A couple of weeks ago I left ComparaMejor, a Colombian FinTech startup. After a little less than a year working with them, I learned a ton of things. I want to share some of them.
About ComparaMejor
ComparaMejor is a startup that helps you find the right insurance for your car. You can get quotes from a bunch of insurance companies, and it helps you understand which one is the best fit for your needs.
It was the first time I worked with a company in the financial sector, and I have to say ComparaMejor is incredible, starting with one of their core values: the customer comes first.
Another thing that I think makes them unique is their human side. The people who are part of the company are excellent — the human element always comes first, and this is one of the pillars that makes everything I want to tell you about possible.
During my time with them, I learned a ton of things, had fun, and made good friends. Let me tell you the five most important things I learned.
Team Culture Is Really Important
For any startup, culture is very important. Their entire culture is based on five values that are truly lived out in every product and process.
But the reality is that each area of a company ends up creating its own subculture, so to speak, and this should matter to you a lot. Team culture defines a ton of things, because you’re going to spend a lot of hours with these people.
In my case, the technology team had a work environment that helps you grow, allows you to make mistakes and learn from them, and challenges you to solve problems that reach thousands of people.
Whatever your team’s culture is like, it’s going to define how much you grow and enjoy being with them. Always try to create the best environment on your team, and if you don’t fit in, that’s okay too — find a place where you do.
Helping the Team Grow Professionally Is How You Make the Company Grow
A company can only grow when the people in it grow personally and professionally. At ComparaMejor, this was reflected in growth plans, frequent sessions with the team lead, education benefits, internal meetups, and several other things.
During my time with them, the company grew a lot. And growth in tech usually means facing different technical challenges. Without constantly learning, tackling these new challenges would be really tough.
Continuous learning today isn’t optional — it’s something we all need to do, for our own professional good and for the company’s. If you really want to grow and add more value to the company, keep learning.
Making Mistakes Is Okay
In my first jobs, I was always scared of failing. One of the things I’ll never forget from when I joined ComparaMejor is one of the first things they told me: “We want you to make mistakes. Make as many as you can.”
And I definitely messed up a lot, but that’s also why I feel I learned just as much. Making mistakes is normal, and you’re definitely going to make them many times.
Something important is finding a way where someone on the team can fail, learn, and move on, with the team’s support and the ability to fix any damage quickly.
Don’t be afraid to fail, and if you feel like you can’t fail where you are, maybe it’s not a good place. A great product is built on top of a ton of small mistakes.
Having Clear Objectives Is a Company’s Foundation
I’ve always found it curious how a company of more than 50 people, that has to deal with a bunch of traditional companies, can move so fast.
In the end, I think it all comes down to having clear goals. Whether it’s OKRs, KPIs, or whatever — having clear company goals and knowing how to communicate them to the entire company is the difference between a company that’s trying to change an industry and just another company.
Try to be an active part of meeting the company’s quarterly or annual objectives. And if you feel like you’re not, maybe you need to have a conversation with your lead.
It Doesn’t Matter How Good You Are If You Don’t Help Make Your Team Amazing
Having people with a ton of technical knowledge in the company is great, but the reality is that great products aren’t built individually. It’s the work of a lot of people.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from ComparaMejor is that if you’re good, your main job should be helping your team be amazing. Always look for ways to help them learn. It doesn’t matter how good you are — what matters is how much the team grows.
The developers who have a 10x impact are those who strive to make their teammates better and help them shine.
And yes, I learned this after a long conversation with Elmer, the CTO of ComparaMejor, in my last one-on-one session.
Final Words
The last year at ComparaMejor was an adventure. You have no idea how lucky I feel to have been part of such a unique company, and I have no doubt their future is bright. I encourage you to apply with them — they’re growing the team.
As for my future, I’m joining the team at Resuelve tu Deuda, a startup that helps people repair their debts. I know great challenges and a ton of things to learn are waiting for me. I’ll definitely share what I learn with you.