Founding Engineer Circle: Bring a Bug
What is this? An intimate gathering for founding engineers, early technical hires, and engineers-turned-CTOs to connect, share technical challenges, and get real feedback from peers who understand the unique pressures of early-stage startups.
Our format: "Bring a Bug" Every two weeks, we focus on collaborative technical problem-solving. A few attendees share current challenges they're facing or recent problems they solved - whether it's a gnarly bug, an architectural decision, or a tricky technical trade-off. The rest of us provide feedback, share similar experiences, and brainstorm solutions together.
Why attend? As a former engineer who became CTO of a YC and a16z backed startup at just 23, I know firsthand how challenging and lonely these roles can be. You're building the technical foundation of a company with high expectations, limited resources, and often figuring things out as you go.
While founders have extensive support networks, the first engineers who work just as hard often lack the same community and recognition. This bi-weekly gathering aims to change that by creating a consistent space for practical, technical peer support.
Who should come?
Engineers who were among the first to fifth technical hires at a startup
Engineers who transitioned into early-stage CTO roles
Technical leaders navigating the unique challenges of early-stage startups
What to expect
Structured sharing of technical challenges and solutions from volunteer presenters
Collaborative problem-solving with peers who've been there
Practical feedback on architecture decisions, debugging approaches, and technical trade-offs
Honest conversations about the realities of being a founding engineer
Coffee and pastries provided
A chance to build ongoing relationships with peers facing similar challenges
Want to present? When you RSVP, you can opt to share a technical challenge or recent solution with the group. No pressure - we only need a few volunteers to make for great discussions!
Schedule Space is limited to ensure quality conversations. We'll have breakfast starting at 9:30 AM. We'll start at 10 AM sharp to wrap up by 11:30 AM!
Hosted by
Randy Brown, former CTO (YC S15) and currently Founder of Scout.
Finley has kindly offered space for the event.