Slack
Microsoft Teams.
In the flow of work
Peer recognition for startup teams that happens right where work happens—inside Slack or Microsoft Teams.
Employee Recognition for Growing Startups
HeyTaco is employee recognition software for startups that helps teams build connection and appreciation as they grow, right inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What Is Employee Recognition for Startups?
Employee recognition for startups is the intentional practice of acknowledging contributions and effort to reinforce the behaviors that help fast-growing teams stay aligned, motivated, and connected.
Why Recognition Matters Even More in Startups
Startups aren't just smaller companies. They're a different environment entirely—and that changes what people need to stay motivated.
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Change is constant
Priorities shift weekly. What mattered yesterday might not matter tomorrow. Recognition anchors people when everything else is in flux.
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Roles blur
Everyone wears multiple hats. The work that keeps the company alive often falls outside anyone's job description—and needs to be seen.
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Culture forms early
The habits you build at 10 people become the culture at 100. Recognition isn't a perk—it's a foundation.
Why Employee Recognition Breaks Down In Startups
Startup turnover averages 25%[1]—twice the national average—and 50% of employees[2] report burnout symptoms.
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Fast moving
Startups prioritize speed. Wins happen quickly, then the team moves on. With median tenure at just 2 years[3], appreciation that gets delayed often never happens.
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Invisible work
In startups, the most valuable work is often invisible: fixing customer issues, reducing churn, onboarding new hires, cleaning up tech debt, writing docs.
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Always on
When the pace is nonstop, appreciation becomes a nice to have. Weeks pass, and the moment is gone.
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Someone else will
In small teams, everyone assumes someone else noticed. Nobody owns recognition, so it doesn't happen consistently.
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Rapid scaling
As teams grow, culture dilutes. New hires don't know the norms. What worked at 10 people breaks at 50.
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No systems yet
Most startups don't have HR or formal processes. Recognition has no home—so it falls through the cracks.
Case Study
How Insightly Scaled Recognition Across Their Tech Organization
When Insightly wanted to strengthen culture across its growing CRM platform team, they turned to HeyTaco. Laura Freeman, VP of Customer Success, had used it before—and knew it worked.
The result?
Stronger engagement, more visible collaboration, and a culture where appreciation is part of the workflow.
“What I love about HeyTaco is that it doesn't feel like an HR tool. It's simple, and people actually use it.” —Laura Freeman, VP of Customer Success
From engineers to support reps, tacos started flying in Slack—especially when people lived the company's values. Insightly even built in a Core Values Taco initiative, tying each shoutout to behaviors they wanted to see more of.
Signs Recognition Is Breaking Down at Your Startup
These warning signs often go unnoticed until they're already hurting retention and culture.
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Wins Ship Uncelebrated
Features launch, deals close, but nobody pauses to acknowledge the effort. The team moves straight to the next priority.
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Invisible Work Piles Up
Someone handled a customer crisis, fixed tech debt, or onboarded a new hire. Nobody outside their DMs knows it happened.
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New Hires Feel Overlooked
As the team grows, new people don't feel welcomed or valued. Early contributions go unnoticed.
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Only Founders Give Praise
Recognition flows top-down. Teammates rarely acknowledge each other, even when they see great work firsthand.
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Growth Dilutes Culture
What worked at 10 people breaks at 50. New hires don't know the norms. The culture you built starts fading.
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Burnout Spreads Quietly
The pace is relentless and effort goes unnoticed. People start running on empty without anyone realizing.
How Employee Recognition Fits Into Startup Work
Recognition works best when it does not feel like a process.
Peer driven, not top down
Founders are not the only ones noticing great work. Everyone can give recognition.
Lightweight by design
No meetings, no forms, no performance cycles. Just real appreciation, shared publicly.
How HeyTaco Supports Growing Startup Teams
HeyTaco is employee recognition software built to support startups as they scale, without adding complexity or process.
Works where you already work
HeyTaco lives inside Slack and Microsoft Teams. No new tools to adopt. No rollout friction.
Makes effort visible
Recognition is shared publicly so wins, help, and progress do not disappear into DMs.
Easy enough to stick
Sending recognition takes seconds. When it is easy, people actually do it—even during crunch time.
Human, not performative
Short, genuine messages keep recognition real instead of awkward or forced.
What Startups See When Recognition Works
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Stronger Employee Engagement
Growing teams stay motivated and connected when appreciation happens consistently and in the moment.
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Visible Appreciation Across the Company
Great work is recognized openly, not lost in private messages or meetings.
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Healthier Team Connection
As teams scale, recognition helps people feel seen and valued beyond their immediate role.
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Momentum Instead of Burnout
Small moments of appreciation reinforce progress and pride in the work.
Why Startups Choose HeyTaco
Because it works without adding process or overhead.
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Fast to set up
Most teams are running in minutes, not days.
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No new tools to adopt
Lives inside Slack and Microsoft Teams.
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Scales as you grow
What works at 10 people still works at 100+.
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Startup-friendly pricing
$3/person/month. No contracts, cancel anytime.
Build a Startup Culture Where Effort Is Seen
Build a culture of appreciation with employee recognition software designed for growing startups.
4.8 on G2 • Trusted by 3k+ teams worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from startup teams.
How does HeyTaco help us maintain culture as we grow from a small startup to a larger team?
HeyTaco is designed to scale with your team. What works for 5 people continues to work at 100+ people. Recognition becomes embedded in your workflow early, so it stays part of how the company operates even as you add people, roles, and departments. This prevents bad habits from setting in and ensures your culture foundation is strong from the start.
Why do startup employees quit?
How do I reduce burnout at my startup?
50% of startup employees report burnout symptoms[2]—higher than founders themselves. Burnout often starts when effort goes unnoticed in fast-moving environments. Regular peer recognition helps people feel seen, building resilience during intense growth phases.
Will recognition feel awkward or forced?
No. Recognition is optional, lightweight, and peer-driven. Messages are short and natural, not scripted or tied to performance reviews.
Does this create extra process or overhead?
No. HeyTaco lives inside Slack and Microsoft Teams. There are no meetings, forms, or workflows to manage.
Do founders have to manage recognition?
No. Recognition works best when it is shared across the team. Founders can participate, but they do not need to run or police it.
What kind of work gets recognized?
Anything the team values. Shipping features, helping a teammate, supporting customers, fixing bugs, onboarding new hires, or doing the invisible work that keeps the startup moving.
Does recognition turn into a competition?
No. While there are fun visual elements, the focus is on appreciation, not ranking people. Teams can tune visibility and features to match their culture.
Can recognition align with our values?
Yes. Many startups tag recognition to values like ownership, customer focus, collaboration, or learning so appreciation reinforces what matters most.
How long does setup take?
Most startups are up and running in minutes. Install HeyTaco, choose a few defaults, and start recognizing work immediately.
Will this scale as we grow?
Yes. What works for an early startup continues to work as teams add people, roles, and departments. Recognition stays simple even as the organization grows.
Does HeyTaco handle sensitive employee or customer data?
No. HeyTaco is designed for appreciation messages, not sensitive data. Teams use it the same way they already use Slack or Microsoft Teams.
Sources
- Workforce.com – Startup turnover rates (25% average, twice national average)
- Startup Snapshot – Startup employee burnout research (50% report symptoms)
- Carta – Employment tenure statistics for startup companies (2 year median)
- Built In – True costs of employee turnover (50–200% of salary)