Hello, World

So, hello. I'm Raphael.

I'm a software engineer with a MSc from ITA in Brazil. I've spent the last decade or so building ML and data systems, first at startups like Pipo Saúde, Loggi, and Elo7, then at Meta and Expedia, and now running my own thing, Dipolo AI.

My path has always revolved around recommendation systems, data pipelines, and software architecture. I've been lucky to build from the ground up all the way to systems serving millions of users. But curiously, the biggest challenges I ran into were always adjacent to the technical complexity: the data, the lack of context, and the communication overhead between teams. That's why I've always enjoyed navigating the intersection between areas.

But this site isn't really about my resume.

What this place is

This is a space for me to think out loud. I've been taking notes for years, and at some point I realized that the best way to actually understand something is to try to explain it to someone else. It's not easy to put your thoughts out there but here we are.

I'll write about AI, Machine Learning, and software, obviously. But also about startups, building a company, engineering culture, career stuff, things I'm reading, ideas I'm exploring. And Gaia, my dog, who was featured by the BBC as a genius, will definitely show up here constantly, brace yourselves.

The point is: this is not a niche technical blog. It's a personal space. Some posts will be deep dives into system design. Others will be short notes about something I noticed while walking Gaia. I'll mix and connect non-obvious topics. No schedule, no forced frequency. I write when I have something worth saying. If that sounds good to you, stick around.

Why I'm doing it

I believe in growing together. I've learned a lot from people who were generous enough to share what they knew, and I want to do the same. I'm far from knowing everything. But I've been through enough interesting situations that maybe some of it is useful to someone else.

There's no paywall here. No ads. No sponsored content. No newsletter you need to subscribe to. I'm not building an audience or a brand. I just want a place to share what I know and what I'm figuring out, and maybe find some like-minded people along the way.

Say hi

If something I write resonates, or if you disagree, or if you just want to talk, reach out. I'm at raphael@dipolo.ai. I like hearing from people who are building things and thinking hard about them.

Welcome. Let's see where this goes.