Remote work sucks

Remote work, while often criticized for its isolating nature and challenges such as endless Zoom calls and information overload, has proven to be a vital strategy for the growth and scalability of companies like RevenueCat. Initially starting as a co-located company in San Francisco, RevenueCat experienced high productivity and cohesion during its early stages, which helped in rapidly iterating and achieving product-market fit. However, the constraints of hiring within San Francisco and the desire to tap into a global talent pool led to adopting a remote-first model. This shift allowed the company to overcome hiring bottlenecks and expand its team to nearly 70 people worldwide, offering competitive compensation and flexibility in living arrangements. Despite the drawbacks of remote work, such as longing for in-person interactions, the benefits of a diverse and distributed workforce have been substantial, enabling the company to grow and thrive beyond geographic limitations. The experiences of RevenueCat highlight that while remote work has its downsides, it is not a failed concept but rather a different approach with its unique set of advantages and trade-offs.