on my sprint for Maria Gabriela Ochoa Perez Waechter's YIBL-BAM. On to STRY0006--adding a top level (L1) navigation link to create a new contact. I jumped back into the core UI and dug up tables and got it working, but it turned out it is much easier with a nice UI in the Experience's advanced settings. Typical for me! On STRY0007, I was adding a pre-configured list filter to show me contacts to whom I have not yet out, reached (???). This is the main list of lists you see in the left hand nav and it's very common to want to change these. In the old UI it was a right click and a couple of records, but this one had me scratching my head even though I had done it before. I found my way back to the UX List table, which has more checkboxes than almost any form I have ever seen (Literally 1 Million Checkboxes https://lnkd.in/g9Nv7ivi), but hey, I'm not here to judge. Is there an easier way? Probably, but I couldn't find it so I don't care about an "easier" way, just as long as there is "a" way. Thanks MGOPW! #ServiceNow #ServiceNowDev #YIBL #BuildAlongMonth #UIBuilder https://lnkd.in/g65v22J8 https://lnkd.in/gKM3pi-i

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The newest issue of The Pragmatic Engineer found a surprise uptick in eng hiring in the typically slow summer season - I'm curious to see how the macro environment impacts this uptick as we head into the fall, but I remain hopeful. I asked Gemini to give me the tldr of the article to share with my team (sorry, Gergely Orosz) and found it missed one of the most interesting pieces of the article. Gemini's highlights - Unexpected surge: Tech recruitment has seen an unusual spike in June and July, contrary to typical trends. Increased demand: Startups, especially AI-focused ones, are driving the hiring uptick. Global phenomenon: This trend isn't just limited to the US; Europe is also experiencing increased recruitment activity. Reasons for hiring: Companies are backfilling positions, investing in growth due to improved financials, and responding to increased VC funding. Challenges remain: While the job market is improving, finding qualified candidates and offering competitive compensation remains difficult for many companies. What I found most interesting - The nature of the backfills: the article finds that a lot of new headcount are actually backfills of folks that were "over-slashed" during rounds of layoffs. Not entirely surprising with the "trim the fat" and "rebuild lean" mentality, but interesting nonetheless. Either way, the uptick is encouraging (and don't always rely on Gemini's tldrs). #hiring #startups #VCbacked #softwareengineering

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Since the YC deadline to hear back for W25 is coming up next week, here’s the story of how we went from 2 students coding in an MIT dorm room to being full-time YC founders building Delve in SF. For all you founders anxiously waiting to hear back, just keep building — you’ll be successful regardless of the decision. -- In Fall 2023, my co-founder Karun Kaushik and I were studying AI at MIT and spending all of our free time building an AI medical scribe to help doctors. We had vaguely heard about YC from a friend who had just gotten accepted but had no plans of applying whatsoever. However when the YC deadline rolled around, we spontaneously decided to put in an application on the very last day. We spent that whole day in Karun’s dorm room typing up the application and filming all the required videos. We finally hit submit the minute of the deadline! By the next day we had already moved on. We went back to the usual rhythm of coding in the dorm room, calling with doctors, attending conferences, etc. If anything, we were even more motivated now to get more traction and be successful regardless. Later that week, while we were eating in the dorm kitchen, I noticed I got an email saying we had a YC interview scheduled. My heart rate spiked. I jumped up out of my seat and immediately told Karun. I never seriously considered YC, but for the first time it hit me that it might actually be a possibility. When the day of the interview rolled around, we did mock interviews with former YC founders and focused mostly on calming our nerves. More important than the actual content of the interview, we wanted to show our excitement for building and hacking together as co-founders. Unfortunately the interview caught us by surprise. The group partners didn't seem to care as much about our actual AI medical scribe. Instead, they seemed more curious about a side idea we had listed in our application that we wrote up in a day. The idea was about streamlining HIPAA compliance (since we had to go through HIPAA for our AI medical scribe). By this point, we were already seriously considering pivoting into this and had made a lot of progress on the idea. The YC interview was our tipping point Not too long after, we got an ominous email titled “YC.” We were freaked out. I could not sleep the entire night. Then, in the middle of class the next day, I got a phone call from Karun with Surbhi on the other end of the line. My heart rate spiked. I ran outside of the classroom. That turned out to be our acceptance call:) -- For everyone out there still waiting to hear back, just keep grinding. Build as if you’ve been rejected and you might just be pleasantly surprised. I’m also always here to help with mock interviews/give advice! We’ve helped a handful of friends through the YC app process and are always here to support other founders!

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I had the opportunity to share some of our work and thinking at koodos labs with the good folks at Ofcom yesterday. As an ecosystem, we are on the precipice of enabling greater autonomy over our personal data. With continued regulatory support, technological advancements, and shifts in consumer behavior converging, the potential for a more decentralized, equitable, and user-controlled data economy becomes increasingly attainable. This marks a significant evolution in how data is managed and valued.

