What's It Like to Work at Upside?

In one sentence, why does your company’s mission matter to your team — and what recent decision did it shape?

Our mission — to advance the economic power of people and businesses in the real world — isn’t a poster on the wall for us, it’s the actual math behind the business. We only make money if we grow spending power for consumers and profit for retailers, so that’s baked into every decision we make. If we stop living by our mission, we don’t have a business.

Which initiative best demonstrates the impact of your mission — and how was its success measured?

When the fuel supply crisis in the Strait of Hormuz squeezed wallets and margins, we didn’t wait to see how it shook out. We proactively changed our own economics so retailers stayed ahead and set offer floors so consumers kept earning cash back even as margins thinned. The metric of success was simple: incremental gallons sold grew sharply and signups surged, meaning people and businesses were able to keep earning through a moment of real crisis.

What ritual or leader behavior convinces people the mission is real?

Twice a year, we bring users and retailers into company meetings to share about their Upside experience: The good, the bad and the ugly. No script, no polish, just an honest scorecard about how we’re doing for the people we serve.