Hey all, I’m Mandeep. For the past two years I’ve mostly seen the Bay Area from the outside, despite living here. I moved here from London with my family to build Pump Up alongside my cofounder, and we did what you’re supposed to do at that stage: put our heads down and built.

Heads-down was the right call - classic PG advice. It’s also a habit that quietly becomes a dangerous default, putting everything else on hold and focussing on shipping regardless. However, we’re in the middle of the most interesting industry shift either of us can remember, in the city where most of it is happening, and consuming it all from the sidelines feels limiting. So, time to start writing.