Brandon Waselnuk is Head of Product at Mintlify. He joined in November 2024, after previously founding a YC startup. He's been instrumental for driving both success for customers and incredibly good vibes for the team (peep his office playlist).

Picking the right startup is never easy. There's so many ways to overthink and re-slice your pros/cons list when deciding whether it's the right fit for you.

I first knew Mintlify when I was a customer, and as I got to know the team, it became clear that I didn't need to overthink anything—this was the place for me.

Mintlify caught my attention because of its enormous potential in this new world of AI. Documentation sits right at the middle of where humans and AI interacts.

We're building the bridge between complex tools and the humans who need to use it. When I look at where technology is heading, being at this intersection feels like standing in exactly the right place at the right time.

I also have confidence that the Mintlify team can execute on this vision because of their incredible customer focus and attention to the details.

When I was a customer, I remember sending the team a nitpick about a developer experience detail that wasn't critical, but a small friction point. Co-founder Hahnbee replied within minutes that it was fixed. That told me everything I needed to know—the details matter to this team, and that's going to make all the difference in building a lasting business.

I've worked in environments ranging from IBM's 400,000-person machine to founding my own startup. From my past, I've learned that the right culture for me is one that feels cozy and heartfelt.

After announcing I was leaving my previous YC company, Hahnbee DM'ed me on Twitter and just asked to meet my dog. It wasn't some formal recruiting pitch—it felt like one founder reaching out to another during a transition time.

When we actually got together, it felt so familiar. You know when you go thrifting and try something on that feels like you've owned it forever? It was that comfortable.

I wasn't trying to impress anyone or put on a work persona. I was just myself, and that was exactly what they wanted.

The biggest surprise since joining is how natural it feels to work hard because we're having a genuine good time.

It's not about face time or impressing anybody with grind culture—we're building something cool together and actually enjoy hanging out. We share meals, solve problems, and there's this sense of being in it together that I haven't felt at other jobs.

What's refreshing is how we talk about ideas. There's no bad ideas here. Even non-engineers can jump in with suggestions and be taken seriously. Like good improv, the attitude is always "yes, and?"

But what makes it even better is the intensity. This is a team that genuinely cares—about the details, about our customers, and about each other. Everyone here operates with high agency; if you see something that needs to be done, you just do it. There's no waiting around for permission.

It's a culture where speed matters, not for the sake of hustle, but because we're aligned on what actually moves the needle. Our co-founders lead by example, balancing high performance with an openness to sit down, explain, and collaborate. It's a place where people want to be excellent—not just busy.

The analytics part of my brain was already sold on Mintlify's growth trajectory and business health. As someone who used to invest in startups, I can spot a company that's doing well, and this one checks all those boxes.

But what really makes this place special is the people. Everyone here is a bit different, maybe even "weird" in their own way, but we're all drawn to the same mission. There's no ego in the room—just a shared desire to build something meaningful.

Since day one, I've been encouraged to bring my "founder brain" to every situation. If I see something that needs fixing, I can just fix it. The trust and autonomy here are real, not just talking points in a company handbook.

Looking back, I made an extensive matrix and probably overthought a lot of things when deciding to join. But the best advice I could give anyone is to trust your gut. After just two hours having lunch with the team, it just felt right in a way that's hard to put on a pros/cons list.

If you're looking for a place where you can do your best work alongside people who care deeply—both about what they're building and about each other—without all the corporate nonsense, come join us. I'm glad I did.

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If anything Brandon mentioned resonates with you, Mintlify is hiring.