Vin Bui, after leaving his own YC-backed startup, found a new challenge at Nowadays, where he became the company’s first engineer. He quickly took ownership, building engineering infrastructure from scratch while pioneering AI voice technology that automates hotel negotiations.
- Vin Bui built Nowadays’ engineering and compliance systems as employee #1.
- He develops AI voice tools that enhance corporate event planning services.
- Nowadays scaled from startups to Fortune 500 clients like Google and Airbnb.
What happened
Vin Bui joined Nowadays as their first full-time engineer after leaving his own YC-backed startup and taking a break from Cornell. He was drawn to the company by its unique branding and a codebase that needed significant improvement, which motivated him to take on a technical founding role. At Nowadays, he took responsibility for building engineering operations, including leading efforts to achieve SOC 2 security compliance and instituting IT management frameworks from scratch.
In addition to establishing these foundational systems, Vin contributed hands-on to product innovation, focusing on AI-driven voice technology that automates phone interactions like hotel negotiations. This blend of technical leadership and implementation positioned Nowadays to scale from serving small startups to attracting major enterprise clients such as Google, Airbnb, and BlackRock.
Why it matters
Vin’s experience underscores the pivotal role early engineers play in shaping both the technical direction and culture of a startup. Acting as a de facto technical co-founder, he exemplified how initiative and self-reliance can overcome the absence of traditional mentorship by proactively seeking best practices from industry leaders. His dual focus on both infrastructure and product innovation reflects the unique demands on early technical hires at high-growth startups.
The success of Nowadays in onboarding Fortune 500 companies illustrates the value of solid engineering foundations combined with cutting-edge AI tools. Vin’s ability to build custom workflows, evaluate and orchestrate multiple AI models, and mentor teammates without formal managerial duties points to new ways of working in startup environments that prioritize autonomy, craft, and well-being.
What to watch next
As Nowadays continues to grow beyond its current 11-person team, the evolution of Vin’s role will be important to monitor. His shift towards becoming a key technical mentor and strategic problem triager suggests the startup is entering a phase where scaling engineering processes and enabling other developers will be critical. How the company balances rapid innovation with team health and autonomy could set an example within the competitive AI startup landscape.
Additionally, Vin’s focus on AI voice technology offers a window into potential new features and business developments at Nowadays. Tracking further advancements in automated negotiation and communication tools will provide insight into how AI applications are reshaping the events tech market. Finally, the company’s hiring efforts signal opportunities for engineers seeking fast-paced roles with substantial responsibility and an inclusive, health-conscious culture.