Russell Smith 🤙

Currently @9mothers building AI weapon systems. YC P26.

LP/VP @pioneer_fund. LP @ others. Ex @recursecenter A1'22, @rainforestqa, @ycombinator S12, P26.

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

Having done YC before, it's amazing to be back. The energy is the same 14 years (!!) on. Also, the quality of the folks I met was just as a high, if not more. So many have done a ton already, some are early. All are moving super fast.

Crazy achievement by the YC team and @garrytan.

My personal takeaways from the kick off of P26:
- the vibe/how folks/users feel matters - prolly even more for hardware
- what is the smallest thing one can actually ship rn
- watch out for hero-mode; are we solving the real problem, or the easy one
- strong cofounder bond is key, and the easiest way to fail, even vs funding
- building a pro sports team, not family
- post more to LinkedIn, as spaced rep is a thing, and starts a brand
- create a tribe. convert people. if founders don't no one will: but build one tribe, not more

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@jans @ycombinator Let’s goooo!

[Jan Senderek @jans]

Today we're launching Roma.

Roma is the to-do list that does itself. The original productivity tool reinvented.

Months of hard work, and a lot of honest feedback from beta users who kept pushing us to get it right.

https://t.co/S85NNAo2uv

Roma is available today. Can't wait to hear what you think.

@ycombinator

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@scott_sv @ForterraDefense 💪

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

Dude had maybe two seconds once that FPV popped up and still managed to dump rounds and drop it.

These things come in fast and low that you're basically reacting on pure instinct or you're not reacting at all.

Wild shot.

Writer: Daniyal

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@kevr0n @scott_sv 👀😆

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@jans I def wanna hear what this feedback was! Love it!

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@shaunmmaguire --> Austin.

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@JPCforge @DoWCFO @9Mothers @PerseusDefense @usulhq @RowndAI Agree, maybe more - they're priced low enough every combat vehicle could have one.

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

Under Secretary of War Jules Hurst @DoWCFO - checking out what @9Mothers, @PerseusDefense, @usulhq & @RowndAI are up to, and where we're all going.

[Department of War - CFO @DoWCFO]

Under Secretary of War Jules Hurst appreciated the opportunity to join @ycombinator's Startup Industrial Base: Building for the next 250.

He highlighted how greater budget transparency and timely execution data can help the @DeptofWar, Congress, and industry better align resources with priorities, thus moving proven capabilities to the warfighter faster.

He also advised innovators to solve real problems, understand the acquisition path, and demonstrate to the Department they can deliver at scale.

"Having the users like your products is incredibly necessary," Hon. Hurst said. "But it's the program offices and the [portfolio acquisition executives, or] PAEs who really have the power to make you successful. You have to provide the solution to them.

"Again, they’ve made their budget. They made it a year and a half ago. They've made a plan to execute that budget. So anything you're bringing in is, at times, disruptive to them if they have an established program. So you've got to figure out how you can fit in.”

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

Short read, but worth it. Agree. Deliver (working) things that people want > over marketing.

[scott @scott_sv]

https://t.co/LmDWfeybPh

[Ploy @ployai]

Introducing: PloyDB!!!

Databases + Agents + Complete flexibility to build anything you can imagine = PloyDB

A completely new structural layer that makes running GTM motions at scale with Ploy simple.

Now live 👇

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@shaunmmaguire 🙃

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@stevegraham Btw wtf amazing 🙌🙌🙌💪

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@andrewchen How do you like the Framework? I'm tempted to get another spark, but am waiting for reviews of the m5 ultras.

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@andrewychang Congratulations!

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@paulcjh

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@camrrowe @Applebees 💪💪💪

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@yibili @dhh Rally, awesome.

[Russell Smith 🤙 @rhs]

@camrrowe @Drone_Wars_

[Forterra @ForterraDefense]

IndyCars hitting 180 MPH down Pennsylvania Avenue is a good reason to leave the office.

The Forterra team spent the weekend at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix with our friends at @SecondFront. History on the Mall, and great company to watch it with.