Workfeed was founded six years ago out of pure necessity. Coming from the service industry ourselves, we noticed that no one seemed genuinely happy with their existing solutions - they were too complex or their vendors couldn't care less. That's why we decided to build the ideal solution for them. Today, employers and managers use Workfeed to create schedules that strike the perfect balance between the needs of their workforce and the demands of their business - without it being complex. By doing so, they pave the way towards optimized labor costs, a best-in-class work environment, and outstanding business results. Bottom line, companies using Workfeed save up to 80% time and thousands of $ while increasing employee satisfaction, flexibility, and retention.

Workfeed

Your grandfather wears those comfy slipper-y shoes all day, every day, and they’re starting to get holes in the toe and a detached sole. For his birthday, you’d love to surprise him with a new pair of those. You jump on your favorite retail website and land in the search box, only to realize that your aging human brain doesn’t remember the name of those. Not slippers, not loafers…some Indian name. If after scratching your head, your best guess is still “soft shoes my grandpa wears”, all is not lost. Because if the search engine is on the ball, it will simply dig a little deeper, harnessing the power of data science to decipher what you’re actually looking: your underlying . search intent Slippers, shoes, or something else? In the digital world nowadays, search intent is a very hot topic. To succeed in providing an excellent user experience, website managers must know more than just which keywords people are entering. Now, the best practice is for search engines to have the ability to what users want, even if these humans can’t come close to articulating it. fully comprehend That’s where “brainy” neural network logistics come in. Neural network–based search technology facilitates “understanding” of search intent and related themes to find exactly what people need. A neural network takes into account the to improve search . So when you search for something like “soft shoes my grandpa wears”, a savvy search engine will instantly read between the lines and show you all the moccasins your granddad could ever need. context of words and connected ideas relevance What is a neural network? Neural networks were conceived as mathematical models by of the University of Chicago (1944). This concept exists in two realms: Warren McCullough and Walter Pitts Animal brains, including humans’, have biological neural networks and feedback loops that can process input data from the senses — sights, sounds, and scents — plus learn from the surroundings. Nature: Computer scientists have figured out how to replicate the model of neurons in natural neural networks. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are the basis for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, sitting at the center of many contemporary AI tools. These versions, complete with artificial neurons, allow computers to more effectively process an input dataset. As for the “intelligent” machines involved, the quality of their output is limited to the material they receive, but they do “think” like an animal does. Technology: Three Processing Layers With naturally occurring networks, information is processed through nodes (computational units) that sit in various layers. An artificial neural net is also a series of nodes, organized in layers and connected through inputs and outputs. Neural networks work their magic through three layers: this first layer is where data is received before being passed along to the next-layer nodes. Input layer: where weighted connections and non-linear activation functions generate the output  (this level could include multiple layers). Hidden layer: where the finished data is expressed. Output layer: The number of layers in a neural network is a clue to its classification. A basic neural network has two or three layers. One that has at least two layers — which adds some complexity — is technically a neural network. A very large neural network is a deep-learning tool; IBM’s definition is that more than three layers (including the input and output) constitutes a deep-learning algorithm. deep How ANNs Work Artificial neural networks contain a number of weighted responses that trigger different reactions within the hidden layer. These responses dictate what gets produced as the outcome. To do their jobs, a little training data is in order. Neural networks (or neural nets, for short) are “trained” by adjusting weighting and testing on different types of outcomes. A neural network must have the right rules and weighted responses to do the particular job for which it’s intended. For example, the ChatGPT neural network contains nodes in the hidden layer that allow it to effectively process language. Different Types of Neural Networks There are multiple kinds of artificial neural networks. Some are generative and can “learn” as they work. Some simply focus on automating and improving tasks such as facial recognition or data analysis. Some are fantastic for aiding image processing and automation; others are excellent for enhancing . Different applications of neural networks can also be tailored for the type of use case. search and discovery Here are six types of neural network with their key data points: Feed Forward Feed-forward neural networks are linear: they process information in one direction until an output is ready. This is the simplest form of neural network architecture. When used alone, as opposed to as part of a modular network, they don’t contain the feedback loops required to build artificial intelligence. This architecture is often used in classification software like spam filter, where each step in the analysis brings us closer to the final result without intermediate results needing to be reused later downstream. Recurrent In terms of complexity, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) pick up where feed-forward networks leave off, reprocessing their own outputs to generate more-accurate future outputs. This creates a feedback loop, — a recurring process — in the hidden layer. Because an RNN can create more-valuable insights by reusing its output — pushing data back through the network to contextualize and “understand” the information — it’s ideal for utilizing with AI-powered tools like ChatGPT. Convolutional (CNNs) are often used for pattern recognition, image recognition, and image classification applications. This subset of machine learning categorizes data as it’s processed through multiple convolutional layers, breaking it down and recategorizing based on importance. The resulting information can then be used to differentiate similar images from one another, spotting critical pixel differences, for instance, that the human eye might not see. One consideration: if a CNN isn’t set up optimally, it can consider some information “unimportant”. Convolutional neural networks That’s where a convolutional neural network comes in handy. de Deconvolutional Deconvolutional neural networks (DNNs) work in the opposite way to CNNs. They start with “raw” data and work backward toward usable image output. DNNs can be used to identify information discarded by or missed when using CNNs, and they can be used in conjunction with CNNs to self-test outcomes. Modular Modular neural networks are made up of multiple neural networks that work separately toward a common goal by using ensemble learning, a method that connects different models to pool results and test outcomes before presenting findings. An organization can use this variation of network technology to ensure accurate outcomes. For example, a finance company might utilize it to generate more-accurate stock-market predictions as the different networks produce different outcomes; the findings can then be used to accurately peg averages and outliers. Transformers Did you know that the in ChatGPT and GPT-4 stands for transformer? The transformer, the element that makes generative AI so powerful, is a relatively new form of that utilizes modular neural networks. Transformers use something called a self-attention layer, along with feed-forward neural networks and RNNs, to focus on complex tasks such as language processing. T machine learning Take your search to neural levels As in many industries, AI is steadily changing the fabric of real-world search. Neural networks are being pressed into service to improve software’s comprehension of what consumers want. These tools can help among people, content, and data, as well as connections between user interests and search queries (both current and past). ecommerce identify relationships At Algolia, we harness machine learning and (NLP) to get at the heart of search intent; then the best query results can be and provided to your users. natural language processing ranked Want to smarten your search engine with the ? Maybe improve your (image recognition or computer vision skills), or perhaps optimize your ? advantages of neural search visual search voice search To assist your decision-making, let’s look at your needs and weigh the options. with us today. Get in touch Also published . here

What are the Types of Neural Networks and How Do They Work?

