🎙️ I talked with Bob van Luijt, co-founder and CEO of Weaviate, the open-source vector database that's become core infrastructure for AI-native applications.
We talk about how Bob grew up in a small Dutch town, started coding in QBasic, and built his first software company while still in school. Then came the unexpected turn: jazz.
He shares how studying music (from a conservatory in the Netherlands to Berklee in Boston) taught him grit, deep focus, and how to think in systems. For Bob, writing code and playing music happen in the same part of the brain.
We talk about how Weaviate began as a side project fueled by curiosity about the distance between words, and how that simple idea turned into one of the most used vector databases in the world. Bob explains how the release of transformer models unlocked everything, and how he's stayed focused on helping real developers build, not just chasing hype.
We also get into his philosophy on building companies, how he thinks about talent and education, and why he believes too much "academic thinking" blocks real potential. Bob’s not in it for the ego or the exit... he’s building tools for other builders.
