San Francisco, a city already rich with cultural and technological identities, is known by an array of affectionate nicknames. Beyond the familiar abbreviations—SF, San Fran, and even the slightly dated Frisco—its evolving relationship with technology has birthed a new moniker: “Cerebral Valley.” This nickname encapsulates the transformation of the Bay Area into the epicenter of artificial intelligence development and thought. In this shifting landscape, bound by creativity and a relentless pursuit of innovation, the city has become a beacon for young visionaries and ambitious builders.
Among those who see San Francisco through this lens is Julian Windeck, a 23-year-old founder of the AI startup Attention Engineering. For Windeck, the modern San Francisco mirrors a bygone epoch when imagination and intellectual curiosity were themselves the ultimate currencies. He draws a parallel between the city’s current technological renaissance and Florence during its artistic golden age. “What Florence was in the Renaissance, San Francisco is in the age of AI,” he remarked in an interview with Business Insider, summoning a vision of the city as a living workshop of invention, innovation, and creative synergy.
Windeck co-founded Attention Engineering earlier this year with Aidan Guo, a 19-year-old entrepreneur. Their company aims to craft a next-generation tool that transcends the traditional concept of a desktop assistant. Guo described their innovation as an intelligent companion capable of learning from its user with remarkable subtlety. Rather than functioning as a passive assistant awaiting commands, their system operates in an ambient and proactive manner, gradually attuning itself to the individual’s habits and goals. “It’s not exactly a desktop assistant,” Guo explained, “but something that evolves into one—immersive, intuitive, and deeply personal.” In its later iterations, he added, the software will progress toward automating nearly every task a person performs on their computer, effectively serving as what he termed “a cursor for everything.”
Guo, who originally hails from Vancouver, Canada, is currently on what he calls his “second gap year” from university. He made the consequential decision to forgo his studies at Carnegie Mellon University in favor of relocating to the Bay Area, a move emblematic of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines much of Silicon Valley. Once there, Guo immersed himself in programs such as Z Fellows and Emergent Ventures, both known for nurturing young innovators. Through these communities, he found not only valuable mentors but also a culture that actively encourages experimentation and bold thinking. “People are generous with their time, especially if you’re young,” he said, reflecting on how accessible the region’s network of founders and investors can be to those who demonstrate initiative.
Windeck’s path contrasts with his cofounder’s in its traditionality, though it led him to a similar destination. Originally from Germany, he pursued formal studies in computer science both in his home country and at the renowned University of Cambridge. His academic journey was followed by a period of dedicated AI research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Yet, despite his success in the academic sphere, Windeck ultimately decided it was not the right fit for him. “I didn’t want to be some cog in the machine,” he confessed, emphasizing his desire for creative autonomy and hands-on impact over the structured rigidity of institutional work.
The two founders first crossed paths through mutual acquaintances—Silas Alberti, cofounder of Cognition, and Marvin von Hagen, who helped establish The Interaction Company of California. Their initial collaborations began modestly, consisting of several small experimental projects. However, it quickly became apparent that their personalities and skill sets complemented each other exceptionally well. Encouraged by these early results, they decided to formalize their partnership and launch Attention Engineering.
Now with a staff of five, the startup has already attracted substantial early-stage investment: $1.25 million in pre-seed funding. Their roster of supporters includes notable figures such as Lukas Haas, a product manager at Google DeepMind and scout for Sequoia Capital; entrepreneurs Marvin von Hagen and Felix Schlegal from The Interaction Company; Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder of LayerZero; and venture capital firms Village Global and Liquid 2 Ventures. Each of these backers represents both validation and mentorship for the young team as they navigate the formidable terrain of AI entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on the entrepreneurial ethos of San Francisco, Guo highlighted an essential characteristic of the Bay Area ecosystem: its reliance on trust rather than formal governance. “Everything in the Bay is built on trust,” he said, noting that the community operates through informal agreements and reputation rather than strict oversight. In such an environment, credibility becomes currency, and founders must continually earn the confidence of others—“You need people to trust you, with capital, again and again,” Guo emphasized.
When asked about the lessons they had learned while raising funds, Windeck and Guo shared five core principles that guided their success.
**1) Focus on slope, not perfection.** According to Guo, investors are far more interested in witnessing consistent upward trajectory than flawlessness. He explained that “slope” represents measurable progress—the speed and direction in which a company improves over time. Demonstrating movement, adaptability, and learning tends to matter much more than presenting a polished, static product. Windeck echoed this insight, observing that the first idea a founder pursues is rarely their best. Through iterative experimentation, founders reveal their potential, and it is this quality—the capacity to evolve and improve—that attracts meaningful investment.
**2) Personalize every cold outreach.** Guo emphasized the importance of thoughtfulness when contacting potential investors or collaborators. Generic outreach rarely succeeds; instead, personalized communication, tailored to the recipient’s background and interests, can make a decisive difference. He referenced historical examples of successful cold emails, such as one sent by a teenager to a major tech founder, which secured not only a response but a job offer. That same sense of youthful audacity and sincerity, he argued, should guide modern founders in their networking efforts.
**3) Maintain relentless momentum.** Timing, in their experience, can profoundly influence outcomes. “Momentum is important when you’re raising,” Guo said, explaining that enthusiasm and a sense of acceleration can make investors more eager to engage. The window of opportunity is often fleeting, and the early stages—when excitement is at its peak—are the best time to secure favorable terms. Waiting too long can dissipate interest and energy, so maintaining speed and focus becomes essential.
**4) Move to San Francisco.** Both founders underscored the irreplaceable advantage of physical presence in the Bay Area. While digital connectivity allows for global collaboration, there remains something uniquely powerful about being surrounded by people who are also building, experimenting, and pushing boundaries. “Everyone should come here to the Bay,” Windeck insisted. Proximity fosters serendipitous encounters, shared learning, and accountability; simply observing peers making progress can serve as a motivating force.
**5) Be someone others want to work with.** Finally, they stressed that professionalism begins long before formal success arrives. Strong character, reliability, and communication skills are as valuable as technical competence or visionary ideas. Guo articulated this principle succinctly: “It’s not just about how skilled you are or how groundbreaking your concept might be—it’s about showing up on time, saying the right things, and being dependable.” In other words, the human dimension of entrepreneurship—the ability to inspire trust and respect—often proves decisive.
Their story, featured as part of Business Insider’s “Young Geniuses” series, exemplifies a broader generational movement: one defined by bold interpretation of technology, unorthodox career paths, and a shared aspiration to reshape industries on a global scale. San Francisco, much like the Florence of the Renaissance Windeck invoked, continues to attract these restless minds—where art once flourished on canvas, innovation now unfolds in code, data, and design.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/attention-engineering-gen-z-startup-founders-fundraising-advice-2025-10
