Financial Systems for Founders
Before making a financial decision, ask how much runway it buys and whether your cash gets you to the next meaningful milestone.
INDUSTRY CONNECTORSF TECH WEEK · 2026
Field notes from SF Tech Week
The conversations behind the headlines: what founders, builders and security teams are working through.
THE WEEK IN ONE STORY
SF Tech Week changed the questions I ask founders
Meeting founders in person changed the questions I ask. My biggest takeaway was to spend more time listening before offering a solution.
Read the lead story01 / BUILDING A BUSINESS
Founder decisions
Finance, fundraising, buyers, brand and the conversations that shape a company.
Preparing for a Series A
Satish’s Series A panel recap: written commitments, signed agreements, organized records and preparing security evidence for diligence.
Selling to government
A conversation with Amy Johanek and Greg Hall at Okta about a first government contract and preparing for the requirements of the actual buyer.
MeetStream and Prefactor Founders Night
A short reflection on attending MeetStream and Prefactor Founders Night and making space for direct founder conversations during SF Tech Week.
Potato Meter and brand building
Satish’s reflection on tonik’s Potato Meter event and why understanding brand building belongs alongside product and customer conversations.
Built by Community at Reddit
A reflection on Built by Community at Reddit headquarters with Chris Slowe and learning how Reddit can be useful for founders.
02 / BUILDING WITH AI
AI, agents and security
What builders and security teams are asking about data, identity and reliable delivery.
Sovereign AI and agent memory
Lessons from Open Source x Sovereign AI on data ownership, portable agent assets, memory and questions to ask about infrastructure protections.
Google for Startups and Wiz
Satish’s reflection on meeting Wiz at Google for Startups during SF Tech Week and connecting AI and cloud security with founders’ growth questions.
Build AI Agents with Auth0
Satish’s reflection on the Auth0 event at Okta and the questions agent security raises about identity, permissions and connected tools.
Agents and APIs
A brief recap of the Agents and APIs event at CANOPY Jackson Square and how it fits into Satish’s wider SF Tech Week learning.
The Auth0 buyer pitch
Lessons from eight pitches at the Auth0 buyer event: explain the value clearly, understand timing and treat credibility separately from a buying commitment.
Can your agents actually ship?
A reflection on an SF Tech Week program about moving from agent generated code to delivery, validation, review and governance.