There is only one rule in this newsletter
Come with me, on a journey into the Land of Bros
This week was Startup Week in Austin. Though I am a longtime ATX resident and I’ve worked in tech almost the entire time, I’ve never attended in any form other than manning a company table in the Omni lobby during the Startup Crawl1.
This year I went all in, taking notes in my notebook like an analog freak2 and hiding in a hotel alcove to get some actual work done when I had reached the point of Human Interaction Burnout.
Of course, after panels, there are the themed happy hours that never have anything to do with the theme. Women in Tech3, Marketing and Branding, Please Fund My Startup It Has AI In The Name, ???Fuck It, Let’s Just Drink???, etc.
Please endorse me on LinkedIn for unicorn husbandry
While the sea of endless bros in polos was of course there, robotically asking to Connect On LinkedIn, I also met some incredibly cool people. And I kept hearing one thing that filled my cynical soul with joy:
“Everyone is so NICE here! I was just at D.C. Startup Week and this is. . .not the vibe.”
“I was just in the Bay area and nobody is this welcoming or helpful!”
Southern hospitality extends to Business, I am proud to say. While this city is far from perfect - especially as it undergoes its rapid growing pains - at least not all of us are total assholes, even in the Stereotypical Asshole Industry.
It’s so easy to get jaded and depressed about the state of things, watching endless rounds of layoffs because somehow idiots who cannot imagine anything beyond “growth at all costs” as a business model keep getting put in charge. But most people are good, actually.
They will invite you to sit at their table and tell you there is only one rule: here we do not discuss business. There will be no connecting on the Cursed Business Website for Broetry. We will simply talk the waitress into honoring our drink tickets while we consider the rich tapestry of life.
Obviously, I showed them all photos of my large dog.
Get Rec’d
What I’m reading, watching, being haunted by.
What I’m reading: I went to a midnight release party for Iron Flame on Monday because I am an insane person who cannot resist supporting my favorite local bookstore.
What I’m watching: Last weekend my pal hosted a movie viewing night in her backyard of the cinematic masterpiece Center Stage. We danced the hell out of it.
Reality: PSP always brings a level of nuance to things that helps me retain my sanity. In particular, I appreciate this week’s community notes.
Escapism: I am grabbing my cloak and stepping through the portal!!
Wildcard: I hope his sister is named Cassandra.
Until next time.
If you are unfamiliar, this is exactly what it sounds like; a recruitment happy hour where a bunch of job seekers get drunk and talk to a bunch of companies about maybe hiring them and it’s a perfect metaphor for this entire industry
There are fun doodles of robots and also a lot of yelling about the ethics of AI that the speakers avoid like the plague in there
The location for this one was on the other side of I-35 from the venue, so *chef’s kiss* on the safety aspect for any women wanting to walk over
Got canned heat in my heels tonight, baby