Anyone else tired of being shackled to a desk between the hours of 9 and 5 on a beautiful day? More and more lately, I've been wanting to take meetings outside in the fresh air. Sure, I can pop some earbuds in and wander around the neighborhood on my phone, but that's hardly conducive to productive note-taking or interacting with screen shares (not to mention the unnecessary mobile data usage). The problem with outdoor computing—as most of you probably know—is the damned glare from the sun. Can't exactly call it working when you can't see the screen to begin with. So, what is a slowly-lapsing-indoorsman to do? Brighten Up Don't get too attached to your brightness settings. Crank that baby up to 11. It won't make much difference (imagine shining a flashlight at a spotlight), but it'll help a lot more than it will hurt. Go Into the Light Say goodbye to dark mode. I've tried (believe me, I have tried), but dark mode is nigh impossible to see on a bright day. I promise, though, light mode isn't nearly as blinding in the sun as it is in that cave you call an office. Seek Some Shade Unless you're rocking an e-ink laptop display, your screen will never overpower the burning ball of sky fire we call The Sun. Amazon has a bunch of laptop-ready shades for this purpose, but if you'd rather not look like a total dork, just sit under a canopy or something (which will make you less likely to need to wear sunglasses too, which won't help the whole "seeing the screen" problem). Mind the Leaf Blowers It's springtime, soon to be summertime, so the gas-powered lawn care cartel is in full force. This carries two problems: You won't be able to hear anyone in video calls.
Nobody will be able to hear you. It's hard to solve for #2, but for #1, get yourself a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. You won't have to wear them all the time (that's hardly comfortable), but it's good to have them on hand for when your neighbor decides to mow his lawn for the third time this week. Anything Else? These are the things that have worked for me so far, but I'm honestly not entirely satisfied. I haven't solved the problem of power (extension cords, maybe?), nor do I have particularly good wifi coverage in my backyard (solvable); and what if I want to work at a park? That introduces a whole host of new challenges. Have you tried to do your computery job outside? What worked for you (or what didn't)? Anyone else tired of being shackled to a desk between the hours of 9 and 5 on a beautiful day? More and more lately, I've been wanting to take meetings outside in the fresh air. Sure, I can pop some earbuds in and wander around the neighborhood on my phone, but that's hardly conducive to productive note-taking or interacting with screen shares (not to mention the unnecessary mobile data usage). The problem with outdoor computing—as most of you probably know—is the damned glare from the sun. Can't exactly call it working when you can't see the screen to begin with. So, what is a slowly-lapsing-indoorsman to do? Brighten Up Don't get too attached to your brightness settings. Crank that baby up to 11. It won't make much difference (imagine shining a flashlight at a spotlight), but it'll help a lot more than it will hurt. Go Into the Light Say goodbye to dark mode. I've tried (believe me, I have tried), but dark mode is nigh impossible to see on a bright day. I promise, though, light mode isn't nearly as blinding in the sun as it is in that cave you call an office. Seek Some Shade Unless you're rocking an e-ink laptop display, your screen will never overpower the burning ball of sky fire we call The Sun. Amazon has a bunch of laptop-ready shades for this purpose, but if you'd rather not look like a total dork, just sit under a canopy or something (which will make you less likely to need to wear sunglasses too, which won't help the whole "seeing the screen" problem). never total Mind the Leaf Blowers It's springtime, soon to be summertime, so the gas-powered lawn care cartel is in full force. This carries two problems: You won't be able to hear anyone in video calls. Nobody will be able to hear you. You won't be able to hear anyone in video calls. Nobody will be able to hear you. It's hard to solve for #2, but for #1, get yourself a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. You won't have to wear them all the time (that's hardly comfortable), but it's good to have them on hand for when your neighbor decides to mow his lawn for the third time this week. Anything Else? These are the things that have worked for me so far, but I'm honestly not entirely satisfied. I haven't solved the problem of power (extension cords, maybe?), nor do I have particularly good wifi coverage in my backyard (solvable); and what if I want to work at a park? That introduces a whole host of new challenges. entirely Have you tried to do your computery job outside? What worked for you (or what didn't)?

The Great Outdoors (of Computing): Take Your Work Outside

Previously… https://awstip.com/reducing-eks-windows-node-5-min-start-time-to-90s-eks-windows-bootstrapper-4314f72367a0?embedable=true I threw in some tricks I used to make our Windows EKS nodes start in 90s rather than the 5 minutes a standard EKS Windows node takes. I introduced you to the git repo eks-windows-bootstrapper - the application replacing the AWS-provided configuration scripts for EKS Windows. https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper?embedable=true In today’s story, I will walk you through how to make your Windows nodes take ~30s to start! Recap In the previous story, we got to the point where our start times looked like this: Let’s take a closer look at our latencies now: In order for us to get better launch times, we now have 2 areas where we can improve timing Windows Startup Configure Network/Start K8s Services Improving Windows Startup Performance As we are using the AWS Image Builder (https://aws.amazon.com/image-builder/) to build our custom AMIs as discussed in the previous story, any changes we make to our image need to be made here. Outside AWS Fast Launch - there really isn’t much we can do to help with the Windows boot process, if you are able - you can uninstall Windows Defender which will massively improve start performance. Side note - I found in our use case we do not actually need Fast Launch as we do not actually need to run the OOBE process. We can set our culture using Set-Culture, etc. inside one of our components, and as long as we remove the sections in Unattend.xml related to OOBE, Windows will skip much of the setup process that EC2 Fast Launch deals with. When you start the output AMI, it will start as quickly as a Fast Launch AMI, but without the added expense of pre-provisioning EBS snapshots. The downside to this approach is that you won’t be able to configure Windows settings on the first boot, what you bake into the AMI is what you will start with - So make sure you set culture/timezone information correctly somewhere in one of your Image Builder components. For reference: So with all avenues to make Windows do less stuff on boot exhausted, there was only one choice left… Changes were made to the EKS Windows Bootstrapper code so it could be run as a Windows Service. The idea behind this is that we could squeeze a few more seconds out if we could run our code as Windows is starting services on boot instead of waiting for the userdata script to fire. This worked - however, it did break the AWS SSM Agent as a result as it also starts early. In the installation script included in the repo, we work around this by setting the SSM agent startup type to Automatic (Delayed). Faster Configure Network/Start K8s Services This basically involved translating the remainder of the code in the standard AWS bootstrapping scripts in EKS-StartupTask.ps1 Setup Container Network
        ... 
           [DllImport("vmcompute.dll")]
            static extern void HNSCall([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string method,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string path,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string request,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string response);
            HNSCall("POST", "/networks", jsonString, out response);
        ...

