Failed Start-Up - Would be lucky to survive the remainder of 2020 - Manager Indigo Employee Review

1.0
Feb 28, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay, insurance, and most teams have some great people.

Cons

Oh boy, where to start. It is (or maybe "was") a start-up with a great mission. However, what's left after the first (and I repeat first but not last) grand exodus of employees is something short of a solid company with a product. Can you call a poorly developed app and a magical carbon market a product? The company has multiple COOs if that isn't a red flag; the North American COO has no experience and no right being a COO at this point in her career. Just because you have a MBA (which who doesn't at this point?) from Harvard does not make you special or talented. This probably explains why she reports to the, wait for it...., COO. Fun fact, there is also another COO for international who again reports into the "bigger" COO. The current senior leadership team has absolutely no idea what they are doing and this is just one of many failed start-ups under the current CEO, David Perry (Google it, and enjoy the reads). Side note, avoid anything with Flagship Pioneering, just as a precaution as Indigo was one of their blunders. The company also failed to establish a permanent CFO in 2019, which ultimately lead to the lack of budget considerations and likely ultimate doom of the company. Teams were hiring excessively for positions that were not needed but also just not applicable to the current business models. How many General Managers do you need for a single project? The best is when they hired people for roles, and yet the senior leadership and steering committee members didn't even know people were hired. Each Business Unit also tried to act independent from one another, so naturally each became isolated and closed off and roles were duplicated in each business unit. If I remember correctly, they had like 4 different Quality departments, and don't get me started on the size of Supply Chain. Essentially, after all the chaos and last minute ditch efforts to get financial backing, most of which are loans since investors are smart enough not to come near them, the company has fizzled into a tech company pushing their MarketPlace business model. Again, another attempt by the fearless leader who failed on this front before (read about Chemdex). If you're in Ag science, and looking at positions here remember they just axed 75% of R&D and will likely remove the microbial product in its entirety very soon. Which means with no physical product, why keep supply chain, marketing, product management, etc. If Glassdoor allowed "0" stars, I would give none, which is likely what most people think as well. So if you're considering a position here just think the current rating with 1.0 subtracted.

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5.0
Sep 25, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Awesome company to work for

Cons

Uncertain marketplace and unproven business

3.0
Jan 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent base salaries. Due to the company's structure and goal shifting, you get experience in a lot of different aspects of the company. Past non-negotiable goal milestones, there is some flexibility, you have the opportunity and freedom to make the job your own. Good work-life balance, and commendable company goals around sustainable ag etc. made working here stand out.

Cons

Raises and bonuses not given for several years due to company not reaching unattainable goals. Lots of turnaround from constant layoffs. During my time there, I had a new manager about every year. No clear goals, and when they are clear they constantly shift. It is hard to grow salary wise within the company, especially when money is tight. You will be able to get more responsibilities and learn new skills, but don't expect your pay to reflect this. Lots of financial mismanagement within the company causing current R&D funding and operations to be barely present.

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