We didn’t build Demand.io to be a typical tech company.

We built it as a platform for a specific kind of builder—the kind who wants to operate at founder-level intensity, solve foundational problems from first principles, and be rewarded with founder-level upside.

Most companies hire employees. We don’t. We bring in peers. If you’re here, it’s because you can design systems, not just execute them. We operate like a Special Forces unit: small, flat, and built around autonomy and impact. One partner here can ship in weeks what would take 20 approvals at a FAANG. That’s not a slogan—it’s our operating reality. We designed this company from scratch for speed, trust, and alignment.

What we’re building is equally ambitious: the truth layer for global commerce. ShopGraph, our proprietary commerce knowledge graph, is the “Intel Inside” for an $8.1 trillion shopping economy. It powers SimplyCodes, Product.ai, and every intelligent agent we build. Our bet is simple: alignment is the deepest moat in tech.

What We’re Building Against

The obstacle isn’t a competitor. It’s the broken system most of tech operates under:

• Quarterly capitalism: Products ship for earnings calls, not because the world needs them. Engagement is optimized, not trust.
• Management by committee: Good ideas die in meetings. Layers of sign-offs smother velocity.
• The cult of busyness: Activity is mistaken for impact. Success is measured by task lists, not outcomes.

We refused to play that game. We’ve been profitable since 2009 by doing the opposite.

How We Work: The AI Operating System

At most companies, AI is a tool. At Demand.io, AI is the operating fabric of the company.

We built our own proprietary AI Operating System (AIOS)—the central nervous system that connects our strategy, people, knowledge, and execution into a single shared brain.

The AIOS is powered by the Demand.io Codex—our cultural source code. It’s a curated set of first principles and mental models that allows a small team of autonomous partners to operate with extreme alignment.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• You are a Context Engineer. You don’t just complete tasks. You architect the knowledge context that lets AI operate at maximum leverage. You’re measured by the compounding impact of the systems you build.
• Our workflow is a cycle of deliberate creation. Every mission begins by architecting a written blueprint where we codify the strategy and first principles. We use AI as an intellectual partner to pressure-test that plan until it's resilient. From there, we orchestrate the build and deliver a tangible result that compounds our collective knowledge, making the entire team smarter for the next cycle.
• You own a portfolio of missions. We don’t do static job titles. Every partner owns a set of missions—specific jobs-to-be-done. Your influence grows by owning higher-leverage missions, not by climbing a ladder.

In plain terms: every day starts with defining context, sparring with AI, and shipping outcomes that compound the system for everyone.

Who Thrives Here (And Who Doesn’t)

This environment is designed for:

• Builders who think in systems, not tasks.
• First-principles thinkers who invent new playbooks instead of following old ones.
• Deep Generalists who build breadth across domains and synthesize novel solutions.
• People energized by radical autonomy, extreme ownership, and velocity.

It’s not right for everyone. If you prefer optimizing existing playbooks, or if your energy comes from polishing process instead of building new systems, you’ll find our approach frustrating.

The Partnership

We designed our compensation model from first principles for true alignment.

• Cash Compensation: We benchmark at or above the 75th percentile of market rates.
• Profit-Sharing Bonus (PSB): High-performing partners are invited into our Partners Program, earning a monthly cash bonus tied directly to company revenue growth. For most, the PSB adds 30-100%+ to annual cash—total comp equivalent to or greater than Big Tech RSUs, without cliffs or vesting schedules.
• Equity: You’ll also receive meaningful equity, making you a true owner in the long-term value you help create.

The bottom line: most partners here take home Big Tech-level total comp, in cash, without lockups or bureaucracy.

The Invite

If you’re looking for a typical job, this isn’t it.

But if you’ve been searching for the place to build foundational technology, work alongside elite peers, and share directly in the value you create—you’ve found it.

We’re not employees. We’re partners. We’re a Special Forces team for the future of commerce.

Want to See How It Works in Practice?

This manifesto is the why behind Demand.io — our mission, our bet, and the kind of team we’re building.

If you want to understand the how — what life here actually feels like, how our operating system works day to day, and what it takes to thrive — read our companion guide:

👉 Life inside Demand.io