https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L514 Add routes to created NIC
        ...
          routeAddCommands.Append($"route ADD {ipAddrs[i]} MASK 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 IF {vNICIndex}");
        ...
        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        process.StartInfo.Arguments = $"/C {routeAddCommands}";
        process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        process.Start();
        await process.WaitForExitAsync();

https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L586


Start Kube-proxy and Kubelet in parallel once all configuration files have been written (all the previously converted code) Installation To install the bootstrapper, add this to a component in Image Builder: - name: InstallEksWindowsBootstrapper
        action: ExecutePowerShell
        inputs:
          commands:
            - |
              Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/releases/download/v1.29.1/Install-Service.ps1' -OutFile 'Install-Service.ps1'; 
              .\Install-Service.ps1; 
              Remove-Item 'Install-Service.ps1'; Putting everything together, I tested the output image using these settings: EC2 Instance

m4.xlarge (4 Core)
EBS


GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS Testing on these settings got me start times around 55s! We are finally under a minute, maybe spot instances are now viable for Windows EKS Nodes now that the 5-minute penalty is now 1 minute. Hold On… You Said A 30s Start Time! You Said as Fast as Linux! A 30s start time is possible! It just costs a lot. 😢 I ended up testing how fast the sum of all the software was by eliminating as many hardware bottlenecks as I could. Switched from GP3 → IO2 30K IOPS Switched from m4.xlarge → c6a.4xlarge Require Nitro Hypervisor It’s quite easy to change in Karpenter; simply change the Ec2NodeClass to change storage options, and then add the relevant keys in NodePool, e.g. blockDeviceMappings:
    - deviceName: /dev/sda1
      ebs:
        iops: 30000
        volumeSize: 120Gi
        volumeType: io2 - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-hypervisor
          operator: In
          values:
            - 'nitro'
        - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-cpu
          operator: In
          values:
            - '8' The beast that was produced by Karpenter was visible in K8s in 32s. It would be sub-30s with antivirus disabled. Our final tuning produces nodes in around 45s (Using GP3). You can tune for cost/performance yourself for your own scenario. Looking for Help EKS Windows bootstrapper is a simple app that writes config and starts Kubernetes services. It is currently set up for EKS 1.29. As Kubernetes goes through 1.30, 1.31, 1.32… it will need to be kept up to date… I am looking for help with this. 🙂 Previously… https://awstip.com/reducing-eks-windows-node-5-min-start-time-to-90s-eks-windows-bootstrapper-4314f72367a0?embedable=true https://awstip.com/reducing-eks-windows-node-5-min-start-time-to-90s-eks-windows-bootstrapper-4314f72367a0?embedable=true I threw in some tricks I used to make our Windows EKS nodes start in 90s rather than the 5 minutes a standard EKS Windows node takes. I introduced you to the git repo eks-windows-bootstrapper - the application replacing the AWS-provided configuration scripts for EKS Windows. https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper?embedable=true https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper?embedable=true In today’s story, I will walk you through how to make your Windows nodes take ~30s to start! Recap In the previous story, we got to the point where our start times looked like this: Let’s take a closer look at our latencies now: In order for us to get better launch times, we now have 2 areas where we can improve timing Windows Startup Windows Startup Configure Network/Start K8s Services Configure Network/Start K8s Services Improving Windows Startup Performance As we are using the AWS Image Builder ( https://aws.amazon.com/image-builder/ ) to build our custom AMIs as discussed in the previous story, any changes we make to our image need to be made here. Outside AWS Fast Launch - there really isn’t much we can do to help with the Windows boot process, if you are able - you can uninstall Windows Defender which will massively improve start performance. https://aws.amazon.com/image-builder/ Side note - I found in our use case we do not actually need Fast Launch as we do not actually need to run the OOBE process. We can set our culture using Set-Culture , etc. inside one of our components, and as long as we remove the sections in Unattend.xml related to OOBE, Windows will skip much of the setup process that EC2 Fast Launch deals with. When you start the output AMI, it will start as quickly as a Fast Launch AMI, but without the added expense of pre-provisioning EBS snapshots. Set-Culture Unattend.xml The downside to this approach is that you won’t be able to configure Windows settings on the first boot, what you bake into the AMI is what you will start with - So make sure you set culture/timezone information correctly somewhere in one of your Image Builder components. For reference: So with all avenues to make Windows do less stuff on boot exhausted, there was only one choice left… Changes were made to the EKS Windows Bootstrapper code so it could be run as a Windows Service. The idea behind this is that we could squeeze a few more seconds out if we could run our code as Windows is starting services on boot instead of waiting for the userdata script to fire. This worked - however, it did break the AWS SSM Agent as a result as it also starts early. In the installation script included in the repo, we work around this by setting the SSM agent startup type to Automatic (Delayed) . userdata Automatic (Delayed) Faster Configure Network/Start K8s Services This basically involved translating the remainder of the code in the standard AWS bootstrapping scripts in EKS-StartupTask.ps1 EKS-StartupTask.ps1 Setup Container Network
        ... 
           [DllImport("vmcompute.dll")]
            static extern void HNSCall([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string method,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string path,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string request,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string response);
            HNSCall("POST", "/networks", jsonString, out response);
        ...

https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L514 Setup Container Network ... 
           [DllImport("vmcompute.dll")]
            static extern void HNSCall([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string method,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string path,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string request,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string response);
            HNSCall("POST", "/networks", jsonString, out response);
        ... https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L514 Setup Container Network ... 
           [DllImport("vmcompute.dll")]
            static extern void HNSCall([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string method,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string path,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string request,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string response);
            HNSCall("POST", "/networks", jsonString, out response);
        ... ... 
           [DllImport("vmcompute.dll")]
            static extern void HNSCall([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string method,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string path,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string request,
                           [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] out string response);
            HNSCall("POST", "/networks", jsonString, out response);
        ... https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L514 https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L514 Add routes to created NIC
        ...
          routeAddCommands.Append($"route ADD {ipAddrs[i]} MASK 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 IF {vNICIndex}");
        ...
        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        process.StartInfo.Arguments = $"/C {routeAddCommands}";
        process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        process.Start();
        await process.WaitForExitAsync();

