The Better Build Mission

Mission Co-founder Gabriel Sundaram sits down with Yevgen Reztsov (currently working on a stealth mode startup, formerly Walmart Global Tech, Intuit, Bison Technologies) for one of our most technical deep dives into AI yet! Listen to this episode whether you're an expert on the subject or just want to become one, as Yevgen is excellent at making even dense subject matter accessible without dumbing it down.
Here are some other key topics from their wide-ranging conversation:
What's missing for teams trying to do machine learning (09:22)
A story on how customers can misuse AI if you don't deploy it carefully (26:12)
A window into the San Diego community and tech scene (28:27)
A warning on highly unpopular remote management decisions and how to avoid them (34:17)
Why "one size fits all" policies can be destructive (34:42)
How to avoid purely transactional meetings (37:36)
"I feel like the outcome you observe is an inevitable result of the system that begets it." (48:26)

Mission CTO & Co-Founder Fred Brunel sits with Raymond Luk (Hockeystick, Flow) for an insightful conversation into founding, investing, AI, and the importance of making time to be around people in our increasingly remote world.
Key Takeaways
The unintended consequences of remote work (11:18)
Spending time with founders (26:02)
The "no pain, no gain" mindset (38:25)
The challenges of finding "A" Players (41:36)

In this episode of The Better Build, hosts Stephane Rossi (Mission CEO and Co-Founder) and Fred Brunel (Mission CTO and Co-Founder) sit down with Kaj Van de Loo, a seasoned engineering leader and CTO at UserTesting, to explore his journey through the software engineering landscape and discuss the present and future of AI.
From his early days at SAP Labs to leading innovative projects at Oracle and UserTesting, Kaj shares insights into the evolution of software engineering, the impact of AI and machine learning, the critical role of AI in transforming engineering practices, and the importance of user feedback in driving successful AI adoption.
Key takeaways:
The system analyst process (02:42)
Not seeing the value for the customer during the dot-com era (06:50)
The challenge of explaining one's value (07:50)
Pinpointing the big takeaways and real value of professional experience (14:50)
How user feedback is the key to successful adoption of AI products (20:59)
Are coding skills becoming irrelevant? (33:08)

In this episode of The Better Build, Mission CTO Fred Brunel sits down with David Subar, Founder and Managing Partner of Interna, discusses the challenges and strategies in enhancing product development processes for technology companies. Subar highlights the common pitfall of engineering teams becoming mere feature factories and cost centers, emphasizing the importance of aligning engineering and product management to drive company growth and create value for investors.
Key topics:
The challenges of going back to an in-office setup with 100% remote teams (3:42)
Tips for maintaining esprit de corps among team members (4:42)
Why you shouldn't "cut to a number" if layoffs are necessary (12:16)
The importance of historical knowledge and taste when using AI effectively (17:28)
Why we can be optimistic about the transformation of software languages (26:58)
Reach out to work with us or join our network of product building and engineering talent at mission.dev

In this episode of The Better Build, we sit down with Martin Kess, Head of Engineering at Fractal, a venture studio on a mission to launch vertical B2B SaaS companies into billion-dollar industries. With an impressive background that spans from Google and Lyft to now steering the ship at Fractal, Martin brings a wealth of experience and unique insights into building successful tech startups.
Fractal's innovative approach to identifying and capitalizing on hidden opportunities in niche markets has led to the launch of over 140 startups. Martin discusses the qualities they look for in founding CTOs, the importance of grit and adaptability in the startup world, and how Fractal supports its companies through the journey from idea to market leader.
Listeners will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of remote work, the advantages of a distributed team, and how empathy and curiosity play crucial roles in understanding and solving real-world problems with technology.
Whether you're a tech leader, a startup founder, or simply fascinated by the art of building impactful companies, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and the power of looking where others aren't.
Key Moments:
The essential traits of a founding CTO and how to scale from a solo engineer to leading a dynamic team. (03:10)
The unique model that Fractal uses to identify billion-dollar opportunities in overlooked industries. (13:41)
Insights into the challenges and triumphs of scaling over 140 startups (19:43)
The impact of remote work on startup culture and product development. (43:35)

Mission COO Gabriel Sundaram sits with Sophea Loche (VP of Engineering at Egencia, an Amex GBT company) to discuss how things have changed for women in tech (3:30), how she made a big career decision that required moving to another country (9:08), how she goes about building teams remotely (12:08), the importance of building a leadership pipeline (15:05), how to build trust and get aligned across teams (19:45), and how different country cultures deal with failure (22:17).
Learn more about how Mission can help you hire senior-level software talent backed by a powerful insights platform at mission.dev.