In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory comprising a first group of memory cells, a second group of memory cells, and a controller to program one or more lower pages of data to the first group of memory cells; store dynamic start voltage information, the dynamic start voltage information indicative of a rate of programming of at least a portion of the first group of memory cells; determine a start program voltage based on the dynamic start voltage information; and apply the start program voltage to the second group of memory cells during a first program pass of a program operation, the program operation to program one or more lower pages of data to the second group of memory cells.