https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L586 Start Kube-proxy and Kubelet in parallel once all configuration files have been written (all the previously converted code) Add routes to created NIC ...
          routeAddCommands.Append($"route ADD {ipAddrs[i]} MASK 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 IF {vNICIndex}");
        ...
        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        process.StartInfo.Arguments = $"/C {routeAddCommands}";
        process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        process.Start();
        await process.WaitForExitAsync(); https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L586 Add routes to created NIC ...
          routeAddCommands.Append($"route ADD {ipAddrs[i]} MASK 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 IF {vNICIndex}");
        ...
        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        process.StartInfo.Arguments = $"/C {routeAddCommands}";
        process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        process.Start();
        await process.WaitForExitAsync(); ...
          routeAddCommands.Append($"route ADD {ipAddrs[i]} MASK 255.255.255.255 0.0.0.0 IF {vNICIndex}");
        ...
        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        process.StartInfo.Arguments = $"/C {routeAddCommands}";
        process.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        process.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        process.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        process.Start();
        await process.WaitForExitAsync(); https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L586 https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/blob/8f519953209e3caea590652832acc74585ab1a45/BootstrapperService.cs#L586 Start Kube-proxy and Kubelet in parallel once all configuration files have been written (all the previously converted code) Start Kube-proxy and Kubelet in parallel once all configuration files have been written (all the previously converted code) Installation To install the bootstrapper, add this to a component in Image Builder: - name: InstallEksWindowsBootstrapper
        action: ExecutePowerShell
        inputs:
          commands:
            - |
              Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/releases/download/v1.29.1/Install-Service.ps1' -OutFile 'Install-Service.ps1'; 
              .\Install-Service.ps1; 
              Remove-Item 'Install-Service.ps1'; - name: InstallEksWindowsBootstrapper
        action: ExecutePowerShell
        inputs:
          commands:
            - |
              Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://github.com/atg-cloudops/eks-windows-bootstrapper/releases/download/v1.29.1/Install-Service.ps1' -OutFile 'Install-Service.ps1'; 
              .\Install-Service.ps1; 
              Remove-Item 'Install-Service.ps1'; Putting everything together, I tested the output image using these settings: EC2 Instance

m4.xlarge (4 Core)
EBS


GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS EC2 Instance m4.xlarge (4 Core)
EBS


GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS m4.xlarge (4 Core) EBS


GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS m4.xlarge (4 Core) EBS GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS GP3 - 120GB/600Mbps/3600 IOPS Testing on these settings got me start times around 55s! We are finally under a minute, maybe spot instances are now viable for Windows EKS Nodes now that the 5-minute penalty is now 1 minute. Hold On… You Said A 30s Start Time! You Said as Fast as Linux! A 30s start time is possible! It just costs a lot. 😢 I ended up testing how fast the sum of all the software was by eliminating as many hardware bottlenecks as I could. Switched from GP3 → IO2 30K IOPS Switched from m4.xlarge → c6a.4xlarge Require Nitro Hypervisor It’s quite easy to change in Karpenter; simply change the Ec2NodeClass to change storage options, and then add the relevant keys in NodePool, e.g. blockDeviceMappings:
    - deviceName: /dev/sda1
      ebs:
        iops: 30000
        volumeSize: 120Gi
        volumeType: io2 blockDeviceMappings:
    - deviceName: /dev/sda1
      ebs:
        iops: 30000
        volumeSize: 120Gi
        volumeType: io2 - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-hypervisor
          operator: In
          values:
            - 'nitro'
        - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-cpu
          operator: In
          values:
            - '8' - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-hypervisor
          operator: In
          values:
            - 'nitro'
        - key: karpenter.k8s.aws/instance-cpu
          operator: In
          values:
            - '8' The beast that was produced by Karpenter was visible in K8s in 32s. It would be sub-30s with antivirus disabled. Our final tuning produces nodes in around 45s (Using GP3). You can tune for cost/performance yourself for your own scenario. Looking for Help EKS Windows bootstrapper is a simple app that writes config and starts Kubernetes services. It is currently set up for EKS 1.29. As Kubernetes goes through 1.30, 1.31, 1.32… it will need to be kept up to date… I am looking for help with this. 🙂

EKS Windows Node 30s Boot Now Possible - Start as Fast as Linux! (eks-windows-bootstrapper - Part 2)

You can jump to any part of the United States International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy here. This part is 27 of 38. Line of Effort 2: Disrupt and Build Resilience to Malicious State Activity Given the interconnected nature of cyberspace, international cooperation is crucial to deny, disrupt, and counter adversary activities in and through cyberspace. The Department of State leads efforts, including facilitating international outreach, to address the rising threat of disruptive or destructive cyberattacks on the critical infrastructure of the United States and its allies and partners. This includes sharing through diplomatic channels joint cybersecurity advisories with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Security Agency (NSA), and allies and partners on threats; capacity building and information sharing with new and existing partners to mitigate cyber threats and ensure the resilience of their critical infrastructure; and using bilateral, multilateral, and other fora to clarify and communicate expectations about adherence to international law and the framework for responsible behavior in cyberspace. In addition, members of the Quad have developed joint principles for the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and NATO members have committed to ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure, enhanced protection of critical infrastructure through training and exercises, and shared intelligence on threats. As part of its counter adversary cyber activity, the Department of State provides foreign policy guidance and uses diplomatic engagements to support the Department of Defense (DoD)’s efforts to campaign in and through cyberspace below the level of armed conflict to reinforce deterrence and frustrate adversaries. As laid out in the 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy, U.S. Cyber Command continues to defend forward to discover, expose, and protect against the sources of malicious cyber activities and to reinforce responsible state behavior by encouraging adherence to international law and internationally recognized cyberspace norms. The DoD Cyber Strategy also notes that cyber operations are most effective when used in concert with other instruments of national power, including diplomatic engagement and cyber capacity building. The Department of State, in close coordination with interagency and international partners, will continue to organize and execute sustained diplomatic pressure campaigns to raise international and public awareness of significant cyber threats and to increase the costs and risks to malicious cyber actors. For example, the United States has worked with allies, partners, and the private sector to disrupt DPRK revenue-generation efforts through cybercrime, crypto theft, and IT workers. U.S. Cyber Command, NSA, DHS, DOJ, and the FBI have exposed North Korean malware, seized malicious cyber infrastructure, seized cryptocurrency and fiat currency, and shared actionable threat intelligence with the private sector. The Department of State coordinates action with the Republic of Korea through a bilateral DPRK Cyber Working Group, including information sharing and policy coordination. Also, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea coordinate efforts to counter DPRK cyber threats through a trilateral working group announced during the Camp David Summit in August 2023. The Department of State has also briefed officials around the world on threats posed by DPRK IT workers and cyber actors and deployed foreign assistance funds to build capacity to detect and defend against DPRK cyber and crypto threats. Continue Reading Here. This post was originally published on May 6, 2024, by the U.S Department of State You can jump to any part of the United States International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy here. This part is 27 of 38. You can jump to any part of the United States International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy here . This part is 27 of 38. here here Line of Effort 2: Disrupt and Build Resilience to Malicious State Activity Given the interconnected nature of cyberspace, international cooperation is crucial to deny, disrupt, and counter adversary activities in and through cyberspace. The Department of State leads efforts, including facilitating international outreach, to address the rising threat of disruptive or destructive cyberattacks on the critical infrastructure of the United States and its allies and partners. This includes sharing through diplomatic channels joint cybersecurity advisories with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Security Agency (NSA), and allies and partners on threats; capacity building and information sharing with new and existing partners to mitigate cyber threats and ensure the resilience of their critical infrastructure; and using bilateral, multilateral, and other fora to clarify and communicate expectations about adherence to international law and the framework for responsible behavior in cyberspace. In addition, members of the Quad have developed joint principles for the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and NATO members have committed to ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure, enhanced protection of critical infrastructure through training and exercises, and shared intelligence on threats. As part of its counter adversary cyber activity, the Department of State provides foreign policy guidance and uses diplomatic engagements to support the Department of Defense (DoD)’s efforts to campaign in and through cyberspace below the level of armed conflict to reinforce deterrence and frustrate adversaries. As laid out in the 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy, U.S. Cyber Command continues to defend forward to discover, expose, and protect against the sources of malicious cyber activities and to reinforce responsible state behavior by encouraging adherence to international law and internationally recognized cyberspace norms. The DoD Cyber Strategy also notes that cyber operations are most effective when used in concert with other instruments of national power, including diplomatic engagement and cyber capacity building. The Department of State, in close coordination with interagency and international partners, will continue to organize and execute sustained diplomatic pressure campaigns to raise international and public awareness of significant cyber threats and to increase the costs and risks to malicious cyber actors. For example, the United States has worked with allies, partners, and the private sector to disrupt DPRK revenue-generation efforts through cybercrime, crypto theft, and IT workers. U.S. Cyber Command, NSA, DHS, DOJ, and the FBI have exposed North Korean malware, seized malicious cyber infrastructure, seized cryptocurrency and fiat currency, and shared actionable threat intelligence with the private sector. The Department of State coordinates action with the Republic of Korea through a bilateral DPRK Cyber Working Group, including information sharing and policy coordination. Also, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea coordinate efforts to counter DPRK cyber threats through a trilateral working group announced during the Camp David Summit in August 2023. The Department of State has also briefed officials around the world on threats posed by DPRK IT workers and cyber actors and deployed foreign assistance funds to build capacity to detect and defend against DPRK cyber and crypto threats. Continue Reading Here. Continue Reading Here . Here This post was originally published on May 6, 2024, by the U.S Department of State This post was originally published on May 6, 2024, by the U.S Department of State by the U.S Department of State by the U.S Department of State

