Kickstarter has a bunch of cons, too. Despite being around for 14+ years, they still try to run some things like a startup with their 100-employee team. It's kinda deceptive how they externally position themselves as an artsy and creative company when 70% of their revenue actually comes from games and tech gadgets (you can find that publicly). I won’t make comments on their current revenue, but what do you think happens if there's a recession, especially when their business relies so heavily on board games and tech toys? Also, fraud is just an expected thing that happens on the platform. Just look at app reviews and social media comments from upset customers for proof. The new CEO is causing quite a stir (both good and bad), but it often feels like he's more interested in building his personal brand. He's constantly jetting off for public speaking gigs, panels, and interviews. My gut tells me he'll jump ship in 18 months for something bigger and better? Some other not-so-great stuff..... They have an employee union, but people don't just form unions for fun. There are regular clashes between executives and employees over low pay and lack of promotions. It's pretty obvious that there's no proper manager training program in place. Some managers are amazing, but others, not so much. Earlier this year, there were a couple rounds of layoffs, but since the company is small, they didn't get any attention in the press. And while the 4-day work week is fantastic, executives like to dangle it over employees' heads, reminding them that it can be taken away at any time. At the same time, they use it as a selling point externally for recruiting and press, making it seem like this incredible business decision for employee retention and well-being.
