What are co-workers like at Inkitt?

Inkitt is a place for people who want to grow and actually see the impact of what they do. You have ownership from day one and the chance to run with your ideas. The team is talented, driven, and collaborative. There is a strong sense of purpose. You learn quickly, you get challenged in a positive way. Leadership genuinely invests in development. You will grow here. The culture is welcoming and full of smart people.

It is a fast paced environment, so it is not the right fit for someone who wants predictable days. You wear multiple hats and priorities can shift, but that is part of the excitement for people who like building.

You'll form deep, fast friendships—mostly through shared trauma—with your talented colleagues who, like you, have had their potential stifled by management. At least telling people you work for a werewolf porn app makes for a great conversation starter.

Every negative review you've seen about this place is spot on. If you’re not careful, it will crush your confidence and wreck your mental health. Ali, the CEO, has turned toxicity into an art form—he thrives on pitting employees against each other while pretending he’s not responsible for any of the chaos. His way of speaking to people is beyond disrespectful, and his leadership style is purely fear-based. Anyone paying attention knows that the man who demands CEO approval for a $5 office supply order has absolute control over everything that happens at Inkitt. They talk a big game about "moving fast," but in reality, management just plays a never-ending game of hot potato, passing decisions around to avoid making a call that might upset Ali. If he likes you, you’ll have a lot of freedom—at least until he changes his mind. But earning that favor means sacrificing your personal life entirely. He genuinely seems to believe that paying a market-rate salary entitles him to every hour of your day. If they suspect you’re job hunting, expect direct confrontations. The SF office lives in fear of being fired in this job market, while EU employees have slightly more security thanks to labor laws. If you decide to work here, brace yourself for nonsensical OKRs, being asked to take on tasks way beyond your job description, and being gaslit into believing that extreme micromanagement is just part of their "transparent culture." Spoiler: there’s nothing transparent about this place. In 2024 alone, nearly half the company turned over. Long-term employees don’t even bother learning new hires' names anymore—most of them will be gone within a month or two.

The paycheck arrives on time, and a few decent coworkers make the misery slightly easier to bear.

-Working here feels like being trapped in enemy territory where every move is watched and every mistake is weaponized. -Respect and honesty do not exist in this company. The leadership thrives on control, manipulation, and fear instead of teamwork. -The atmosphere is suffocating, filled with tension and distrust. People whisper to avoid being targeted, and meetings feel like ambushes rather than discussions. -Speaking up or sharing honest opinions is treated as an act of rebellion that gets punished immediately. -Management operates with pure deceit. Promises made during hiring vanish the second you start working. -Fair treatment is nonexistent, and transparency is a complete joke. Promotions, raises, and discipline are handled in secrecy and favoritism. -Certain individuals get away with anything, while others are publicly shamed for small mistakes. -Watching talented, hardworking people leave while unqualified, arrogant ones rise in infuriating. -The upper staff are a perfect blend of arrogance and ignorance. They talk about teamwork and innovation, but act like tyrants. -Feedback is crushed, and creativity dies under the weight of constant threats and retaliation. -The fear of becoming the next scapegoat keeps everyone silent and complaint. -Morale is shattered beyond repair because no effort, no matter how great, is ever recognized or rewarded. -The workplace feels less like a company and more like a prison for your spirit. -The stress never ends, and manipulation becomes so normal that you almost forget what fairness looks like. -Leaving is a relief but also a painful reminder of how much this place drains your confidence and dignity. If you value your self-respect and sanity, stay far away. No paycheck is worth enduring the cruelty and deceit that define this company.

I can't speak for the San Francisco/Berlin sides as I work with the Candy Jar team and am not in those offices, but the CJ side is an amazing place to work. All of my coworkers and bosses are some of the best people I've ever worked with in all my years in entertainment. Highly collaborative, but also you're given a lot of independence and ownership over your role. I've fully been able to dial my role and work to the best place I can because I'm given a lot of power over my specific tasks, but then the moment I need help or assistance my managers are immediately coming to find out what I need and make it happen for me. They're incredibly supportive over taking time off when I'm sick which many workplaces guilt you about that. The interactions I've had with everyone at the SF office have been so unbelievably positive, and working for the larger company Inkitt overall has been wonderful. I think it's beautiful to see a company that cares so much about the people who use it's product, and not solely just about making money.

Not cons really, but being detail oriented and able to multitask a lot is a must to thrive here.

Small teams, nice colleagues, great office.

Disagreeing to your manager will get you into a terrible position! You'll be picked on by everyone in management, they will act hostile toward you, and will not let your smallest mistake go unnoticed!

Inkitt is chock full of passionate, driven and smart people. It is one of the most nimble orgs I've been a part of, and I love that it's a tech company working on something creative with creative/innovative people. The people are what make companies great and I genuinely think there is something special about this group. Our CEO, and my fellow execs, are always pushing the boundaries of what can be done in this segment, pushing for novel thinking, and all care deeply about the people and our users. Folks that are successful here care a lot about what they are doing, are savvy with data, and think on their feet. Being around high performing people makes you better -- it's a fact.

Of course there are cons, but what startup doesn't have 'em ;). - We have a lot to do need more great people to help do it. - Consumer tech is hard(er). Priorities can shift quickly and we must all be thoughtful about where we focus our efforts. - We need better beer for happy hours / Candyjar release parties.

•    I genuinely love working on the marketing team at Inkitt. I’ve never had a job where I could pitch an idea in the morning and actually run with it by the afternoon. That level of trust is rare, and it makes the work feel exciting.     •    My teammates are some of the most creative, funny, and supportive people I’ve worked with. We brainstorm like crazy, push each other to level up, and celebrate all the wins.     •    I feel close to our mission. It’s incredibly motivating to help unknown writers find an audience and watch their stories take off because of campaigns I helped build.     •    I’ve grown more here in a year than at any of my previous roles. Whether it’s learning deeper analytics or experimenting with new channels, there’s always room to stretch.

•    Things move fast, really fast. Sometimes priorities shift overnight, and it can feel like scrambling to keep up.     •    Because we’re still scaling, we don’t always have the cleanest processes. You sometimes have to “figure it out” as you go, which can be energizing or stressful depending on the day.     •    Work hours can spike during launches or big pushes. Not constant, but definitely something to be aware of.

- A lot of smart, hardworking, and fun people. we laugh often! - Exciting to be part of a company that's not just growing but thriving. We're creating products that people genuinely love, and it's rewarding to see the impact of our work. - Managers are supportive whilst really pushing you to perform at your best.

- Regular pains associated with startup life. Each day brings its own set of challenges. While this can be invigorating for those who thrive in such an environment, it's not for the faint of heart. You have to be resilient, adaptable, and ready to face the unexpected. - Coordinating with teammates across SF and Europe can be challenging due to the different time zones. - Things move really fast and you have to always be ready to switch gears and reprioritize when necessary.

- a highly collaborative culture - always pushing the boundaries with continuous innovation - amazing and smart people who are always willing to lend a hand - a dynamic environment that encourages personal growth and continuous learning

- typical challenges with a globally distributed team - need to be comfortable with change as things evolve frequently

Honestly I feel like the work really matters. I know what I'm working on fits into a bigger picture and it's not just ransom task that disappear into a void. That makes a big difference. There’s also a lot of trust here. You’re not micromanaged, and you’re expected to take ownership and figure things out. That can be hard sometimes, but it’s also why you learn a lot. If you like having a say in your work and don’t need everything spelled out, this is a good place for that. The people are great. Teams are supportive, easy to talk to, and genuinely want each other to succeed.

It can get pretty intense. Workloads can pile up and priorities change, so some weeks are just a lot.