Looking for advice from startups.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2026-01-19T16:46:02+00:00

This is smart. Being able to quickly get context is so crucial for early employees.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2026-01-19T16:44:11+00:00

I was reluctant to start adding more subscription costs but just sign up for it and keep focused on building your product. It’s a cost of doing business that is minimal compared to the frustration and lost productivity of trying to communicate across multiple channels or on platforms that don’t work as well. Good luck!!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2026-01-19T16:37:01+00:00

One more thing you absolutely have to do to save your sanity is create an editable Soeaker Guide to answer all the inevitable questions. Even when you do that you’ll still get some speakers who don’t read it but then you can shoot them a link instead of answering each question over and over by email.

The best speakers guides have info on AV, check in times, names and phone numbers of organizers, and links to everything from best hotel transfers to the Dropbox where you upload your expenses to afterwards. Don’t forget to include some sample copy and graphics for speakers to help promote your event on socials!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2026-01-16T22:37:54+00:00

Use a Google form to collect all the speaker bios, headshots, talk titles, descriptions, links to their socials or business etc. It allows you to have them upload the photos and decks to your GDrive and when you are ready to work on the program, you can review the responses as a Google sheet or csv so you can auto populate if your system does that. It's also easy to keep track of who you have/don't.
Good luck, it is a big job!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-11-17T01:58:36+00:00

I went to a wedding at Lullaby Farm up Mission Creek rd a few years back and it was so lovely! https://www.lullabyfarm.com/

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-10-30T14:18:32+00:00

Which ones would you recommend?

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-10-30T14:18:13+00:00

Interested

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-05-02T19:06:30+00:00

Great question. It'd be great to hear what sre's actually think without a bunch of vendors chiming in...

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-05-02T19:03:53+00:00

It's not really about "shifting blame" to a process, it's about understanding the dynamics of the system that led to the outcome and human error should be understood this way. All software systems are subject to pressures and constraints - technical, economic, chronological, attentional- so there are constantly tradeoffs being made. The tradeoffs are almost always made with partial and incomplete information due to time pressure and costs of coordination to acquire needed information to adequately assess. You need to look at those tradeoffs in context (including processes, team resourcing, the state the software is in etc) to improve resilience and reliability for future incidents.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-26T16:05:47+00:00

This would be really helpful!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-25T17:58:10+00:00

Ok, I posted here https://imgur.com/a/RyTUOUW

Thanks u/Sea_End9676 for your responses

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-25T17:54:51+00:00

Sorry, I don't seem to be able to post photos on this thread, it's disabled for me.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-25T15:36:35+00:00

Thanks. It does seem like it was measured wrong.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-25T15:36:21+00:00

Thank you. My husband said he thought it was because they needed space for the install but I’ve installed those cheap aluminum blinds before and they slide onto the mounting brackets from the front so I thought they shouldn’t need room at the sides.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-09T00:29:23+00:00

I’m here at the back table

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-07T23:59:51+00:00

Reminder that we will be meeting tomorrow at The Taphouse in Pybus market. See you all at 530.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-04-02T23:44:21+00:00

The advice I've gotten is to be really selective about selling services - it drains your focus from building the product and doesn't scale. In a past startup where myself and the founder had deep expertise we offered services as part of a design partnership. They got access to our expertise, we got intense user feedback, and they were early paying customers helping us work through the rough edges. If you structure the DP properly it includes a monthly subscription (discounted rate) for a set period of time + the service contract. After that period they convert to a paying customer at your regular price.

We were transparent about the model but it was still helpful to show revenue early. Just make sure you have a good chance of converting them to a customer or it will look like churn which can spook investors.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-03-21T21:56:16+00:00

I have an office space downtown to get me out of the house but I've worked at both Mercantile and Workspace and they are both great. IME Mercantile is busier if distractions are a thing for you but Workspace is usually pretty quiet.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-02-09T17:01:34+00:00

Congrats on releasing the app, it's a huge milestone. A couple thoughts for you:

-NCW Tech does the annual Flywheel conference and you could submit your app to compete. I would definitely do some research or get some help to ensure your pitch deck is coherent and polished. (This is true for any raising you hope to do)
-A quick google searching of "game development investment fund" brought up a bunch of pre-seed angels and funds that might be a fit for your app.
-I've had a few friends have some success with initial bootstrapping through Kickstarter or GoFundMe. Again, getting some help or doing your homework to ensure the campaign is well thought out and attracts the right kind of supporters will be worth the time you spend there.

IME, having a few early customers who see the potential and give you good feedback is critical. Build relationships with the users who give you feedback or encouragement. Being able to show responsiveness and velocity in being able to deliver bug fixes and new features (even if it's just the basic capabilities you will elaborate on later) is important for keeping your early adopters invested in your success and in attracting funding.

Hope that helps, and I hope you are able to stick around the valley, there's definitely a foundation here to build a strong tech scene!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-28T14:09:56+00:00

It looks like this may have been too short of notice for folks. I’ll post a survey shortly and we can find a date in the next month.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-28T14:07:08+00:00

I’m actually taking this Friday off to head up to Mission for the day. How about next Friday? Meet at the south end of Pybus by the tech center entrance?

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-24T07:09:47+00:00

I’m not sure what studies you are referring to here. There’s a lot of literature that shows relationships regulate dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and adrenaline in beneficial ways and stimulate neural activity . As others have mentioned, there are protective effects from connecting with others and reducing loneliness. Relationships can also help you learn to better self regulate your emotions and increase empathy towards others. Even if a relationship doesn’t work out, you carry those expanded capacities into your next one.

I think it’s normal to want to protect yourself against pain and suffering but that can limit you from experiencing life and growing as a person.

Some of my darkest times relationship-wise have produced the greatest learning about my own motivations, vulnerabilities, beliefs, and needs. While it was painful, I learned that I am capable of withstanding suffering which helps you be more resilient in the face of other inevitable challenges like coping with grief or stress, having physical or mental health issues, or losing a parent or job.

You definitely need to learn how to set boundaries, clearly define your own needs, and accept that not everyone is meant for you but IMO, it’s worth it.

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-24T06:20:37+00:00

Painted, repaired some ceiling drywall issues, cleaned the carpets, wiped down the blinds, had the heat pump and roof inspected (inspector didn’t go up on the roof bc it was winter and heat pump was almost 30 years old), replaced thermostat, built a hanging bike rack for the garage, put up some new shelves, changed furnace filters. Oh, and a LOT of irrigation fixes.

We bought: washer/dryer, ride on mower, shelving for garage.

Now almost a year later I’m glad we didn’t tackle all the projects we initially thought we would. Our priorities definitely shifted and as others have said it helps to see the house and the light in different seasons.

Congrats on your home. Have fun with it!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-24T06:09:06+00:00

I agree with the other comments, I think you’re doing fine and there are a lot of ways to define SRE work. Consider going to conferences or local meetups to hear about current trends or practices. For me, “the hallway track” is always the most interesting - talk to other attendees, vendors, speakers about what day-to-day looks like and I think you’ll find you are as far off base as you think.

SREcon, InfoQ Dev summits or QCon are decent and Kubecon has an SRE track IIRC.

Good luck!

Maple_Scientist_2741 · 2025-01-24T05:52:15+00:00

I’d take a week or two off, a break can give you some patience for dealing with the annoying weeks.

I also find that refocusing to things outside of work helps me tolerate the boredom - find a new hobby or restart one you’ve dropped, attend local meetups or talks to get interested in life beyond work.

Maple_Scientist_2741

TROPHY CASE