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Kelsey Hightower

What Kelsey Hightower thinks about startups

@kelsey-hightower · 28 positions · On ppll ↗

Self-taught software engineer, formerly a distinguished engineer at Google Cloud and one of the most visible voices in the Kubernetes community; retired from full-time work in 2023 and now advises and invests.

Kelsey Hightower did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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2 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Kelsey Hightower has said — not written or endorsed by them.

2 positions so far — this page is not yet offered to search engines.

  1. Our readingEntrepreneurship is over-glorified: a parts-and-service business has none of the upside people imagine, because it does not grow the way a software company does.

    Their wordsand it turns out people kind of over glorify entrepreneurship. I think a lot of people believe there is tremendous upside, right? the type of entrepreneurship we talk about with software companies, the the upside is crazy. But when you're doing like selling parts or service business, unless you plan to open lots of stores and you know grow a larger employee base, it's not the same growth trajectory as software companies.

    ↗Kubernetes and retiring at the top with Kelsey Hightoweryoutube.com 1st of 28 in this recording

  3. Our readingBan the word AI from a pitch and the founder is forced to show you the actual problem — the word is an umbrella people hide the details under.

    Their wordsdo not say AI because what we don't want to do is use a big umbrella to describe what you're doing. Let's get concrete details. These are computers. These are computer programs.

    ↗Kubernetes and retiring at the top with Kelsey Hightoweryoutube.com 19th of 28 in this recording