Diplomatic Efforts to Combat Cyber Threats and Maintain International Cyber Resilience 

One of the most effective ways to cultivate an engaged and productive team is to actively demonstrate appreciation for your employees’ hard work and dedication. When individuals feel genuinely valued by their employer, it translates into improved morale, heightened job satisfaction, increased productivity, and greater overall retention. Showing genuine gratitude doesn't have to be an elaborate or costly endeavor. Even seemingly simple yet thoughtful gestures can go a long way in making your staff feel recognized and energized about their contributions to the company. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, unique incentives, or fostering a strong sense of community, there are myriad creative approaches to expressing appreciation. Personalized recognition A simple but powerful way to make employees feel appreciated is through personalized recognition of their efforts. According to Asim Hafeez, Owner and Operator of Empower Energy Solutions, “Showing your employees that you genuinely care through personal gestures that recognize their value and contributions resonates deeply.” This recognition can be as easy as direct, one-on-one praise or a handwritten thank-you note acknowledging specific contributions. Whatever approach you take, make sure to tell your employees face-to-face that they are doing well. Public recognition is also highly impactful. “Recognizing employees' achievements in team meetings or through company-wide communications makes them feel valued and seen by their peers and the broader organization,” says Amanda Webster, vice president of Fund & Grow. Simple acts like announcing an “Employee of the Month” or giving shout-outs during meetings can motivate individuals and foster a culture of collaboration. Team building and community Creating a strong sense of community and team cohesion is another way to make employees feel truly part of something bigger. “Organize events that allow employees to relax and bond outside work, such as team dinners, outings, or recreational activities,” Webster suggests. “These events can enhance team cohesion and make everyone feel like part of a community.” Jay Avigdor, CEO and president of Velocity Capital Group, takes this principle even further by striving to build a truly family-like atmosphere. “Everyone here is far more than an employee — we're all family,” he says. “Team-building activities, outings, and fostering an authentic sense of belonging will pay dividends in productivity and retention efforts.” Professional development opportunities Investing in both your employees’ professional and personal growth demonstrates a vested interest in their long-term success. “I can’t stress enough how everything stems from genuine care,” Hafeez notes. “Investing in your employees’ personal growth and professional development shows that you care, and they will be more willing to offer the same care right back into your company.” For example, Webster states, “Investing in your employees' growth by providing training, workshops, or courses shows that you value their development and future.” However, providing learning opportunities is only one facet. “Consistent feedback and open communication are essential,” says Asha Tarry, a licensed psychotherapist, caregiver coach, and owner of Behavioral Health Consulting Services LMSW, PLLC. “Employees like periodic updates on their work performance because it allows them to take inventory of themselves and set short-term goals they can review with their managers.” As Tarry explains, this dialogue allows employees to gain clarity on expectations and voice any needs for further training or support. It also facilitates an environment where growth is prioritized and shows you are actively invested in their professional journeys. Unique incentives and perks Creative incentives and fun workplace perks can infuse excitement and tangible rewards into your appreciation efforts. Avigdor, for example, utilizes an innovative “spinning wheel” system. “The more we fund, the more spins they get,” Avigdor explains. “For every $1 million we fund, the team gets a spin at the end of the month for items like new Airpods, cash prizes of $150 or $200, mystery prizes, and gift cards. If we fund more, it means they’ve worked harder, and the more spins they get.” Avigdor goes on to describe additional creative perks at his company. “One day, we had breakfast that came to the office with an omelet chef and a guy who makes professional espressos,” he says. “We even shut down the office once early and had a ventriloquist come for some entertainment!” Other ideas include office treats, creative spaces to recharge, or unique team bonuses. Showing genuine care At the core of any effective appreciation strategy is genuine care and interest in your employees as whole individuals. Hafeez suggests asking questions like, “When was the last time we asked them what their dreams were? When was the last time we had them submit a list of their dreams and followed up with them?” Finding ways to add value to employees' lives outside of work, whether funding a class they're interested in or connecting them to resources, shows that you see them as multidimensional people. “I think that's where the good stuff comes in — when we take genuine interest in adding value to their lives outside,” Hafeez says. Equally important is leading with empathy and consideration. “Being a considerate and respectful speaker had an impact on my self-esteem and performance,” Tarry reflects. “It created more anxiety not only in me, but I saw it firsthand in my colleagues. Conversely, when I worked with managers who were ‘people leaders,’ my mood was better.” When fostering a culture of appreciation within your organization, it’s clear that the simplest gestures often yield the most significant impact. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, fostering a strong sense of community, or investing in professional growth, the key lies in demonstrating genuine care for your employees. By recognizing and celebrating their contributions publicly and privately, you can boost morale and cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Furthermore, providing opportunities for growth and development, along with creative incentives and perks, reinforces your commitment to their success and well-being. Ultimately, leading with empathy and consideration establishes a foundation of trust and support, paving the way for a motivated and engaged workforce. This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author One of the most effective ways to cultivate an engaged and productive team is to actively demonstrate appreciation for your employees’ hard work and dedication. When individuals feel genuinely valued by their employer, it translates into improved morale, heightened job satisfaction, increased productivity, and greater overall retention. Showing genuine gratitude doesn't have to be an elaborate or costly endeavor. Even seemingly simple yet thoughtful gestures can go a long way in making your staff feel recognized and energized about their contributions to the company. