STAY AWAY - Anonymous employee Kong Employee Review

High earning potential. Product dominates in most competitive scenarios and stands out on the Gartner report at the very top right and leading the API space with the greatest vision. A testament to the CEO's ability to read into the way the market is moving based on his decades of experience and keeping up with customer demands going into the agentic era. Lucky to work here. The best and brightest in API & AI gateways are here. The pre-IPO excitement vibe is real here. Good coverage from an AE to SE standpoint (2:1). Easily able to communicate across the business to get help/answers to solving hard problems with colleagues more than happy to help.

Scaling into an IPO means things are moving fast so not a con per se but keeping up with small competitors, who are popping up quickly (but also leave the market quickly) as well up has its demands as clients are looking everywhere right now to survive and win in this agentic era.

The thing that stands out most at Kong is the people. This is genuinely one of the most talented, driven, and collaborative groups I've worked with — and that's not just within my immediate team. Kong has built a truly global team, and the diversity of perspective and experience you get from that is something you can feel in day-to-day work. The product speaks for itself. Kong is solving real, complex problems in the AI connectivity space, and there's a shared sense of purpose around what we're building. It's the kind of place where you actually believe in what you're selling, which makes a big difference. Culture is something a lot of companies talk about but few actually invest in. Kong's COURAGE core values aren't just words on a wall — they come up in real conversations and shape how decisions get made. Leadership is visible, engaged, and genuinely cares about the team.

Like any high-growth tech company, the pace is fast and there's always more work to do than hours in the day. If you thrive in ambiguity and like to move quickly, that's energizing — but it can be a lot if you're looking for a slow and steady environment.