Thrive in ambiguity – Write the rules
At Cortex, you will face challenges daily that don't have predefined solutions, requiring you to rapidly turn uncertainty into clarity with minimal guidance. We seek high intellectual horsepower in everyone we hire – people who possess inherent sharpness and strong analytical skills, capable of quickly orienting themselves in ambiguous situations, wrestling complex and fuzzy problems to the ground, and thoughtfully considering all aspects of a challenge. Ownership at Cortex demands intense accountability, urgency, and concrete results. We measure your success by outcomes, not effort.
Speed matters most – Bias to action
Speed is non-negotiable at Cortex – it determines our success or failure as a company. The faster we solve problems, the more opportunities we seize, enabling us to lead and shape our market. Speed is the key to surpassing competitors and creating entirely new markets.
When they invested, Sequoia Capital specifically cited our relentless speed and how rapidly we iterate as one of the key drivers for their investment. This pace wins customer trust, drives adoption of the product, and fuels outsize revenue growth. Your success at Cortex hinges on how quickly and effectively you deliver measurable outcomes and solve critical problems for the business.
But moving fast doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. Running in place or running quickly in the wrong direction doesn’t get you any further toward your goals. At Cortex, moving fast means rigorously identifying risks, rapidly incorporating feedback, clearly communicating your decisions, and continuously iterating to solve the actual problem at hand in a way that meaningfully moves the business forward. It means that there’s an urgency in everything we do – we don’t let things happen next week, we ask “why not today?”
Ambition isn’t optional – Embrace Growth
Ambition at Cortex isn't optional. Your potential here is limited only by your own hunger and determination, whether you're an executive or a new graduate. Our most significant achievements have come from team members who demonstrate urgency, grit, and relentless pursuit of ambitious goals. We pay top-of-market compensation based solely on your impact and the measurable results you deliver, not tenure or effort. You own your destiny – the outcomes you drive directly determine your rewards, opportunities, and trajectory.
Elite, Collaborative, and Ego-Free – No Ego
We intentionally recruit elite performers who push each other daily to raise the bar. There's zero tolerance for ego-driven behaviors or territorial attitudes. True collaboration means vigorous debate, broad contributions, and genuine enthusiasm for working alongside teammates who constantly challenge and elevate your standards.
Our commitment to you in holding a high bar at Cortex
At Cortex, "high standards” aren’t just a vague idea, but something to which everyone is truly held accountable. Every person at Cortex is held to the standard of being in the top 5% of their craft. Your performance is assessed objectively, clearly, and regularly, directly influencing compensation, recognition, promotions, and responsibility.
Our structured performance management system includes clear feedback checkpoints at your first 30, 60, and 90 days, with binary "on track" or "off track" evaluations. In either case, you can expect actionable feedback from your manager on how to keep moving faster or get back on track. If you're off track at any checkpoint (including before the 90-day mark) and there isn’t a clear path forward, we may choose to part ways, in which case you'll receive a generous severance offer if a performance improvement plan (PIP) is not pursued. Beyond this initial period, our quarterly performance review cycle uses a similarly simple on-track/off-track scale: 1-off track/needs improvement, 2-on track/impactful, and 3-on track/exceptional. These evaluations ensure fairness and clarity to you as an individual, as well as consistent high performance across the entire organization.
Building a startup is a marathon at a record-breaking pace, requiring sustained intensity and exceptional productivity without burnout. We don't measure success by hours worked, but by the urgency, efficiency, and tangible outcomes of your efforts. Cortex employees have vibrant lives outside of work – families, hobbies, and more; we expect intense focus and results-driven effort during working hours to achieve outsize results.
A Mutual Bet
Joining Cortex is a mutual commitment. We're betting on your capability, intensity, and ambition, and you're betting on our mission, culture, and commitment to fostering a healthy, high performing place to work. We are honored when driven, talented individuals choose to join our journey. If this sounds like an environment you would thrive in, join us, and let’s build something extraordinary together.
