Pros
I've sampled the "start up" world at a few companies ranging from 10 to 250 people and this is the first time I don't feel surrounded by high ego tech bros. From the leadership down there is a culture of seeking and actioning on feedback as well as admitting when you'd don't know something. It's really unique to be empowered to work with a consultant to figure out the right approach to solve a problem versus stumbling through problems re-inventing the wheel. The engineering team in particular is lean and everyone is entrusted with plenty of responsibility. It's not uncommon to see junior engineers driving large projects under the guidance of their team's senior leadership. The code is also surprisingly healthy for a start up too with the guidelines and processes you'd expect of a larger team. Finally it's worth noting that there is none of that "we are a family" mentality start ups usually employ to overwork their team. Work life balance is encouraged and sacred here. There is no expectation to routinely pull long hours to ship products. Yea there may be a launch date crunch every now and then but it's very infrequent. I've always thought that Ethena punches above its weight for maturity given the size and age of the company. If you're looking for a place to be challenged AND given the space and support to succeed, Ethena is the spot. It's only going to get better here.
Cons
The usual suspects when it comes to a fast moving start up: - Priorities can change quickly - Projects aren't always crystal clear - Perks are good but not Google level