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, unique incentives, or fostering a strong sense of community, there are myriad creative approaches to expressing appreciation. Personalized recognition Personalized recognition A simple but powerful way to make employees feel appreciated is through personalized recognition of their efforts. According to Asim Hafeez, Owner and Operator of Empower Energy Solutions , “Showing your employees that you genuinely care through personal gestures that recognize their value and contributions resonates deeply.” Empower Energy Solutions Empower Energy Solutions This recognition can be as easy as direct, one-on-one praise or a handwritten thank-you note acknowledging specific contributions. Whatever approach you take, make sure to tell your employees face-to-face that they are doing well. Public recognition is also highly impactful. “Recognizing employees' achievements in team meetings or through company-wide communications makes them feel valued and seen by their peers and the broader organization,” says Amanda Webster, vice president of Fund & Grow . Simple acts like announcing an “Employee of the Month” or giving shout-outs during meetings can motivate individuals and foster a culture of collaboration. Fund & Grow Fund & Grow Team building and community Team building and community Creating a strong sense of community and team cohesion is another way to make employees feel truly part of something bigger. “Organize events that allow employees to relax and bond outside work, such as team dinners, outings, or recreational activities,” Webster suggests. “These events can enhance team cohesion and make everyone feel like part of a community.” Jay Avigdor, CEO and president of Velocity Capital Group , takes this principle even further by striving to build a truly family-like atmosphere. “Everyone here is far more than an employee — we're all family,” he says. “Team-building activities, outings, and fostering an authentic sense of belonging will pay dividends in productivity and retention efforts.” Velocity Capital Group Velocity Capital Group Professional development opportunities Professional development opportunities Investing in both your employees’ professional and personal growth demonstrates a vested interest in their long-term success. “I can’t stress enough how everything stems from genuine care,” Hafeez notes. “Investing in your employees’ personal growth and professional development shows that you care, and they will be more willing to offer the same care right back into your company.” For example, Webster states, “Investing in your employees' growth by providing training, workshops, or courses shows that you value their development and future.” However, providing learning opportunities is only one facet. “Consistent feedback and open communication are essential,” says Asha Tarry, a licensed psychotherapist, caregiver coach, and owner of Behavioral Health Consulting Services LMSW, PLLC. “Employees like periodic updates on their work performance because it allows them to take inventory of themselves and set short-term goals they can review with their managers.” As Tarry explains, this dialogue allows employees to gain clarity on expectations and voice any needs for further training or support. It also facilitates an environment where growth is prioritized and shows you are actively invested in their professional journeys. Unique incentives and perks Unique incentives and perks Creative incentives and fun workplace perks can infuse excitement and tangible rewards into your appreciation efforts. Avigdor, for example, utilizes an innovative “spinning wheel” system. “The more we fund, the more spins they get,” Avigdor explains. “For every $1 million we fund, the team gets a spin at the end of the month for items like new Airpods, cash prizes of $150 or $200, mystery prizes, and gift cards. If we fund more, it means they’ve worked harder, and the more spins they get.” Avigdor goes on to describe additional creative perks at his company. “One day, we had breakfast that came to the office with an omelet chef and a guy who makes professional espressos,” he says. “We even shut down the office once early and had a ventriloquist come for some entertainment!” Other ideas include office treats, creative spaces to recharge, or unique team bonuses. Showing genuine care Showing genuine care At the core of any effective appreciation strategy is genuine care and interest in your employees as whole individuals. Hafeez suggests asking questions like, “When was the last time we asked them what their dreams were? When was the last time we had them submit a list of their dreams and followed up with them?” Finding ways to add value to employees' lives outside of work, whether funding a class they're interested in or connecting them to resources, shows that you see them as multidimensional people. “I think that's where the good stuff comes in — when we take genuine interest in adding value to their lives outside,” Hafeez says. Equally important is leading with empathy and consideration. “Being a considerate and respectful speaker had an impact on my self-esteem and performance,” Tarry reflects. “It created more anxiety not only in me, but I saw it firsthand in my colleagues. Conversely, when I worked with managers who were ‘people leaders,’ my mood was better.” When fostering a culture of appreciation within your organization, it’s clear that the simplest gestures often yield the most significant impact. Whether through personalized acknowledgments, fostering a strong sense of community, or investing in professional growth, the key lies in demonstrating genuine care for your employees. By recognizing and celebrating their contributions publicly and privately, you can boost morale and cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Furthermore, providing opportunities for growth and development, along with creative incentives and perks, reinforces your commitment to their success and well-being. Ultimately, leading with empathy and consideration establishes a foundation of trust and support, paving the way for a motivated and engaged workforce. This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author This story was distributed by Jon Stojan Media under HackerNoon’s Brand As An Author Program. Learn more about the program here: https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author https://business.hackernoon.com/brand-as-author

Empowering Your Team: 5 Easy Ways To Show Employee Appreciation

আপনার দলকে ক্ষমতায়ন করা: কর্মচারীর প্রশংসা দেখানোর 5টি সহজ উপায়

Bestärken Sie Ihr Team: 5 einfache Möglichkeiten, Ihren Mitarbeitern Wertschätzung zu zeigen

Empoderar a su equipo: 5 formas sencillas de mostrar aprecio a los empleados

Donner du pouvoir à votre équipe : 5 façons simples de montrer l'appréciation de vos employés

