All of our CTOs articles

The 30 Best Pieces of Advice for Entrepreneurs in 2021

Start the new year off on the right footing with the 30 most impactful insights and ultra-tactical frameworks from every article we published in 2021.

Hiring a VP of Engineering? Use This Framework from Shopify’s VPE to Get it Right

After more than 20 years in tech, eight companies, and thousands of hires, Shopify's Farhan Thawar shares his go-to-framework for snagging a VP of Engineering. From the skills that are most important to the questions to ask and red flags to watch out for, his advice will help founders dive several l

The Founder's Field Guide for Navigating a Crisis — Advice from Recession-Era Leaders, Investors and CEOs Currently at the Helm

We've tapped First Round partners, recession-era founders and our community of CEOs to put together the most comprehensive guide available about what it takes to lead a startup during this economic crisis. From extending your runway and reducing burn to supporting your team, this guide tackles the t

Veteran CTO (with Multiple Successful Exits) Answers Your Top Startup-Building Questions

Adil Ajmal has built several standout technical organizations from scratch to successful acquisition. Here, he answers the toughest questions from our community.

How Instagram Co-founder Mike Krieger Took Its Engineering Org from 0 to 300 People

Instagram Co-founder and CTO Mike Krieger built one of the industry's leading technical teams from scratch. Here's how he navigated rapid scale.

The Best Advice We Overheard at First Round's CTO Unconference

Our second annual CTO Unconference brought together 160+ of the sharpest technical leaders we know. Here's a rundown of some of the best tactics we heard them share.

Forget Technical Debt — Here's How to Build Technical Wealth

Andrea Goulet runs a software SWAT Team — parachuting in to help companies fix bad code that's holding them back. Here's what she's learned on the job.

Shims, Jigs and Other Woodworking Concepts to Conquer Technical Debt

One Medical CTO Kimber Lockhart subscribes to a philosophy -- inspired by woodworking -- that helps startups judiciously control technical debt. Here's how it works.

How to Spot and Magnify the Powers of Your Engineering Superheroes

Looker founder and CTO Lloyd Tabb shares how to best recognize and channel the abilities of your most extraordinary engineers.