McGrew: Startups should avoid FDE strategy unless no alternative works
Bob McGrew · The FDE Playbook for AI Startups with Bob McGrew · Y Combinator · Sep 8, 2025 · at 24:35
Former Palantir executive and OpenAI Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew discusses whether early-stage startups should adopt a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) model.
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“My first, second, and third pieces of advice to people who are thinking about trying an FDU strategy is like, don't, Don't do this at home. If you can avoid it, like it's probably bad for you. Probably you're going to end up doing services. And then only if you really try hard not to do it and fail, then, well then maybe actually it's a moat for you.”
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