5 Pre-IPO Companies to Send Your Resume to in 2021

Coronavirus outbreaks have taken no small toll on the economy, prompting many to declare bankruptcy while others adjust their business models to adapt to customers and employees stuck in quarantine. Many startups have struggled to raise funding or been forced to lay off a fraction of their workforce. Despite market-wide hardships, speculations remain about several companies who still plan to IPO in the near future. Here are the top tech companies that you should keep on your employment radar.

If you’re passionate about diversity…

...check out Airbnb!

Airbnb is an online marketplace that provides a platform for hosts to rent out their properties to short-term guests. The company has received praise for the diverse representation in its marketing, as well as its recent efforts to combat discrimination against people of color on its platform.

What’s it like to work there?

Airbnb strives to promote an inclusive environment. The startup boasts its diversity stats on its website, reflecting a workforce made up of 44% women and 52% people of color as of 2018. Past and current employees on this anonymous tech forum report noticing a strong sense of company culture, which some align with better than others. One says the company rejects “technically competent people” if they’re not a good fit for the culture. While some seem to enjoy the democratic system, another employee calls the overcommunication a waste of time.

How has it adjusted to the coronavirus?

Declines in travel due to the outbreak have caused a dip in the company’s revenue, with 2020 projections stacking up to less than half of 2019’s. In May, CEO Brian Chesky announced plans to slash 1,900 jobs, roughly 25% of Airbnb’s workforce. Additionally, executives are accepting 50% lower pay for six months, while the co-founders are foregoing their salaries. However, the company’s seen a recovery in recent weeks, as bookings from May 17 to June 3 this year exceeded those during the same period in 2019. The CEO is hopeful that the population redistribution from remote work could be an opportunity for Airbnb.

Will it IPO soon?

Although Airbnb initially planned to file its IPO registration on March 31, the date was pushed back because of market uncertainty during the coronavirus. However, the CEO recently announced that they’re neither ruling out nor committing to the possibility of an IPO in the coming year.

If you want to get involved in the gig economy…

...check out Postmates!

As an on-demand delivery company, Postmates hosts a mobile platform that allows customers to order food from restaurants in the area and have it delivered by gig workers. At the end of 2018, the company unveiled a robot called Serve, with a 50-lb capacity and the ability to navigate sidewalks, which it’s been using for deliveries during the coronavirus outbreak. More recently, it also added a feature to highlight black-owned restaurants in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement, initially offering free delivery when ordering from those restaurants.

What’s it like to work there?

Postmates has offices in five cities across the US, plus one in Vancouver, CA. Its online software engineer testimonials reflect a mix of attitudes toward the employer. While some appreciate the autonomy given to devs and the rewarding impact that can be made, others criticize the management and say that they don’t make employees feel valued.

How has it adjusted to the coronavirus?

Postmates has attempted to minimize contact between customers and drivers by adding features to allow for curbside pickup and contactless delivery. It also launched a program to temporarily waive commission fees for small businesses in the Bay area. Although delivery app sales have increased across the country as a result of quarantine, Postmates currently only holds about 8% of the competitive market.

Will it IPO soon?

Postmates initially planned to IPO in late 2019, but sources say it decided to push back after seeing the underwhelming performance of Uber’s and Lyft’s public offerings. However, many still predict an IPO in the near future, and Investor Place suggests that the move could help the company stand up against bigger competitors.

If you’re trying to break into fintech…

...check out Robinhood!

Robinhood is a financial services company that allows individuals to trade stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies via its mobile app and website. It even allows users to purchase fractional shares, so they can choose to invest based on a dollar amount. While the company has roughly 10 million customers, many filed a class act lawsuit after the app shut down three times over two weeks in March, costing some users thousands of dollars.

What’s it like to work there?

