Pros
You get a ton of ownership over projects. Not only do you have a say in their initial design, but you also get to control the execution and participate in making key decisions throughout. Since it’s still relatively early stage, you get to lay the groundwork for processes that will be used well into the future. Some people in here are really great and are loads of fun to work with. Company sponsored events are typically a lot of fun and you get the “fun startup” feel in general.
Cons
Pay is definitely below market across departments. For a startup that’s doing as well as they are, this really shouldn’t be the case. Raises are also tough to come by and typically aren’t significant when they’re given. Hours are also long and this doesn’t show signs of slowing down and can often involve weekends. I think it’s totally fair to expect to work more in a startup, but I don’t think the pay:working hours ratio is fair for tech startups, even given stock allocations some employees get. Some hiring decisions have also been questionable. There is noticeable nepotism and some people working in leadership positions who don’t have adequate experience to succeed. This can result in frustrating work experiences with some individuals and some leaders who don’t manage their teams effectively and/or treat their team members poorly and without empathy. HR can also be frustrating to work with in these matters, as it doesn’t always feel like your voice is heard through them.