When asked by Business Insider about needing to issue a return-to-work (RTO) memo for his cloud computing startup, Together AI, CEO Vipul Ved Prakash noted that it was never necessary. "People generally like to come in," he said, emphasizing that their team willingly returns to the office without any mandates.
This reflection highlights a notable cultural contrast between newly established AI startups emerging after the COVID lockdowns and traditional companies. In many cases, employees are eager to work from the office, sometimes even on weekends.
According to Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University economics professor, the demographic makeup and deep personal investment of startup employees foster a work environment that is "almost entirely in-person" and "100% work focused." Bloom explained that for a young professional, perhaps a 23-year-old with equity valued at $20 million, it makes practical sense to log long hours at the office instead of working from home.
The strong community culture within AI startups is evident. Arvind Jain, CEO and founder of Glean—an enterprise AI productivity company—expressed reluctance to mandate a return to the office, seeing it as a logistical challenge. Yet, he noted that his team was keen to resume their pre-pandemic collaboration style that began in 2019. "In those early lockdown days, we struggled to adapt because we were used to working side by side in a small room," Jain recalled.
As the pandemic progressed, Jain learned to appreciate remote work and share quality time with his family. However, the desire for in-person interaction remained strong. "There’s this startup spirit within our tight-knit team of around ten to fifteen people who genuinely enjoy being together," he shared, reminiscing about past team-building activities and fond memories.
As Glean expanded rapidly, the company transitioned to a larger office space. They designated Thursdays as a remote work day to balance flexibility with collaborative in-person efforts.
Spiros Xanthos, CEO of Resolve AI—another enterprise tech startup specializing in multi-agent AI systems—noted that his company has fostered a robust culture around in-person work, never having to compel staff to come into the office. With a sizable office space available, the team routinely enjoys communal meals together.
"Since our launch in early 2024, building cohesion and friendships among employees has been essential," Xanthos explained. To strengthen team connections, he often organizes offsite retreats for New York-based colleagues to engage with their Bay Area counterparts. He observed, "People actively prefer not to work remotely. Younger employees, particularly those with less experience, frequently comment on the stark difference—the support of friends at work translates into trust."
The dynamic nature of AI innovation heavily leans on personal interactions. Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto and urban studies theorist, argued that the AI sector's characteristics may drive increased in-person engagement compared to other startup waves. He stated, "Innovators need proximity to end users, who are integral to the innovation process."
Xanthos pointed out that tackling complex challenges in the AI field necessitates collaboration. "We deal with intricate problems, which places us on the cutting edge of technology," he noted. This environment, he explained, thrives on high trust and psychological safety, where employees feel empowered to innovate autonomously and communicate fluidly.
So, if you chat with an AI startup founder, don’t ask about their RTO plans—they’re likely too focused on making sure their team is together in the office.