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Breaking into product management without prior experience is tough, but it’s not impossible. This week, I sat down with Ivan Pineda Dominguez, a former software engineer who recently transitioned to product management through Instacart's APM program. In our conversation, Ivan shared: ✅ How he pivoted from engineering to product ✅ Challenges he faced in PM interviews ✅ His process for finding and applying to APM programs ✅ Tips for aspiring PMs without product experience This is the second post in my series on landing a PM job in 2024. Next up, I’ll chat with Tyler Taaca about his journey from RPM to PM at Zynga straight out of school. 💡 Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Leverage your background: Ivan used his technical skills as an engineer to stand out in PM interviews. Focus on the transferable skills from your current role that can add value to product management. 2️⃣ Prepare for the interview shift: PM interviews require a different approach—think strategic, not just technical. Practicing PM interview frameworks and watching mock interviews can be key to success. 3️⃣ Use unconventional methods: Ivan found Instacart’s APM program on TikTok! Exploring non-traditional platforms and networks might lead to opportunities you wouldn’t expect. Link to full post and newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dj6RAurD If you found these insights helpful, feel free to like, comment, or repost to reach more aspiring PMs or those looking to transition into product management! 👇 #productmanagement #techcareers

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🦾 I'm using an LLM based evaluator for my writing (https://lnkd.in/dgni5nD) - it analyses what I've written, scores, suggests improvements, etc, all the while maintaining my unique style and tone of voice (I'll release how I've built that some time next week or so, it's a pretty nifty system!). 😫 It really doesn't like that I get too personal in my posts, using first person references and drawing from my real life experiences - but, it has learned to live with this stylistic 'flaw' in my writing. Today, it has decided to offer me high praise. Apparently, my blog has 🚀"evolved into something that can confidently compete with industry-leading content."🚀 So, if you'd like to get "industry-leading content" on building products with LLMs, check out what I write here: https://lnkd.in/dgni5nD 😉 #genai #productmanagement #llms #buildwithllms #buildinpublic

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Recently, Anthropic shared its perspective on California's proposed AI regulation bill, SB 1047, with the California Assembly. While recognizing the importance of safe AI development, Anthropic has raised substantial concerns about the bill's current form, which could potentially hinder innovation and harm the United States' competitive edge in AI. Anthropic's key points include shifting the focus from "pre-harm enforcement" to a more adaptable "outcome-based deterrence" model. They also advocate for regulations that focus more narrowly on frontier AI safety to avoid redundancy with federal requirements. Additionally, they suggest giving regulatory authority to the Government Operations Agency instead of creating a new state agency. Anthropic believes that these amendments will encourage innovation in risk reduction practices and incentivize companies to adopt measures that prevent catastrophic risks. In contrast, the AI Salon Policy & Civic Engagement Guild shares Anthropic's commitment to ethical AI and safe development but has broader concerns about the bills. We believe that overly burdensome regulations may discourage AI development and lead to job losses. Compliance requirements favor large companies, potentially driving smaller startups out of the market, and overregulation might cause California to fall behind other regions in AI development. Furthermore, compliance under penalty of perjury imposes significant personal risk on developers, and strict regulations could disadvantage California-based companies in the global AI market. On behalf of the over 1700+ members of the AI Salon, we urge our larger community to engage in this crucial dialogue about AI regulation. By advocating for well-balanced policies that protect public interests without stifling innovation, we can ensure California remains a leader in ethical and responsible AI development. Please sign the letters of support and join us in shaping a future where AI is developed and deployed with ethical integrity, social responsibility, and inclusive governance. Together, we can bridge the gap between AI technology and policymaking, fostering an environment where innovation thrives alongside robust safety measures. https://lnkd.in/e6MRBmcX #AIRegulation #EthicalAI #Innovation #PolicyEngagement #Anthropic #AISalon #PublicPolicy #TechPolicy Kyle Shannon Leah Fasten Brandon Tidd Stacie L. Matthew Karabinos, MAT Vikki Baptiste Jon Potter Jon Leland Cyndi Coon Daniele Hall

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"United Independents, the group behind the Independent National Convention set for Denver in September, has launched a new software platform for indie candidates called Electify.us, which came out of a partnership with incubator Wolfram Labs — the first tool to emerge from its program." I am so proud to share that Chief Product Officer Dana Cichon has launched the first political tech platform to come out of our accelerator program. What are you waiting for? We have the formula for breaking into the digital campaign space. Are you are the next success story? Read more in Campaigns & Elections -->> https://lnkd.in/eHhqa-Xr #techaccelerator #startups #incubator #VC #SaaS #software #political #campaigns

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Ethernet always wins. It has already adopted most of the features of Infiniband. Now, Meta reports Ethernet is more reliable.

