Pros: - It might be easy to roll your eyes when people from Upstart say how open their culture is, but it's true; it's more open than any other place I've worked at (in the last 13 years). At a company wide-level, financial success & distress, public incidents, important non-public business metrics are all openly discussed. You can ask questions about them and anything else (yes, nothing is Off-Limit!) directly to the founders, CEO, CTO directly at the weekly Q&A. - One great thing about Upstart, in contrast to other comparable lending companies, is how we have a pretty singular focus "to help people achieve Financial Fitness". This sentiment echoes across the board...where we count our success "by not the number of loans originated BUT by the number of people we have helped attain financial fitness " - There is the highest rating on Credit Karma and great reviews and feedback from the folks we have helped. I read back to myself, a new feedback everyday which makes my belief in our mission more stronger!! - I own and have a the say in my engineering department which makes this a perfect place to work for me. Opportunities to grow and contribute are endless here and all you need is commitment, ownership and skill to have it....no BS or work-politics here! - Finally, my yet another favorite: if you aspire to work on the latest and the greatest bleeding edge technology then this is where you got to be! I have been working on the newest cloud based technology stuff (IaaS, PaaS)...which is a great career development opportunity. - There is a great tech budget, fully stocked kitchen, meal reimbursement, and no cap on vacations.

Cons: Need more company outings and social gatherings

Pros: There are lots of perks, frequent business travel, and a collaborative environment.

Cons: Can be a lot of work sometimes, business initiatives from the top level don't always make it to the bottom in organized coherent fashion.

Pros: I’ve worked at Upstart for a few years, and overall, it’s been a mixed experience. There are some incredible people at this company—talented engineers, strong cross-functional teams, and pockets of leadership that truly invest in their people. If you land on one of these teams, you’ll find opportunities to grow, learn, and make a tangible impact.

Cons: There are some areas where leadership seems to have significant blind spots. Certain managers can play the political game well, often deflecting blame and avoiding accountability. Unfortunately, this creates a toxic environment where those not skilled in office politics might feel isolated or undervalued. If you’re unlucky enough to work under this type of leadership, it can be frustrating and difficult to find support or have your contributions recognized. Another challenge is work-life balance. Expectations are high, and it often feels like there’s always more to be done, with little regard for time off or mental well-being. While some managers are understanding and flexible, that’s not the case across the board. Burnout can be a real issue if you’re not careful about setting boundaries.