The data is clear: the biggest drop in Glassdoor ratings happens between Series A and B — from 4.8 to 3.9 — and keeps falling to 2.7 by Series D. Culture slips as companies scale.

Early-stage businesses build a beautiful culture without trying. It’s born from the founders’ purpose, the energy and connection of the early team, and the shared drive to build something big.

But as teams multiply, new leaders step in, and things move faster, what once felt natural starts slipping through the cracks. Communication breaks, Purpose and values blur, and people disconnect, not just from the company's direction but from one another. That’s when culture becomes vulnerable, and where we step in.

At Obelisk, we partner with early-stage founders to turn what feels instinctive into something intentional.

We embed their purpose and values into everyday action, systems and rhythms that scale culture without losing its soul.