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🤔 Looking at YC's latest Request for Startups struck me: Every category—gov tech, manufacturing, fintech, space—has AI humming under the hood. 🔄 Maybe it's not about having AI (like it's not about "having electricity" ⚡). It's about reimagining whole industries with it. 🚀 Checkout the whole article: https://lnkd.in/gcQkKMja

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Today is the start of summer break across the country. Finding, discovering, researching and registering for summer camp is a time-consuming and massively frustrating task for parents. As a parent, I asked myself these questions (and about 20 more): 1) What is even available to me within a 15-20 minute drive?  2) What camps are available for both my kids given that they have a four year age difference? (I would prefer one drop off and pickup) 3) Why is it so hard to see the dates, times, and basic details of camps? 4) When does registration open? 5) Why can’t I see if a camp is sold out? 6) Why can't I register multiple kids at the same time?  7) Why am I printing out forms and sending them in the mail with a check?  8) How do I join a waitlist?  9) How do I take my kid off a waitlist?  10) Where can I review what I purchased? We set out to make this easier with Enrichment.kids by building a marketplace paired with a user-friendly registration SaaS tool which we launched in January. Check it out! https://enrichment.kids/

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Let’s get real. In the tech world, we love our rockstar engineers and visionary product managers. But what about the unsung heroes who make sure the trains run on time? Enter: Technical Program Managers (TPMs). Here’s the deal—TPMs are the connective tissue in any tech org. Without them, your next big thing is just a pipe dream. Here’s why they matter: 1. Master Planners: TPMs are the strategists who see the big picture. They map out the journey from idea to execution, ensuring every cog in the machine is working towards the endgame. 2. Diplomatic Leaders: These folks are the UN of tech. TPMs navigate cross-functional teams, aligning everyone from engineering to product, and making sure egos don’t derail progress. 3. Execution Powerhouses: Think of them as project ninjas. TPMs oversee the whole process, managing timelines, resources, and risks. They get sh*t done. 4. Tech Savvy: A TPM isn’t just a project manager with a fancy title. They understand the tech stack and can speak geek. This lets them make smart decisions and steer the ship effectively. 5. Communication Gurus: Ever been left in the dark on a project? Not with a good TPM. They keep stakeholders in the loop, ensuring transparency and trust all the way. 6. Risk Avengers: TPMs spot risks from a mile away and crush them before they become a problem. It’s like having a crystal ball and a wrecking ball in one. 7. Efficiency Experts: These pros are all about optimizing. They refine processes and drive continuous improvement, making sure your team isn’t just working hard, but smart. Bottom line: TPMs are the unsung heroes who turn chaos into order and dreams into reality. Next time you see a project succeed, know there’s probably a badass TPM behind the curtain making it all happen. To all the TPMs out there: You’re the backbone of innovation. Keep rocking.

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Last year, I lived in SF and flew to LA weekly to attend MBA classes at UCLA. I flew back and forth at least 20 times. I am not a morning person by any means, but this required me to have a routine of waking up at 5:00AM on Sunday, Ubering to SFO to catch the earliest flight that would get me to LA before my classes started at 8:00. I would attend class all day Sunday, work remotely Mondays, attend more classes Monday night and then fly back Tuesday morning just in time to get to the office before standup. I am proud to say that I did not miss a single flight or a single class during this period. Last month, I officially graduated from UCLA Anderson. I wore my graduation cap and gown and lived through an event I had been dreaming about for the past 3 years. Now the big question: was it worth all the flights, tuition costs, and time spent studying? Yes, it was absolutely worth it. And here’s a story that encapsulates why. On one my MBA trips, we had a few executives from the Executive MBA program join us on the trip. One of the executives had immigrated to the US over 20 years ago and was nearly a billionaire. He snuck a few of us Chinese speaking MBA students out for a dinner and afterwards we all grabbed beers by the beach. Towards the end of the dinner he told us that we were no different than him. He pointed at each one of us and told us that we could all become successful too as long we just went for it. I’ve heard similar words from guest speakers, but the informal setting of having a mentor tell us this to our faces while enjoying beers near the beach in a foreign country really made me believe that I could do it. To sum up my MBA experience, being able to learn valuable life lessons from classmates, professors, and guest speakers made me confident that I could pursue whatever I put my mind towards. This is the true value of the MBA in my opinion. So what’s next? Before entering UCLA, my goal was to start my own startup and be a "real" founder. I can proudly say that my dream is starting to become a reality. I will be posting more news about this in the future, but my cofounders and I just raised an angel round and are now working full time on a new startup with a mission that we all care deeply about. #mba #uclaanderson #startup #graduation

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🇪🇺 Be part of the conversation on July 11th at 3:00 PM CEST! Our #NonprofitPulse2024 webinar features a rockstar panel discussing the latest nonprofit trends across fundraising, data security, and the development of AI. Save your spot today! #Fundraising #AIforGood #NonprofitTrends

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