Smartlook

We realize that becoming a unicorn, i.e., a company valued at over $1 billion, is nowadays the measure of a start-up’s success. Still, the value of a billion dollars and the money that comes with it are not our primary motivation. Being a unicorn is something we see as a validation of a product well-done that brings value to its customers. We want to be the standard and the first choice for website and app owners, product managers and UXers all over the world. We want to help them discover more about their users than they would find elsewhere.

We were convinced that creating an online product for the Czech scene only would lead to an unnecessary loss of potential. So, we are located in Brno but operate worldwide, however, in order to reach American market, we decided to open a branch in San Francisco. We want to be closer to our customers and in the centre of global events.

Openness, helpfulness, willingness. We function based on personal engagement and all of us really see Smartlook, in a way, as our own product. Our heart and soul. We try to improve it naturally and bring forth suggestions for new functions or other improvements. We don’t sit around and wait what the product departments comes up with. WE use Smartlook for the behavioural analysis of our customers and, thanks to that, we have many great ideas on how to push us forward.

We are growing dynamically, and we care extremely about our results. It is our goal to double our sales every year. Yet, growth has never been more important than peace and team relationships. We have always built our foundations on real expertise and skills. Yes, we do enjoy setting big goals, and we psych ourselves up, even betting on a shot of plum brandy whether we can achieve this goal. But we never make anyone do overtime just so they can finish a task.

Until recently we would often work using the trial-and-error method since we mostly needed to do things quickly. When it didn’t work out, we didn’t make a big deal out of it. We learnt from our mistake and went on. Nowadays, we are in a stage characterised by structure and stabilization. We want to be a forever start-up, but we don’t think that process is a bad word. We realize our need to have strong foundations so that we can push the snowballing numbers of new customers.

We have gone through several investments which proved we are taking the right direction and, at the same time, provided us with enough financing to further develop. There’s no longer the need to optimize every dollar, we can do things as well as presently possible. We can start global campaigns. Use the newest marketing and development tools that make our work easier.

In case we find interesting solutions in a case study online, we can try it right away. No need for half a year of approval processes; if we see the solution has merit, we try it, measure, and assess. This provides learning opportunities, often finding a shortcut that pushes us forward.

Even when we meet up for beer or coffee, we still talk a lot about work – that’s our thing. We talk about product, development, clients, visions, or results. We look at all topics from all perspectives and are not afraid to speak up even when nobody else agrees. We believe mutual openness and willingness to share knowledge is a way to beat the competition. We’re quite ambitious, the vision of growth is appealing, and we are following that vision.

We are proud of how open our communication is, and we keep it open continuously. We meet for all-hands every month – here we present results and news from individual departments. All our Slack channels are open. Anyone can see our sales, strategies, nothing is taboo. We try to share as much information as possible so that everyone knows where we are heading and how we are doing.

We have learnt to synchronize each other’s information regularly. It helps us know what to do and what our goals are. We don’t use time tracking, reporting, or any other control mechanisms. We don’t pretend to be anything we’re not. We are all free, master of our own time.

We work in a very open environment. We bear the responsibility for our commitments, that’s what we’re used to, without any external control or reminders. We know it’s all up to us, and it’s natural to finish things up.

Can you do it? No. Can you learn how to? Yes. Then you’re our person.

Practice makes perfect. In our beginnings we couldn’t do at Smartlook what we can today. And what brings us together? That anytime we needed to solve something new, we would all roll up our sleeves and dive into the technology or problem until we figured it out.

If you start working here, we will teach you the basics of our field. The most important thing is that you enjoy your growth and learning. We deal with a very specific issue, and you can get deep only trough working with senior colleagues. The need to help others is in our DNA. Just ask questions and there’s always someone to help and give advice.

We meet online on Huddle every day, and, because of the pandemic, we have learnt to be productive online. Still, we can’t imagine working only remotely and, every now and then, we like meeting face to face. Our offices are still a place where we like to go as we can meet and work at the same time. Some people like to come in the afternoon and work from home in the morning. Others only come for the team meeting. You work as you see fit.

Sometimes we joke that the only thing missing in our office is a Rytmus and Dara Rolins CD, apart from that we have everything, including a disco ball. The 3D printer is always running, Prague and Brno are in a competition for the most advanced thing to print. We have RC models, enough space to fix a bike, we are planning a studio, and we are not stopping here.

We use our big leisure space in Brno for (ir)regular events. Watching American football together, film club, or birthday parties and playing boardgames. There are many meeting opportunities. And if not, just open our Slack channel #funbeer and find one here.

We are located in modern office spaces on the 19th floor, with a beautiful view of Brno centre. We have enough space, many conference rooms.

The more serious Prague branch is about to move to a new space in Karlín.