Koko, a mental health service providing anonymous peer support and clinical care, is seeking a CTO/Lead Engineer. This role will be responsible for leading the engineering team, building and scaling the platform, and shaping the technical strategy. The ideal candidate has experience building and scaling consumer-facing products, managing engineering teams, and working with complex data pipelines and infrastructure. This is a crucial role with significant impact, joining a fast-growing company focused on making mental healthcare more accessible.
Posh, a YC W22 startup, is hiring an Energy Analysis & Modeling Engineer. This role will involve building and maintaining energy models to optimize battery performance and efficiency within their virtual power plant (VPP) software platform. The ideal candidate has experience in energy systems modeling, optimization algorithms, and data analysis, preferably with a background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field. They are looking for someone proficient in Python and comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.
The Hacker News comments express skepticism and concern about Posh's business model and the specific job posting. Several commenters question the viability of Posh's approach to automating customer service for banks, citing the complexity of financial transactions and the potential for errors. Others express concerns about the low salary offered for the required skillset, particularly given the location (Boston). Some speculate about the high turnover hinted at by the constant hiring and question the long-term prospects of the company. The general sentiment seems to be one of caution and doubt about Posh's potential for success.
Yhangry, a YC W22 startup offering private chef services for groups, is hiring for various roles. They're seeking talented individuals passionate about food and hospitality to join their growing team. Specifically, they're looking to fill engineering, operations, sales, and marketing positions. They emphasize a collaborative, fast-paced environment and the opportunity to build a disruptive brand within the food-tech industry. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the provided links regardless of specific experience matching the listed roles, as Yhangry prioritizes passion and drive.
The Hacker News comments are primarily focused on Yhangry's business model and the challenges it faces. Several commenters question the long-term viability of the "shared dining experience" for corporate catering, citing potential logistical issues, varying dietary needs, and the inherent awkwardness of forced socialization with coworkers. Some express skepticism about the target market's willingness to pay a premium for this service, particularly during economic downturns. Others suggest alternative business models like individual meal delivery or focusing on niche markets. There's also a brief discussion on the ethics and implications of sharing compensation information. Overall, the comments express a cautious curiosity about Yhangry, acknowledging the potential while also raising significant concerns about its scalability and market fit.
Verse, a YC W22 startup building a social payments app designed for Gen Z, is hiring engineers. They're looking for engineers experienced with Go, Typescript/React Native, and mobile development. The company emphasizes a fast-paced, collaborative environment where engineers can have a significant impact on product development. They're open to both remote and in-person roles in Madrid and highlight the opportunity to work on a challenging and rewarding product aimed at disrupting the social payments landscape.
The Hacker News comments on the Verse (YC W22) hiring post are largely focused on the company's practice of exclusively using SMS for communication. Some users express skepticism about scaling this approach, citing potential limitations with group chats, international messaging costs, and user experience compared to established messaging apps. Others see potential benefits in its simplicity, especially for reaching users who may not have smartphones or data plans. Several commenters inquire about data privacy and security concerns related to SMS. There's also discussion about Verse's revenue model and how they plan to monetize the platform. Finally, some users express general interest in the company and its approach to social networking.
Sei, a Y Combinator-backed company building the fastest Layer 1 blockchain specifically designed for trading, is hiring a Full-Stack Engineer. This role will focus on building and maintaining core features of their trading platform, working primarily with TypeScript and React. The ideal candidate has experience with complex web applications, a strong understanding of data structures and algorithms, and a passion for the future of finance and decentralized technologies.
The Hacker News comments express skepticism and concern about the job posting. Several users question the extremely wide salary range ($140k-$420k), viewing it as a red flag and suggesting it's a ploy to attract a broader range of candidates while potentially lowballing them. Others criticize the emphasis on "GenAI" in the title, seeing it as hype-driven and possibly indicating a lack of focus. There's also discussion about the demanding requirements listed for a "full-stack" role, with some arguing that the expectations are unrealistic for a single engineer. Finally, some commenters express general wariness towards blockchain/crypto companies, referencing previous market downturns and questioning the long-term viability of Sei.
Summary of Comments ( 0 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43285020
HN commenters discuss Koko's CTO search, expressing skepticism and concern about the apparent lack of technical leadership within the company, especially given its focus on mental health and reliance on AI. Some question the wisdom of seeking a CTO so late in the company's development, suggesting it points to scaling or architectural challenges. Others raise ethical concerns about the use of AI in mental health, particularly regarding data privacy and the potential for algorithmic bias. Several comments note the potentially high-pressure environment of a mental health startup and the need for a CTO with experience navigating complex ethical and technical landscapes. Finally, the relatively high equity offered (0.5-1%) is seen by some as a red flag, indicating potential instability or a lack of other experienced engineers.
The Hacker News post discussing the Koko CTO/Lead Engineer job opening has generated several comments, primarily focusing on the ethical implications and potential risks of Koko's approach to mental health support.
One commenter expresses strong concern about the use of large language models (LLMs) for mental health support, highlighting the potential for manipulation and harm due to the lack of genuine empathy and understanding from these models. They question the ethics of using a vulnerable population, those seeking mental health help, as experimental subjects for this technology. This comment sparked further discussion about the limitations of LLMs and the importance of human oversight in such sensitive areas.
Another thread of discussion revolves around the potential legal and regulatory ramifications of using LLMs for mental health services. Commenters raise questions about liability in cases where the LLM provides incorrect or harmful advice, as well as the difficulty of ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA. The discussion touches on the complexities of informed consent when users might not fully understand the nature of the AI providing support.
Several commenters express skepticism about the long-term viability of this approach, questioning whether people would continue to use a service knowing that the responses are generated by a machine. They speculate about the potential for a negative emotional response upon discovering the lack of human interaction.
Some commenters, while acknowledging the ethical concerns, offer a more nuanced perspective. They suggest that LLMs could potentially be useful as a supplementary tool for mental health professionals, assisting with tasks like scheduling, providing information, or even drafting responses. However, they emphasize the importance of maintaining human oversight and control in these scenarios.
Finally, a few comments focus on the job posting itself, discussing the specific skills and experience required for the CTO role and speculating about the challenges the successful candidate might face. They also discuss the nature of the job itself, with some wondering whether it is indeed a CTO role given it appears there are no other engineers there to manage currently.
Overall, the comments on the Hacker News post reflect a mix of concern, skepticism, and cautious optimism regarding the use of AI in mental health. While some see potential benefits, the prevailing sentiment emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the ethical and practical implications before widespread deployment of such technology.