अपनी टीम को सशक्त बनाना: कर्मचारियों की सराहना दिखाने के 5 आसान तरीके

チームに力を与える: 従業員に感謝の気持ちを伝える 5 つの簡単な方法

팀 역량 강화: 직원에게 감사를 표시하는 5가지 쉬운 방법

Capacitando sua equipe: 5 maneiras fáceis de mostrar a valorização dos funcionários

Расширение возможностей вашей команды: 5 простых способов показать признательность сотрудникам

Ekibinizi Güçlendirmek: Çalışan Takdirini Göstermenin 5 Kolay Yolu

Trao quyền cho nhóm của bạn: 5 cách dễ dàng để thể hiện sự đánh giá cao của nhân viên

赋予团队权力：表达对员工赞赏的 5 种简单方法

One of the most repeated questions I get is: how do I evaluate whether I should join an early seed-stage startup? Embarking on a journey with a startup is akin to taking a leap of faith. While there's no guarantee of success, conducting due diligence can significantly mitigate risks. Having been in such a position a couple of times myself, I wanted to share the framework I use that may help you make your decision. For a quick background, the first startup I joined after my undergrad, MIME360, was acquired by Flipkart to build out its digital store. The four years I worked at Flipkart, it went through a hyper-growth phase to become India's biggest eCommerce company. After doing my Masters in Computer Science from Columbia University, I was fortunate to find another set of high performers with TellApart. TellApart ended up being Twitter's biggest acquisition, and I was fortunate to be part of that journey too. After spending 6 years building ad products at Twitter, I wanted to get back to early-stage companies, which led me to join Frec as a founding engineer. Frec is a fintech startup, democratizing complex financial instruments which were previously accessible to a wealthy few. Unlike MIME360 and TellApart, where I was very early in my career and also just at the right place at the right time, Frec was a very intentional decision. I had worked with some of the other founding engineers before, so I was confident the team was capable of executing. Josh McFarland (TellApart founder) was the lead investor from Greylock, so that was another huge vote of confidence. When I spoke to Mo Al Adham, the founder of Frec, his thoughts about the team and product-market fit complimented mine, and I was convinced I was making the right decision. Given my prior experience with small and medium-sized start-ups, some of my friends/colleagues reach out to me to help evaluate a startup they’re considering joining. Joining a new company is a big step, both personally and professionally. Making an informed decision is much easier with public companies since a lot of resources/metrics that you might need are already available like revenue growth, median salary for your role, opinion of current and past employees, etc. Such data is generally not available for most startups, especially the early-stage ones (pre-series B) which makes it quite a risky prospect. We know start-ups are inherently hard, and while there is no guarantee of success, you can definitely mitigate some risk by doing your own due diligence. Most start-ups are aware of this and are willing to share information with potential employees within reasonable limits. It's essential to remember that joining a startup is not just about being hired; it's a mutual exploration where you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Before saying yes to joining a startup, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of what you aim to gain from the experience. With the hope that it can help others as well, I am sharing some of the things I considered when making my decision to join Frec. Product Understanding the product is fundamental as it forms the cornerstone of the startup's existence. What problem are you trying to solve? What positions you to best solve this problem? Do you have product-market fit (PMF)? If not, what does PMF look like to you? In other words, what metrics will convince you that you've attained PMF? Who are your primary competitors, and what differentiates you from them? What is the biggest pain point for your product/customers right now? Who is the target audience?

As a side note, it always helps if it’s a product you believe you will actually use (now or in the future) Company Evaluating the company's overall health and trajectory is vital for long-term commitment. You don't want to join a company for 6 months for it to run out of money. These questions will help evaluate the health of the company and what are their plans for the next 1-2 years. What's your burn rate and what are your future funding plans? Alternate: What is the current runway?
How much is the current revenue (if any)? Future plans for revenue streams? Team The dynamics and cohesion within the team can significantly impact your experience and success within the startup. Even if there is no financial success, you can still gain a lot by working with a high-performing team. Has anyone already left the company, and if so, why?
How do you facilitate onboarding for new team members?
How do people collaborate and resolve conflicts within the team?
What is the company’s policy on remote or flexible work?
How often do people work from the office? (This might have a significant impact on your decision as well. Early in your career, you want to work with people in the office as much as possible) Founder Understanding the vision and leadership style of the founder(s) can provide insights into the startup's direction. Is this the founder’s first startup or do they have previous exits?


Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well.



For solo founders: Why do it solo considering the percentage of success from solo founders is less? How does the founder brainstorm ideas? For multiple founders: How are conflicts resolved, and how are decisions made? Investors The motivations behind investor backing can shed light on the perceived potential of the startup from a third party. A lot of times startups will let you talk to their investors too. If you’ve already cleared the interviews, then they'll try hard to sell you. You should research the quality of investors backing the company, their past bets, success rate, etc. Why did the investors choose to invest in the founder/company? Are they betting on the team or the product?


What does PMF look like to them?


Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision




Is the press related to the investment? Role Clarifying your role and expectations ensures alignment between personal growth and company objectives. For technical roles, understanding the technological landscape is crucial. A lot of times I’ve seen engineers burnt out by simply using bad tools for the job. How does my role contribute to improving the product?
What does success look like in this role, and how will I be measured? Alternate: Who is your ideal candidate?
What is the technology stack?
What processes are in place for planning, testing, and code reviews?
What is the on-call rotation like? How is deployment managed? As you might have noticed, we're intentionally skipping compensation/benefits in this set of questions, since it can be a post on its own. Not to mention startup compensation gets really complex with ISOs, options, PPU, 409a evaluation, strike price, exercise price, etc. Another aspect not covered that might be crucial to you is immigration-related questions in case you need a work visa. Remember, this isn't meant to be a comprehensive list. You might care about some criteria more than others. By asking the right questions and delving deep into various aspects of the startup, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your career goals and aspirations. One of the most repeated questions I get is: how do I evaluate whether I should join an early seed-stage startup? Embarking on a journey with a startup is akin to taking a leap of faith. While there's no guarantee of success, conducting due diligence can significantly mitigate risks. Having been in such a position a couple of times myself, I wanted to share the framework I use that may help you make your decision. For a quick background, the first startup I joined after my undergrad, MIME360, was acquired by Flipkart to build out its digital store. The four years I worked at Flipkart, it went through a hyper-growth phase to become India's biggest eCommerce company. After doing my Masters in Computer Science from Columbia University, I was fortunate to find another set of high performers with TellApart. TellApart ended up being Twitter's biggest acquisition, and I was fortunate to be part of that journey too. After spending 6 years building ad products at Twitter, I wanted to get back to early-stage companies, which led me to join Frec as a founding engineer. Frec is a fintech startup, democratizing complex financial instruments which were previously accessible to a wealthy few. Unlike MIME360 and TellApart, where I was very early in my career and also just at the right place at the right time, Frec was a very intentional decision. I had worked with some of the other founding engineers before, so I was confident the team was capable of executing. Josh McFarland (TellApart founder) was the lead investor from Greylock, so that was another huge vote of confidence. When I spoke to Mo Al Adham, the founder of Frec, his thoughts about the team and product-market fit complimented mine, and I was convinced I was making the right decision. Given my prior experience with small and medium-sized start-ups, some of my friends/colleagues reach out to me to help evaluate a startup they’re considering joining. Joining a new company is a big step, both personally and professionally. Making an informed decision is much easier with public companies since a lot of resources/metrics that you might need are already available like revenue growth, median salary for your role, opinion of current and past employees, etc. Such data is generally not available for most startups, especially the early-stage ones (pre-series B) which makes it quite a risky prospect. We know start-ups are inherently hard, and while there is no guarantee of success, you can definitely mitigate some risk by doing your own due diligence. Most start-ups are aware of this and are willing to share information with potential employees within reasonable limits. It's essential to remember that joining a startup is not just about being hired; it's a mutual exploration where you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Before saying yes to joining a startup, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of what you aim to gain from the experience. With the hope that it can help others as well, I am sharing some of the things I considered when making my decision to join Frec. Product Understanding the product is fundamental as it forms the cornerstone of the startup's existence. Understanding the product is fundamental as it forms the cornerstone of the startup's existence. What problem are you trying to solve? What positions you to best solve this problem? What problem are you trying to solve? What positions you to best solve this problem? Do you have product-market fit (PMF)? If not, what does PMF look like to you? In other words, what metrics will convince you that you've attained PMF? Do you have product-market fit (PMF)? If not, what does PMF look like to you? In other words, what metrics will convince you that you've attained PMF? Who are your primary competitors, and what differentiates you from them? Who are your primary competitors, and what differentiates you from them? What is the biggest pain point for your product/customers right now? What is the biggest pain point for your product/customers right now? Who is the target audience?

