For most startups, the first few months are a blur of product sprints and early hires. Tools that support employee engagement and culture are often deferred in favor of finding market fit.
For one East Coast-based AI startup operating in stealth mode, however, culture was treated as foundational infrastructure. From the outset, leadership recognized that connection and visibility would only become harder to establish as the company grew.
Under the guidance of their Head of People, the startup team onboarded GoProfiles during its second month of existence. The decision was intentional and notably early.
“Our leadership team knew they wanted GoProfiles from day one. We didn’t even look at competitors. For us, building a people-first culture was something we needed to do before we scaled, not after.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
Establishing startup culture while scaling fast
Rather than reacting to growing pains later, the founding team chose to embed culture into the company’s operating model while the organization was still lean.
They had seen firsthand how difficult it can be to introduce engagement programs once a company is already large and distributed. By implementing GoProfiles early, the company made visibility and connection part of the default employee experience.
“We brought GoProfiles in during our second month. If you don’t prioritize culture early, it’s nearly impossible to catch up later. We wanted visibility to be part of our foundation as a hybrid team.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
Creating connection in a matrixed organization
The company operates with a hybrid workforce, split between a physical hub and remote employees. It also follows a matrixed structure where team members rotate between projects rather than remaining in a traditional hierarchy. In such a fluid environment, maintaining clarity is critical.
GoProfiles became a natural extension of onboarding. New hires create profiles within their first few days, giving teammates an immediate way to understand not just roles, but personalities and interests.
“Our goal was to highlight new hires in a way that’s engaging. We introduce everyone live during our weekly meetings, and I always see teammates heading into GoProfiles afterward to learn more.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
Reinforcing culture through recognition
Bravos, GoProfiles’ peer-to-peer recognition tool, quickly became a team favorite. Instead of stiff, formal programs, Bravos capture small wins and moments of humor.
“Some Bravos are about hitting milestones, and others are just inside jokes that keep us smiling during a busy week. It’s a low-pressure way to celebrate our culture and remind everyone they’re appreciated.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
Preparing for growth with skills and visibility
While the team is still growing, the People Team is already thinking ahead. Skills and Interests within employee profiles will become essential as projects rotate rapidly.
“Our team structure evolves constantly. We plan to use GoProfiles to track who is working on what and what unique skills they bring to the table. The custom bio fields help people find common ground quickly.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
GoProfiles: An Essential Tool for Startup Culture
In an era of tool fatigue, GoProfiles stands out because it’s intuitive and lightweight. Employees actually want to use it, which makes it sustainable as the team grows.
“I would absolutely recommend GoProfiles. It’s casual, easy to navigate, and people genuinely enjoy the experience. It allows people to get to know each other asynchronously, which is vital at a fast-moving startup. It’s one of the primary ways we build our community.”
—Head of People at Stealth Startup
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