Pros
There is nothing more satisfying than being part of an early-stage startup that has strong prospects and a great team. I had known several of the founders for years before joining VeryApt, and those that I didn't, I instantlly connected with.
The environment is highly motivating, academic, friendly, collaborative, and success-oriented. Team members are highly talented, respect each other, and everyone is encouraged to discuss and challenge ideas. Most importantly, everyone is passionate about the success of the company and it shows every day.
Life at the office is very enjoyable, where trust in everyone to work hard and take care of their tasks allows for a lot of schedule flexibility. There is no dress code, and the shared work space at Industrious Philly offers great amenities like daily fresh pastries, coffee, snacks, and weekly happy hours. Other companies in the surrounding offices have friendly employees with simlar goals, making them a great source for networking as well as socializing.
Finally, the product itself is truly fantastic and continues to improve at a rapid rate. Apartment search has, at some point or another, been a pain point for almost everyone, and being part of a truly better solution is immensely satisfying. Employees here can travel around Philadelphia as well as other cities and regularly recognize client properties, and more and more often, hear the name of their company on the lips of those they pass in the street.
Cons
As with any early-stage startup, there is always a higher risk that the company fails. However, as time goes on, that risk is constantly diminishing with increased investment capital, recognition, traffic, and clientelle.