NOTES FROM STEPHEN

We have some incredibly interesting interviews coming up over the next few weeks! I'll keep asking questions that get tactical, valuable or otherwise interesting answers out of people.

But these interviews are one-way conversations. You can't ask the follow-up question. You can't push back or add what you know.

That's what the community is for. If you want to actually collaborate with other JSuite subscribers, go there and post your own AMA, or ask a question in someone else's. That’s how we can strengthen the Jewish business community with more collaboration.

Now, on to this week’s email!

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THIS WEEK IN JSUITE

MEMBER OF THE WEEK

Eitan Zarin
Founding Class, University of Austin (UATX) · Engineer, The Boring Company
Austin, TX · Built a 7,000lbs tunneling machine with his roommates · Co-hosts JewATX Shabbat dinners

Eitan is a member of UATX's founding class. Last year he and his three roommates taught themselves welding, fabrication and electrical design and built most of a 7,000-lb tunneling machine for The Boring Company's university competition, going up against teams of 30-40. That got him an internship at The Boring Company, where he now works part-time on RF and electrical power systems. He's also spent a summer on Joe Lonsdale’s 8VC defense investment team, and he and his sister host monthly Shabbat dinners in Austin that pull 30 people.

I chose UATX to pursue the truth. I attended UATX's high school weekend programs a few years ago and was impressed by the general perspicacity and competence of my peers. The professors at those programs, who teach at the university, were clearly selected for their pedagogical excellence. The essence of the UATX student is why I stay. You can find it in the "religious philosopher builder": the student who devotes himself to G-d, is excited to learn the wisdom of the most brilliant people of the last 3,000 years, and understands the world well enough to build something meaningful and useful finds his home at UATX.

Last year, my three roommates and I decided to build a vertical tunneling machine after a class debate on the philosophy of hands-on work. We taught ourselves mechanical and electrical design, welding, fabrication and wiring, and built most of our 7,000-lb machine for The Boring Company's annual university tunneling competition. We were a team of four friends against teams of 30-40. We were efficient and cohesive because we had just one member per subsystem. I interned as an electrical test engineer at The Boring Company this summer and now work there part-time on RF and electrical power systems, while taking philosophy classes at UATX and building a horizontal tunneling machine with our new UATX recruits for next year's competition.

Quite a few things. On the engineering side, they move incredibly fast and focus on solving or expediting whatever is on the critical path to success. Questioning and deleting requirements are common, healthy practices at both 8VC companies and Elon companies. Both work in physical, regulated industries, which demand serious political knowledge and strategy. Their companies bet on people early: 8VC and TBC both hired me before I was qualified. And most of the information these founders consume is highly dense with very little noise, which is only achievable after reaching some success.

My sister and I host monthly Shabbat dinners in my apartment. Our September dinner had 30 attendees, which made for an absolutely electric Shabbat: half UATX students and faculty, half Jewish Austin professionals and UT students. Running these events is fun. A good event is one where every noun is accounted for: time, location, attendee list, activities, decor. I was surprised at how successful an organization built with no agenda can be.

I'd like to get married. Eventually, starting my own engineering company would be enjoyable. I plan to keep writing Substack articles to increase proximity to truth and realize the "religious philosopher builder" as I age.

Know a member worth featuring? Reply to this email with their name.

THREAD OF THE WEEK

Paige Wolf just launched ZEV, a Jewish communications collective, and is building a resource list of service providers who offer discounts to small Jewish nonprofits. If your business belongs on that list, get on it before it goes live.

Tara Hubara, founder of LIAHT, is looking for warm intros to writers, editors or podcast hosts who reach women interested in fashion and female founders. One member has already offered PR contacts in LA. Add yours.

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