Building AI the right way

Why I am watching MongoDB.local SF and the startup program

Hi everyone, Ravit here.

Right now everyone is talking about AI.
Very few are talking honestly about the data, tooling and support you need to make AI real inside a product or a company.

That is why I am paying attention to two moves from MongoDB:

One is a focused, in person day with builders.
The other is a program designed to remove friction for early stage teams.

Both are relevant for this community.

MongoDB.local San Francisco

A working day for builders

MongoDB.local SF is positioned as a hands on event. Think less buzzwords, more time with people who are shipping.

From what MongoDB has shared, you can expect:

• Sessions on building modern applications and AI features

• Demos that show complete patterns, not just screenshots

• Time with MongoDB engineers and partners

• A local crowd of developers, architects, data folks and decision makers

If you are responsible for:

• Choosing or running databases

• Connecting data across systems

• Shipping AI powered features into production

Then this kind of event can compress weeks of research into a single day.

You can find full details and registration here

My advice
Look at the agenda when it is live, pick 3 to 5 sessions that map directly to your current problems, and go with a clear list of questions. Treat it like a working session, not just a conference.

MongoDB for Startups

Giving founders a better starting line

On top of the event, MongoDB also runs a startup program that more founders should know about.

MongoDB for Startups is aimed at teams that want to:

• Build on MongoDB Atlas from day one

• Use a single platform for transactional workloads, analytics and AI features

• Avoid expensive replatforming a year or two after launch
  

The program typically includes:

• Credits to reduce your early infrastructure bill

• Access to technical guidance around schema design, performance and AI use cases

• Opportunities for co marketing and community exposure as you grow
  

If you are building:

• A SaaS product with heavy data use

• An AI native app where context and history matter

• Any system that needs to stay flexible while you iterate

Then starting on a strong data platform is a smart move.

How this helps you right now

Here is how I would use this combo if I were in founder or data leader mode:

1. Apply to MongoDB for Startups
   Get your credits and support in place so your experimentation is not blocked by cost or complexity.
   

2. Use MongoDB.local SF as a learning sprint
   Go in with your current architecture and pain points written down. Use the sessions and hallway conversations to test your direction.
   

3. Come back with a short action plan
   For example:
   

   • One change to make your data model simpler

   • One AI feature to prototype with real users

   • One performance or reliability improvement you can ship in the next month
     

Small, practical steps add up. That is how real AI products get built.

Closing thoughts

I meet a lot of teams who are excited about AI but stuck on the basics. Wrong data choices, scattered tools, no clear support.

MongoDB is clearly trying to position itself as a serious partner for those teams, both with events like MongoDB.local SF and with the startup program.

If you end up registering for the event or applying to the program, reply to this newsletter and tell me:

• What you are building

• Where you are stuck today

I might feature some of your journeys on The Ravit Show.

Thank you to MongoDB for sponsoring this issue!

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Best,

Ravit Jain

Founder & Host of The Ravit Show