Pros: * A solid set of very smart, very motivated people. * A focus on getting things done while maintaining a life outside of work. * The users love the product, which is motivating. * Tons of opportunity to learn new tech and grow/have a real impact. * Top-level leadership has been very approachable, genuine, and relatable.

Cons: Joining a new company can always feel like a roll of the dice. So far, there hasn't been any landmines I've run into. Whatnot moves fast, but the work is fun and the people are motivated. This is my first startup, so I imagine it can be much worse at other companies that are still running to find their place in the market. The onboarding process was honestly the best I've experienced in the industry, and overall, docs, code quality, and the CI process are really good. I kinda assumed a startup would always be really rough because it's hyper-focused on growth, but Whatnot seems to understand that quality is important to keeping users happy and still moving fast. It still is a startup. So, if you really don't like ambiguity or creating something entirely new, this probably isn't the best place for you. But that's probably the case with every startup.

Pros: Passionate company and team, working with power users of the app so the feedback loop is strong. Users tell us what they want to build on. Buyers/sellers (compared to big tech where the feedback loop is harder). Great remote working policy with tech hubs in NY, SF, LA. It's optional to come in; offices are an additional asset to utilize, on top of regular offsites and in-person working sessions.

Cons: Not the company for everyone, for folks looking to put in their hours but not for faster career growth and (hopeful) bigger payouts.

Pros: Genuinely remote-first company - great if you don't enjoy going to offices (but they are there if you do). Culturally similar to big tech brands due to the vast majority being alums from there. Product is fun, and so is the work around it. Perks are incredibly generous compared even to Meta/Google, etc.

Cons: A remote-first culture can sometimes be tricky for new grads or juniors. It's harder to socialize, but there are company offsites and local offices to visit. Smaller companies can, at times, be chaotic with fewer people per problem space.