The company is currently pretty mid-sized, with a little over 900 employees. Its Glassdoor reviews reflect a high level of employee satisfaction, with 4.7 out of 5 stars. Many reviews praise the open culture and friendly environment. However, a couple also warn of the necessity to set boundaries in order to protect your work/life balance. One employee says,

“Typical of a hyper-growth start-up, there are spacing constraints and imbalance of work bleeding into personal time. It’s hard to completely disconnect.”

How has it adjusted to the coronavirus?

Although the volatile market created by coronavirus outbreaks has fueled an increase in customers and revenue for Robinhood, some observers worry if the company will be able to compete against larger investment companies who have also adopted commission-free trading. Many speculate that the March outages have taken a significant toll on the company’s reputation. While investment activity may continue to increase along with future market uncertainty, Robinhood will have to work hard to maintain its share.

Will it IPO soon?

Robinhood announced a $280 million Series F round in May, giving it a most recent $8.3 billion valuation. The CEO said that an IPO is part of their end goal, but he didn’t say when. Although the company has been on investors’ radars for a while, some predict that it won’t happen until 2021.

If you prioritize company culture and work-life balance…

...check out Asana!

With competitors like Jira and Trello, Asana provides a software designed to enable team collaboration and work management. Its clients include Google, Deloitte, Spotify and many other big names.

What’s it like to work there?

Asana is well-known for its inviting work environment, with 98% of employees saying it’s a great place to work, compared to 59% at other US companies. In 2017, Fast Company published an article called “How Asana Built the Best Company Culture in Tech,” where the founders talk about their idea to treat culture as a product. They offer generous perks including a $10,000 budget for each employee to set up their own workspace, an in-house chef who prepares organic meals twice a day, and an in-office yoga session twice a week. The value they place on their employees and work environment doesn’t go unnoticed; almost all of their Glassdoor reviews reflect a widespread appreciation for the culture, praising the leadership, work-life balance, and interesting problems employees have the opportunity to solve. However, some report feeling overwhelmed by the pace at times. As one employee put it,

"It can be difficult to make any meaningful changes because the team is moving so fast and things that aren't the top priority fall off the roadmap.”

How has it adjusted to the coronavirus?

As a company whose software is specifically designed to enable companies to work remotely, Asana used the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to step up and help out those affected. The company decided to grant a free 3 months for customers affected by the crisis. When users tried to cancel their subscription, the website redirected them to the relief application. Asana also blogged about non-profit organizations who were using a free 12-month subscription to help fight the disease.

Will it IPO soon?

Asana filed to go public in February and doesn’t seem intent on changing those plans. However, it’s going against the grain with a direct listing instead of an IPO.

If you’re looking to add a big name to your resume…

...check out Palantir!

Palantir is a software company with a focus on big-data analytics. Co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, its reputation precedes its highly-anticipated IPO. Palantir Gotham, its product created to analyze government data, is well-known for its role in helping government organizations fight crime and terrorism.

What’s it like to work there?

With clients like the CIA, the NSA, and the FBI, Palantir is known for being secretive. Its Glassdoor reviews capture its employees’ excitement about the significance of the work they’re doing, as well as their colleagues’ qualifications. However, many techies also know it for its lack of work-life balance. A Business Insider article quoted one programmer who turned down an offer there after hearing that they expect employees to be at work after dinner on Friday.

How has it adjusted to the coronavirus?

As a data-driven company and a partner of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Palantir acted early on coronavirus threats. In mid-February, before most companies were taking any action, they called their employees working abroad to come back and take a four-week quarantine. They also started offering their services to governments in other countries to help track the spread and effects of the disease, in many cases at no charge. The crisis hasn’t done any damage to Palantir’s earnings; in fact, they’re expected to reach $1 billion in revenue this year, a 35% increase from 2019.

Will it IPO soon?

Many investors were disappointed when 2019 came and went without a Palantir IPO. However, in an Axios on HBO interview from late May, CEO Alex Karp said that the company will go public “sooner than later,” and that he suspects it’ll happen within a year.