No real backend and AI work, poor leadership vision, and toxic work culture
Pros
Some teammates at the individual contributor level are helpful and decent to work with
Cons
I joined ToneTag expecting meaningful AI/ML work, but in reality, the role was mostly backend work with very little actual AI exposure. There seems to be a serious lack of deep-tech understanding at the upper management level, which makes it difficult for technically ambitious people to grow here. The company culture values spending 9 hours in office every day more than actual outcomes or impact. There is very little focus on productivity, ownership, innovation, or technical excellence. I spent almost a full year here without receiving an appraisal. Salary delays also happened multiple times, which is a major red flag for employees depending on predictable monthly income. There is no clear long-term vision or company-wide goal. Teams often feel directionless, and decisions seem reactive rather than strategic. Growth opportunities are limited, especially for people who want to work on serious AI, ML, or deep-tech projects. The upper management culture is also highly problematic. Since many people in leadership are from the same family, the company often feels more like a traditional family-run “lala company” than a professional technology organization. This creates a toxic environment where hierarchy and personal control matter more than merit, transparency, or technical outcomes.