Founders · August 24, 2026
When to hire a VP of engineering
Most startups hire a VP of engineering when the founder can no longer run delivery and grow the team at the same time, usually around 12 to 25 engineers.
9 min read→
Engineers · August 22, 2026
How to break into security engineering
The fastest path into security engineering at a startup is application security, built on solid software engineering. Here are the skills, certs, comp, and a realistic first 90 days.
10 min read→
Market · August 21, 2026
Is startup equity worth it in a down market
In a down market, startup equity is worth less than its headline number and pays out later. Here is how to value a grant when valuations fall.
9 min read→
Founders · August 19, 2026
Hiring remote engineers at a startup
Remote works for a startup when the work is async-friendly and your process is written down. Here is when to go remote, what it costs in comp and overlap, and how to interview and onboard.
11 min read→
Engineers · August 17, 2026
Platform and infrastructure engineering careers
What platform, infra, devops, and SRE roles really involve at startups: the skills, the comp, why demand holds up, and how to break in.
10 min read→
Market · August 15, 2026
What to do after a startup layoff
A practical first-72-hours plan: what to read in your severance, what happens to your equity, how to frame the layoff, and how to time the search.
9 min read→
Founders · August 13, 2026
Visa sponsorship for startup engineering hires
What H-1B, O-1, OPT, and transfers actually cost a small company, when sponsorship is worth it, and how it widens your engineering pool. Not legal advice.
10 min read→
Engineers · August 11, 2026
ML engineer vs software engineer: the real difference
An ML engineer ships models in production; a software engineer ships systems. The skills overlap more than the titles suggest, and the move between them is shorter than you think.
10 min read→
Market · August 9, 2026
Seed vs Series A: which is the better place to join
Seed buys you more equity and more ambiguity. Series A buys you more proof and more structure. The right answer depends on which kind of risk you can stomach.
8 min read→
Founders · August 8, 2026
How to close an engineering candidate
Closing a senior engineer is a process that starts at the first call, not a phone call after the offer goes out. Here is the sequence that works.
9 min read→
Engineers · August 6, 2026
Backend, frontend, or full-stack: which engineering path
An honest comparison of the three paths at startups: demand, comp, ceiling, what each day looks like, and why early-stage teams pay for full-stack.
8 min read→
Market · August 4, 2026
How to get hired at a YC startup
YC companies hire in predictable bursts after Demo Day, post directly on their own sites, and move fast. Here is how to find them and get in the door.
8 min read→
Where the numbers live
These notes sit on the live board. Pay, companies, and open roles each have their own page, and the research reports freeze a month of the same data.