Operators Guild

What an incredible night with OG #SF members at the private Dough Room at Flour + Water! 🍽️ The room itself was a conversation starter — by day, it's a functioning prep and baking space where all the food we enjoyed that night had been freshly made. By night, it became a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Thank you to Chapter Lead Jon Michaels for leading the evening and creating such an authentic and memorable setting! The night kicked off with a deep dive into the latest at DeepSeek and how AI agents like OpenAI's Operator are reshaping workflows. Then, pricing strategies, implementation challenges, and even a fun pivot to Pilates were all on the table! Smaller breakout groups later covered everything from job searching to managing family demands and kids' high school and college applications. A special thank you to Intercom and Junan Pang & Buck Henry for sponsoring! Thank you to all the OG members who made this such a thoughtful and fun evening — Jim Gellas, Neoshi Chhadva, Flora Hsu, Lyonna Lam, Roger Noyes, Jason Mighdoll, Meredith Parsons, Jonathan Heyne, Sydney Larson, Aayush Daftari, Daniel P., and Olivia Harries. Can’t wait for the next one! 🔥

Founders and Operators in Raleigh: Let’s talk sustainable growth We're thrilled to team up with CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development) to host this fireside chat and discussion at The Loading Dock on February 5th, 5:30–7:30 PM. On the agenda: ✅ Real stories and strategies from leaders in cybersecurity, SaaS, and life sciences ✅ Key insights on navigating founder-operator relationships, building aligned teams, and scaling sustainably ✅ Plenty of time for networking—both structured and organic Our panel features incredible leaders who’ve both been in the trenches and built at scale: ⭐ Dorothy Lou Bailey (Exo Therapeutics): President and COO with $100M+ fundraising experience ⭐ Austin Webb (Troupe.ai): CEO & Co-founder, repeat tech founder in groundbreaking robotics & AI ⭐ Joe Aurilia, Jr.(Cyware): SVP of Operations with 20+ years driving revenue growth and building global operations Moderated by: ⭐ Ginger Krieg Dosier (BIOME Consortia & Biomason): Founder, architect, visionary of pioneering biotechnology Who should attend? Startup founders and operators looking to gain insights & connect with other members of the community. 👉 RSVP Here to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/eVSwi652 #Founders #Operators #SustainableGrowth #RaleighStartups #CED #OperatorsGuild

In our recent virtual session with the OG Horizons group, we broke down the top VC insights for Climate Tech operators in 2025, including where capital is flowing, what’s grabbing investors’ attention, and the pressing tactical challenges operators are navigating in real time. Huge thanks to Nare Janvelyan, PhD, Jason Kalira, and Russell S. for sharing their expertise and making this event an invaluable resource for all of us. A few standout takeaways: ◾ Bridge rounds and extensions are becoming the norm—plan ahead, set milestones, and overcapitalize to stay ahead of challenges. ◾ VC specialization is here to stay, with funds becoming more focused on specific stages, geographies, and sectors (e.g., DAC, H2). ◾ Venture debt is pricier than before. Build strong relationships with providers and prepare for contingencies. ◾ Start scaling before you think you’re ready. Build systems, financial plans, and processes that will carry you through to your next round — and beyond. Special thanks to our group leads Sid Radhakrishna and Meredith Delich for bringing such an impactful event to the community!

OG #Seattle kicked off the new year with dinner at The Lakehouse — and what a night! A huge thank you to our incredible Chapter Leads, Hannah Weisman, PhD and William Zee, for hosting such a thoughtful and engaging evening. Highlights of the night included: ✨ Reflecting on personal and professional goals for the year ✨ Exploring the practical applications of LLM tools and emerging tech ✨ Breaking down the 2025 landscape for startups, VC funding, and business To all the attendees — Madhu Jagannathan, Michelangelo Ho, Paulina Mwangi, Ph.D., Soon-Chul Choi CPA, Yashbir Narechania, Yuqing Fan, An N., Atul Sahai, Darcy Rubel, Garritt Chrzanowski, Harry Siggins, and Juliana Su — thank you for bringing your perspectives and insights! Here’s to a powerful year ahead! 💥

