Stepping out of a structured engineering role into the fast-paced, unpredictable world of an early-stage startup can be daunting—but making that leap is a powerful catalyst for long-term career growth. Whether you are thinking of becoming a founding engineer, joining a small startup, or eventually launching your own venture, this session is designed to break down the psychological barriers, technical friction, and operational shifts required to thrive in the "0 to 1" phase.

The event is divided into two core perspectives:

Niv Huga & Liad Hazoot | MATIA Founding Engineers & R&D Team Leads "Founding Engineer: Building a Company, Building Yourself" — Niv and Liad will share what it really means to be on the ground floor of a growing company. They will dive into the mindset shift required to move from executing isolated technical tasks to taking true ownership of a product. They’ll explore how navigating the ambiguity of an early-stage startup doesn't just build a business—it rapidly accelerates your personal and professional development as a technical leader.

Gilad Mor-Hayim | Winn.AI CTO "What Entrepreneurship Taught Me About Being a Better VP R&D" — Gilad will look at the long game, exploring how entrepreneurial thinking fundamentally upgrades your engineering leadership. He will share key insights on how understanding business goals, managing rapid iteration, and embracing an entrepreneurial drive make you a significantly more effective R&D executive—whether you are building your own company or leading teams within high-growth startups.