As a side note, it always helps if it’s a product you believe you will actually use (now or in the future) Who is the target audience? As a side note, it always helps if it’s a product you believe you will actually use (now or in the future) As a side note, it always helps if it’s a product you believe you will actually use (now or in the future) As a side note, it always helps if it’s a product you believe you will actually use (now or in the future) Company Evaluating the company's overall health and trajectory is vital for long-term commitment. You don't want to join a company for 6 months for it to run out of money. These questions will help evaluate the health of the company and what are their plans for the next 1-2 years. Evaluating the company's overall health and trajectory is vital for long-term commitment. What's your burn rate and what are your future funding plans? Alternate: What is the current runway? How much is the current revenue (if any)? Future plans for revenue streams? What's your burn rate and what are your future funding plans? Alternate: What is the current runway? How much is the current revenue (if any)? Future plans for revenue streams? Team The dynamics and cohesion within the team can significantly impact your experience and success within the startup. Even if there is no financial success, you can still gain a lot by working with a high-performing team. The dynamics and cohesion within the team can significantly impact your experience and success within the startup. Has anyone already left the company, and if so, why? How do you facilitate onboarding for new team members? How do people collaborate and resolve conflicts within the team? What is the company’s policy on remote or flexible work? How often do people work from the office? (This might have a significant impact on your decision as well. Early in your career, you want to work with people in the office as much as possible) Has anyone already left the company, and if so, why? How do you facilitate onboarding for new team members? How do people collaborate and resolve conflicts within the team? What is the company’s policy on remote or flexible work? How often do people work from the office? (This might have a significant impact on your decision as well. Early in your career, you want to work with people in the office as much as possible) Founder Understanding the vision and leadership style of the founder(s) can provide insights into the startup's direction. Understanding the vision and leadership style of the founder(s) can provide insights into the startup's direction. Is this the founder’s first startup or do they have previous exits?


Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well. For solo founders: Why do it solo considering the percentage of success from solo founders is less? How does the founder brainstorm ideas? Is this the founder’s first startup or do they have previous exits? Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well. Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well. Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well. Note: Founders with previous exists (IPO/acquisitions) have done it before and know the recipe well. For solo founders: Why do it solo considering the percentage of success from solo founders is less? How does the founder brainstorm ideas? For multiple founders: How are conflicts resolved, and how are decisions made? For multiple founders: How are conflicts resolved, and how are decisions made? Investors The motivations behind investor backing can shed light on the perceived potential of the startup from a third party. The motivations behind investor backing can shed light on the perceived potential of the startup from a third party. A lot of times startups will let you talk to their investors too. If you’ve already cleared the interviews, then they'll try hard to sell you. You should research the quality of investors backing the company, their past bets, success rate, etc. A lot of times startups will let you talk to their investors too. If you’ve already cleared the interviews, then they'll try hard to sell you. You should research the quality of investors backing the company, their past bets, success rate, etc. Why did the investors choose to invest in the founder/company? Are they betting on the team or the product? What does PMF look like to them?


Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision Is the press related to the investment? Why did the investors choose to invest in the founder/company? Are they betting on the team or the product? Why did the investors choose to invest in the founder/company? Are they betting on the team or the product? What does PMF look like to them? Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision What does PMF look like to them? Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision Hopefully, it’s aligned with Founders vision Is the press related to the investment? Is the press related to the investment? Role Clarifying your role and expectations ensures alignment between personal growth and company objectives. Clarifying your role and expectations ensures alignment between personal growth and company objectives. For technical roles, understanding the technological landscape is crucial. A lot of times I’ve seen engineers burnt out by simply using bad tools for the job. How does my role contribute to improving the product? What does success look like in this role, and how will I be measured? Alternate: Who is your ideal candidate? What is the technology stack? What processes are in place for planning, testing, and code reviews? What is the on-call rotation like? How is deployment managed? How does my role contribute to improving the product? What does success look like in this role, and how will I be measured? Alternate: Who is your ideal candidate? What is the technology stack? What processes are in place for planning, testing, and code reviews? What is the on-call rotation like? How is deployment managed? As you might have noticed, we're intentionally skipping compensation/benefits in this set of questions, since it can be a post on its own. Not to mention startup compensation gets really complex with ISOs, options, PPU, 409a evaluation, strike price, exercise price, etc. compensation/benefits Another aspect not covered that might be crucial to you is immigration-related questions in case you need a work visa. Remember, this isn't meant to be a comprehensive list. You might care about some criteria more than others. By asking the right questions and delving deep into various aspects of the startup, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your career goals and aspirations.

WORKFEED

workfeed.io

11-50 employees

Since 2017

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WORKFEED

workfeed.io

11-50 employees

Since 2017

COMPANY RANKING

WORKFEED

EVERGREEN INDEX #11891

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