Pros
- Meet and network with pre-seed to seed-stage founders from all around the world
- Learn about entrepreneurship from industry experts that give talks at Draper University
- Stable business outlook (B2G business with big government contracts)
- Mostly hard-working and friendly colleagues
- Live at Draper University rent-free
- Some food is provided during programs
Cons
- Work 70-90 hour weeks with below market rate salary and no overtime pay (essentially getting minimum wage or less considering the hours worked)
- Due to living at the workplace, you are essentially on-call 24/7 and can be asked to do many last-minute tasks. Difficult to have a work-life balance.
- Constantly understaffed so you'll have to wear many hats and also do manual labor
- No bonus / incentive structure in place, working harder or more hours is not rewarded
- Minimal upward career trajectory and growth within the organization
- Nepotism and toxic work culture
- Management does not care about staff wellbeing or career growth
- Highly disorganized and lacking in structure/processes although they have been running these entrepreneurship programs for over a decade
- No healthcare insurance or benefits
- No work visa sponsorship, contracts international staff without providing work visas