Last night, OG #SF members came together at Kindred Ventures for a happy hour featuring a fireside chat between OG's Casey Woo and Kindred GP Steve Jang. Huge thanks to Nicolas Kopp and Rillet for making it all possible! The conversation dove into the state of the VC market and the trends shaping the future of tech. Some highlights: 👉 While consumer AI grabs headlines, B2B AI is where real innovation and value are happening right now 👉 Location matters. Being in the right place (SF is still the best for innovative tech!) increases the chances of connecting with talent, investors, and resources. 👉 The best founders are wired to build, disrupt, and thrive in the “zero to one” phase. It's a mindset. Thanks to everyone who came out to make this evening so great. We’re excited to keep bringing the OG community together for more impactful conversations!

Here's a sneak peek into the minds of the best operators in the world 👀 With over 1,000 members, the OG Brainhive has become the go-to space for operators to ask questions, share experiences, and tap into the collective wisdom of some of the sharpest leaders around. This year, OG members created 1,830 posts with 7,165 comments. 🤯 Check out some of the top conversations from 2024, based on engagement: 👉 The best FP&A software for midsized companies: A comprehensive roundup of recommendations and vendor feedback. 👉 Creating BizOps/StratOps teams + getting buy-in: How to establish and scale a BizOps/StratOps function, including hiring the right talent, navigating leadership dynamics, and structuring the assignment of projects and responsibilities. 👉 AI note-takers for non-sales: Finding the best tools for meeting efficiency across industries. 👉 Exploring entrepreneurship through acquisition: An inspiring thread about taking the leap into ETA. 👉 The best social activity for a 10+ fully remote team: Creative ideas for building connections in a remote-first company. 👉 Comp & location differential: A deep dive into how companies address pay equity in a distributed workforce. 👉 AI roadmaps for companies consuming it (not building it): Best practices for integrating AI tools into existing operations. 👉 Valuation caps on SAFE notes: A deep dive into what’s standard in today’s market, when to push back, and how to navigate negotiations with investors. 👉 Shifting from flexible (Unlimited) PTO to accrued: A lively debate about how to communicate the change, avoid cultural backlash, and maintain fairness while improving accountability. 👉 Leaving PEOs and registering in states: Operators are comparing notes on transitioning from Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) to direct registration—covering compliance risks, payroll considerations, and cost management. Don’t miss out on conversations like these. Become a member today to join in: https://lnkd.in/eYjepRT6

👋 Meet Viviane Crosthwaite, VP of Operations at Esper and OG #Denver Chapter Lead. In this Q&A, she shares about her career journey (and lessons learned along the way), the value of mentorship, and what makes the OG community so special. 👇

The OG #LA holiday event was something spectacular — great people, incredible food, and an unbeatable setting. Hosted in the stunning Sky Deck Club Room, the evening was expertly crafted by the award-winning Rosalynn Supper Club and the culinary genius Chef Jasper Lynn. A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who made this evening possible: Dean Quiambao, Partner, Todd Northrup, Jonathan LaMantia and Armanino, Audrey Hamilton and Zip, Liz Lee, Richard Klein, Brandon Penn, and Runway. Your support is invaluable in fostering this community and helping us create opportunities to bring operators together. To our rockstar chapter leads, Melanie Rohat-Meheust and Hogan L., thank you for your vision, leadership, and dedication in making this event successful. To everyone who attended, thank you for joining us, engaging, and making the evening truly memorable. Here’s to more nights like this — elevated experiences, meaningful connections, and operators at their best. ✨

The OG #Toronto chapter gathered at Lulu Bar Toronto for a night of great food, drinks, and company. Thank you to everyone who came out and made the night so awesome. A huge thanks to our sponsors, Kenneth Pham and Scotiabank and Ryan Middleton and Dentons, for helping us make this a night to remember. And a special shoutout to our Toronto chapter leads — Mark Dhillon, Cassie Wang, and Charlie Feng for their vision and leadership. This wouldn't have been possible without you!