Build Tech Better By Learning from the Experts

Hey, I’m Zephan, and I started Thought Leaders in Tech (TLT) because I wanted to share the kind of insights I wish I had when I was deep in the trenches—working at startups, talking to VCs, and learning what it really takes to build something that lasts.

TLT is a platform where I document the stories, strategies, and hard-earned lessons from some of the smartest founders, operators, and technologists I've met—particularly those building in AI and deep tech. These are the kinds of conversations that don't usually make it into polished blog posts or pitch decks—but they’re exactly what early-stage founders need to hear.

If you’re working on something ambitious and technical, I want TLT to be your playbook. Every interview, case study, and insight here is designed to help you avoid the common pitfalls, understand how others scaled, and get a little closer to building the future.

Unlike a typical blog or email newsletter, I don’t publish on a fixed schedule. I treat TLT as an ever-expanding database of tech founder knowledge—not a weekly update, but a growing archive of deep conversations and real insights. I publish only when I find someone worth learning from. That means every post is intentional, timeless, and built to be revisited.

If you’re a founder, operator, investor, developer, etc., with real insight to share—or you know one—I’d love to connect. I’m always looking for honest stories, hard-won lessons, and people building the future in thoughtful ways.

Let’s make something real.

— Zephan Hwang.