Chapter 1: Welcome to Jacobi
Congratulations on joining the Jacobi team. This chapter introduces who we are, what drives us, and the people and resources you'll rely on throughout your time here.
Our Mission
Jacobi exists to build tools and systems that help people make better decisions faster. Every team — engineering, design, operations, and research — works toward that goal.
Core Values
- Clarity over cleverness — simple solutions outlast clever ones
- Own your outcomes — take initiative, follow through, ask for help early
- Build trust — transparent communication, no surprises
- Stay curious — the best ideas come from asking "why" and "what if"
Your First Points of Contact
When you start, the three people to know immediately are:
- Your manager — sets goals, removes blockers, and checks in weekly
- Your onboarding buddy — a peer who helps you navigate the informal stuff
- IT / People Ops — handles access, equipment, and benefits questions
!!! tip "Bookmark the internal wiki" The Jacobi internal wiki is the source of truth for team rosters, project status, and process docs. Bookmark it on day one — you will visit it constantly.
Company Communication
We default to asynchronous communication. Here is the quick guide:
| Channel | When to use |
|---|---|
Slack #general |
Announcements, celebrations, quick questions |
| External partners, formal requests, paper trail needed | |
| Project tracker | Tasks, bugs, milestones — anything that needs a record |
| Video call | Decisions that need real-time alignment |
!!! warning "Avoid DMs for work decisions" Decisions made in private DMs are invisible to the team. Prefer public channels so context is preserved and teammates can contribute.
A Note on Tone
Jacobi is a direct culture — people say what they mean without excessive hedging. You will not be expected to soften feedback to the point it loses meaning, and you should not expect that from others. Direct does not mean unkind; it means efficient and honest.