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World Congress 2026 Europe - Virtual Stage • Jul 2, 2026 • Session details

How I Built QA from Scratch in a Scaling Startup - no fluff real life story

Basia Karaagac

Building QA from scratch in a chaotic startup isn't about rushing to automate. Learn how to map risks, build developer trust, and transform testing into a shared team culture.

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#1 about 3 min

Understanding a chaotic system before writing automated tests

Delaying framework setup to prioritize understanding business risks and system behavior prevents wasted automation effort.

#2 about 4 min

Uncovering historical risks through passive reconnaissance and probing

Analyzing documentation and past incidents reveals the gap between intended system design and actual failure points.

#3 about 2 min

Gathering contextual knowledge through human reconnaissance and shadowing

Short conversations and shadowing sessions with product owners and support teams quickly build foundational system knowledge.

#4 about 2 min

Conducting technical reconnaissance to reduce system unknowns

Using gathered context to ask developers targeted questions reduces unknowns before making strategic testing decisions.

#5 about 3 min

Designing a frontend automation strategy around critical workflows

Targeting frontend automation at highly depended-upon user journeys provides a safety net without over-engineering.

#6 about 3 min

Validating system boundaries with an API automation strategy

Testing boundary values, extreme data, and cyclomatic complexity at the API layer complements UI coverage.

#7 about 2 min

Capturing unpredictable edge cases using exploratory testing

Manual exploration uncovers how imperfect network conditions and distracted multitasking degrade system behavior.

#8 about 3 min

Building an adaptable automation framework for changing requirements

Using stable selectors and expecting business rule shifts prevents the need to constantly rebuild test cases.

#9 about 3 min

Eliminating test flakiness to generate clear actionable signals

Removing duplicate checks and prioritizing readable test code builds developer trust in pipeline alerts.

#10 about 1 min

Integrating automated feedback loops into the deployment pipeline

Running automated checks overnight transforms the test suite from a validation tool into operational visibility.

#11 about 4 min

Shifting focus from defect elimination to effective risk management

Accepting that bug-free software is impossible allows sole QA engineers to share quality ownership with the broader team.

#12 about 5 min

Measuring automation success through team adoption and trust

True QA success occurs when developers proactively run automated sanity tests and release surprises decrease.

#13 about 5 min

Key principles for establishing sustainable quality assurance practices

Effective testing relies on understanding business risks, utilizing shared feedback loops, and acknowledging that testers matter more than tools.

Matching moments

1:01 min

Introduction to the speaker and visual testing journey

Ramona Schwering Ramona Schwering · LIVE

2:30 min

The shifting mindset of modern quality assurance engineers

Alisa Hrustic Alisa Hrustic · Europe 2026 Virtual

2:18 min

Transforming software quality from assurance to enablement

Ondřej Gróf Ondřej Gróf · World Congress 2026 Europe

2:02 min

Establishing a company-wide approach to software quality assurance

Daniel Strmečki +1 · World Congress 2022

2:22 min

Adopting modern end-to-end testing for automated deployment pipelines

Luise Freese Luise Freese +1 · Coffee With Developers

2:06 min

Elevating the QA engineering role for complex challenges

Ondřej Gróf Ondřej Gróf · World Congress 2026 Europe

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