Behind the Hype: A No BS Conversation About SF Tech
#VTJ Insider Perk - This event is free for #VTJ Insiders. Simply log into your account at vantechjournal.com and head to the Discounts page to access your registration code.
Join us for an intimate fireside chat with Brandon Waselnuk, a serial founder and longtime builder of developer tools who has spent the past few years moving between Vancouver, San Francisco and the broader startup ecosystem—founding companies, leading teams, investing, and seeing the reality of “building in SF” up close.
Brandon will sit down with William Johnson, founder of Vancouver Tech Journal, for a candid conversation about what it’s actually like to build tech companies in San Francisco today—and what founders elsewhere should understand before buying into the mythology.
This is a no-spin, real-world discussion focused on experience—not headlines. Together, Brandon and William will dig into:
The reality of building in San Francisco today—what’s genuinely better, what’s overrated, and what founders don’t hear until they’re already there.
The good, the bad, and the ugly of the SF startup ecosystem, from talent density and ambition to cost, competition, and pressure.
What’s true vs. hype when it comes to AI startups, developer tools, and venture-backed growth in the Bay Area.
Lessons from Brandon’s path as a founder, including founding companies, stepping into leadership roles, and working inside fast-moving SF startups.
What builders outside SF—especially in places like Vancouver—should learn, borrow, or ignore entirely when thinking about where and how to build.
This conversation is for founders, operators, and product leaders who want a clear-eyed view of the SF ecosystem—not the Twitter/X version—and practical insight into how ambition, location, and timing actually intersect when you’re building real companies.
No hype. No shortcuts. Just the reality.
Overview:
Date: Feb 4
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Segev LLP - The King George, 905 W Pender St Building 6TH Floor, Vancouver, BC V6C 1L6
Questions? Reach out to [email protected]
Thank You to our Partner: Segev LLP
Segev LLP is a full-service business solutions law firm with extensive experience working emerging technology companies.
Good legal professionals care. We care about practicing with integrity, our work and our clients outcomes. Our team scores on all three metrics.
Our knowledge, experience and industry plaudits all speak to our credentials; our level of care makes us notable over our competition. We take pride in taking on challenges that others may shy away from. We have built our reputation on ‘figuring it out and getting it done’ – helping our clients achieve their desired outcomes.
That’s what we do.
If you need assistance on the legal side, please feel free to reach out to Marius Adomnica at [email protected] or get in touch with our team at https://segevllp.com/contact-us/.