"When you are less than ten people, it is hard to invest in stuff like this."
True, but if you have the right 10 people, you won't have to 'invest' in it, it'll just happen. If an environment that small is created by the 'company' and forced on the 10 employees, they probably won't like it anyhow. If they design it themselves, and put their backs into it, they'll almost always love it.
Part of a good culture at startups is allowing the employees to evolve it themselves.
Our company is 5 people right now. Our lead engineer started buying friday beers for the team. Then I asked our CEO to have the company pay for it, and he did. We now have a beer and snack budget
One of the Junior engineers brought in a PS3. We destroy each other a couple of times a week playing Soul Calibur.
We've got a big long list of things we want to do to make our office a better place to spend time. It's empowering to be able to change your situation.
I agree. I have been at Etsy since the (relatively) early days and despite what the post says the office was pretty much the same, except in a crappier Brooklyn neighborhood. It didn't take more employees or more money to have a great DIY space.
True, but if you have the right 10 people, you won't have to 'invest' in it, it'll just happen. If an environment that small is created by the 'company' and forced on the 10 employees, they probably won't like it anyhow. If they design it themselves, and put their backs into it, they'll almost always love it.