Where is the board? - Anonymous employee Kickstarter Employee Review

1.0
26 Jan 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Inspiring mission which attracts great people. Beautiful space to work. Strong benefits. Alcohol after the all hands, which helps it go down.

Cons

For years Kickstarter has had a leadership in some form of crisis or another. When Yancey took over the leadership was mostly Yancey’s friends or people who’d worked closely with him for years. Then he hired some outside people to clean it up and that caused a war. Then things calmed down but there was clearly always a Cold War with Perry. I don’t know what happened but then Perry took over again. Yancey publicly promised a CEO search and that turned out to be a lie. Now the cycle restarts with Perry’s friends at the top. It’s not that there haven’t been good leaders hired in or elevated. But they have generally been driven out or quit in a matter of months. All the while the board does nothing. It’s not clear there is any accountability for the CEOs. And for years we didn’t have proper HR leadership with the experience to navigate this. It’s all very sad.

Explore other reviews about Kickstarter

5.0
16 Apr 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I’ve really enjoyed working here and believe it’s a genuinely good company—especially for those who’ve joined in the last few years. Leadership is thoughtful, benefits are strong, and the mission still feels authentic. There’s space to grow, take ownership, and make an impact if you’re proactive. That said, the internal culture is being dragged down by a minority (the union) that resists change and refuses to take accountability. A lot of the toxicity comes from legacy employees who constantly complain but contribute very little. Unfortunately, the union culture can amplify this energy. It’s disappointing because many of the people who’ve joined more recently are energized and committed. But the influence of a few long-timers who seem to want the company to fail makes it harder for everyone else to enjoy the workplace. This company could thrive even more if it were willing to part ways with those who are no longer aligned. Until then, expect a mix of strong leadership and potential, weighed down by a group determined to stay stuck in the past.

Cons

The union dynamics, its a distraction for those of us who want to enjoy our work and be apart of something. The CBA limits salary increases.

1
avatar
Kickstarter Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you find our mission authentic and that you appreciate the thoughtfulness of our leadership team, our strong benefits, and the opportunities for growth and impact. It means a lot to us that you recognize the energy and commitment of our team and the progress we’re making together. We also appreciate your candid feedback about areas where we can continue to improve. We recognize that navigating change in any organization—especially one with a long history and deep roots—can come with challenges. We are committed to fostering a culture that supports collaboration, accountability, and open dialogue across all parts of the company. We believe that everyone plays an important role in shaping our culture and that constructive engagement, respect, and shared purpose help us move forward together. We continue to focus on strengthening communication, evolving our practices, and building an environment where every team member feels empowered to do their best work. We truly value your contributions and your perspective. Please feel free to reach out directly to peopleteam@kickstarter.com if you would like to continue the conversation or share additional feedback. Thank you again for being part of our community and for helping us grow stronger.
5.0
26 Mar 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- amazing mission - 60th percentile pay in tech - get to work remotely / flexible work schedule - four day work week (there’s cons too though) - empathetic engineering managers - inspiring CEO who actually gives a damn - industry leader, no one is even close - opportunity to solve interesting problems in the creator economy

Cons

- four day work week (it’s a pro and a con) which can impact productivity or just be exhausting - priorities can shift quickly which isn’t easy for some people - the union because it separates the company in my opinion - a little bit too much gossip and complaining at times - communication can improve at the management and leadership level at times to prevent blockers for engineering

1
avatar
Kickstarter Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you find our mission inspiring and that you appreciate our approach to flexibility, leadership, and engineering culture. It means a lot to us that you see the impact we’re making in the industry and enjoy the challenges of working in the creator economy. We appreciate your candid feedback about areas where we can improve. We recognize that the four-day workweek has both benefits and challenges, and we’re continually evaluating how it impacts productivity, team dynamics, and overall effectiveness. Prioritization and communication are ongoing areas of focus for us, and we’ll keep working to ensure teams have the clarity and support they need. We also hear your thoughts on the importance of in-person connection. To help foster collaboration and strengthen relationships across teams, we have monthly co-working days in NYC, which we encourage all team members to attend. We also highly encourage attendance to our annual company wide retreats to maximize in person time with your teammates! Regardless of where anyone sits—whether in management, on a team, or as part of the union—we are committed to fostering a unified, collaborative culture where everyone feels valued and heard. We believe that open dialogue and mutual respect make us stronger, and we’re dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can thrive together. We truly value your contributions and your perspective, and we’re always open to feedback. Please feel free to reach out directly at peopleteam@kickstarter.com so that we can continue improving.
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