Converge, a YC S23 startup, is seeking its second engineer to join their New York City team. They are building a platform to automate the creation and management of financial models, primarily for private equity and venture capital. The ideal candidate is a full-stack engineer proficient in Javascript/Typescript and interested in FinTech. Experience with React, Node.js, and cloud platforms like AWS is preferred, but a strong foundation and a desire to learn are highly valued. Converge offers competitive salary and equity, alongside the opportunity to shape the technical direction of a rapidly growing company.
Converge, a promising startup currently participating in the prestigious Y Combinator Summer 2023 accelerator program, is actively seeking a highly skilled and motivated software engineer to join their burgeoning team as their second engineering hire, based in the vibrant metropolis of New York City. This represents an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious engineer to play a pivotal role in shaping the technological foundations and future direction of a rapidly growing company in its nascent stages. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of software development principles and best practices, coupled with a fervent desire to contribute to a dynamic and fast-paced startup environment.
Converge is developing a cutting-edge platform focused on revolutionizing business-to-business (B2B) software acquisition, specifically targeting the complexities of procuring enterprise software. The company aims to streamline and simplify the often arduous process of evaluating, negotiating, and ultimately purchasing software solutions for businesses. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from initial vendor identification and product comparison, through contract negotiation and pricing optimization, all the way to final implementation and ongoing management.
As the second engineer on the team, the successful applicant will collaborate closely with the founding team, including the first engineer, to architect, design, and implement core features of the Converge platform. This will involve contributing significantly to the overall technical strategy, making key technological decisions, and having a direct impact on the product's evolution. The role necessitates a hands-on approach to development, embracing the full software development lifecycle, from conceptualization and prototyping to deployment and maintenance. Furthermore, the engineer will be instrumental in establishing and maintaining a robust and scalable technical infrastructure to support the platform's growth and future expansion.
While the specific technologies mentioned include Python, Django REST Framework, React, and PostgreSQL, Converge emphasizes a pragmatic approach to technology selection and is open to employing other suitable tools and frameworks as needed. This adaptability is crucial in a startup environment where agility and responsiveness to evolving market demands are paramount. This role offers a unique opportunity to work on challenging technical problems, contribute meaningfully to a high-impact product, and be a part of a small, tightly-knit team at the forefront of innovation in the B2B software procurement space.
Summary of Comments ( 0 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43095067
Commenters on Hacker News discuss Converge's early stage and the implications for a potential engineer #2. Several express concerns about joining such a young company, highlighting the risks associated with its unproven business model and the significant influence a single engineer could have, which could be both exciting and potentially overwhelming. Others question the NYC location choice given Converge's focus on construction, a sector not traditionally associated with New York. Some commenters see the posting as a positive sign, suggesting it indicates Converge has secured initial funding and is progressing. A few users express interest in learning more about the company's tech stack. Overall, the sentiment is cautiously curious, with many waiting to see more evidence of Converge's viability before considering it a serious opportunity.
The Hacker News post titled "Converge (YC S23) is hiring engineer #2 in NYC" generated a modest discussion with a few key points raised.
One commenter questioned the valuation of the company, citing a $20M valuation on just $15K MRR as seemingly high. They speculated about potential undisclosed details or questioned the accuracy of the information presented. This comment sparked a brief discussion about typical valuations for YC companies and the possibility of additional funding rounds not being publicly available yet. Another user responded to this suggesting that perhaps the commenter misinterpreted the post, and was confusing MRR with ARR. They stated that a $20M valuation on $15K monthly recurring revenue would indeed be high, but a $20M valuation on $15K annual recurring revenue made more sense.
Another commenter expressed skepticism about the startup's long-term viability, suggesting the core idea of "automating workflows around B2B software evaluation & purchasing" might not be as substantial or defensible as it initially appears. They argued that the problem might not be significant enough to warrant a dedicated solution and existing tools might already address the issue adequately. This comment did not receive any responses.
Finally, one commenter simply stated they had applied for the position. This comment also did not receive any responses.
Overall, the comments reflected a cautious and somewhat skeptical perspective on the startup, with questions raised about its valuation and the true need for its proposed solution. There was no significant support or enthusiasm expressed for the company within the limited discussion.