Anu Hariharan introduces herself and her guest, Tomer London, discussing his background and Gusto's origins.

• Anu Hariharan is a managing director at Y Combinator working with growth stage companies.
• Tomer London, co-founder and CPO of Gusto, joins the conversation.
• Gusto, part of Y Combinator's Winter 2012 cohort, provides businesses with HR solutions and has grown to over 2000 employees.

Tomer London discusses the first hire at Gusto, a designer named Davey, and his vital role in shaping the product's user experience.

• Davey, the first non-founding team member, was crucial for developing a great user experience, a key differentiator for Gusto.
• He possessed a full-stack mentality, willing to go beyond traditional design responsibilities, setting a precedent for future hires.

The second hire was a software engineer named Steven who significantly influenced Gusto's software development practices.

• Steven's skill set included coding, problem-solving, and developing a methodology for building software.
• He was a proponent of pair programming, which became an integral part of Gusto's engineering culture.

The third hire added much-needed tax and payroll expertise to the Gusto team, filling a gap in the founding team's skill set.

• Steven, the third hire, had decades of experience in taxes and payroll, complementing the technical team.
• He moved from Minnesota to California, embracing Gusto's culture and contributing to compliance, product decisions, and customer care.

Subsequent hires were engineers who contributed to Gusto's diverse skill set and embodied the company's focus on growth mindset.

• Engineers were hired through Hacker News posts, focusing on technical skills and a growth-oriented mindset.
• Creating a great workplace was a priority, reflected in the hiring process and the company's mission.

Tomer London explains how Gusto's unique no-shoes policy and emphasis on a home-like environment became a core part of its culture.

• Gusto's no-shoes policy started in the founders' home and continued as the company grew, contributing to a familial company culture.
• Colorful, branded socks became a fun part of Gusto's identity, symbolizing the company's relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Anu thanks Tomer for his insights and extends an invitation to listeners to join Gusto or explore other startup opportunities.

• Anu Hariharan concludes the interview by thanking Tomer London for sharing his experiences.
• Listeners are encouraged to apply for roles at Gusto or explore the Y Combinator job board for opportunities at startups.