Chase

Dirt bike guy living in SF.
3x founding team member, cofounder, & advisor.
Currently Head of stuff @FonziAI
Ex @AngelList, @HoneHQ

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Went through hundreds of live startup job listings this week.

Almost all of them are in SF or NYC. Everywhere else thins out fast: a few in Austin, Seattle, LA, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and that’s basically it.

If you’re in SF or NYC, you’re not picking between a handful of options. You’re picking between hundreds of funded startups hiring engineers, often multiple roles on the same team.

The flip side: your competition isn’t local anymore. It’s every engineer willing to move to where you live for the same shot.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

This Wednesday in SF I am hosting our August tech talk. Speakers from PromptQL, Altara, and Parcle AI are lined up.

If you are a SWE and in the city. Come hang out, eat pizza, network, and learn from other great engineers.

RSVP in the invite!

https://t.co/slypF20DUg

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@hiiinternet LFG!

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@luvshollyy I prefer to spend my time outside of work with non tech folks. Even my tech friends at the gym don't talk tech when at the gym. You can't think about work 24/7 and build any kind of successful long term career in this business

[Chase @chasewoolard]

You can't judge recruiting/hiring outcomes in a vacuum. Zoom out. Crunch real numbers. You'll be shocked at the trends you find and how it reflects on your startup.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@francisfooqh Vibes are everything!

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Recently saw a situation where a candidate had two offers.

$240k at a Series A. $265k at a Series C. The equity gap wasn't even that big.

He took the $240k

I asked why. He said it came down to vibes. He could picture himself showing up every day to build with the Series A team. He couldn't picture that with the other one.

He's betting that team gets somewhere real, and the next raise makes up the difference anyway.

Don't take a job for the money alone. Take the one that makes you want to show up. You can't grind 50+ hours a week for people you don't actually like, even for more cash.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@vbarsuchenko 100. I have always chosen happiness over everything in my career

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@hiiinternet Watched some video of him grappling. He isn't very good.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@mynameisyahia Sounds cool tho!

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Do it.

[seb (rick rubin arc) @hiiinternet]

refer engineers

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Maybe it's because I've been gone for 3 weeks and missed home, but man nothing hits quite like driving into the city over the Bay Bridge late at night with no traffic. Peak vibes.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@existentializzm There's a reason when hiring for startups you index on those with high GSD. They get the shit done :)

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@hiiinternet @huebound Would require there to be more LA cos. Most of them are moving to SF right now. But yes would love it.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

When I was a kid in Florida, I dreamed of riding my motorcycle at Glen Helen. It's the Mecca of dirt bike life. This wasn't my first time, nor will it be my last, but I am always really grateful that I get to live the life I do out here in California. It truly never gets old.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Want to be great at hiring? You better be exceptional at building a network for yourself and/or a community for your company. If you can't do one or the other, find someone who can and hire them.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

Getting back to SF after 3 weeks away tomorrow. The batteries are recharged, the work is meaningful, and life is good.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@itsnotbernhard 996 is a joke.

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@verycracked Truth!!!

[Chase @chasewoolard]

@MXGRyan I'd like to see more 250sx /450 MX rides.