Key facts
- AI startup LemonLime offered job interviews in exchange for tattoos.
- Seven people got tattooed at a company event.
- CEO Jordan Zietz apologized for the "reckless" stunt.
- The company will cover tattoo removal costs for participants.
- LemonLime seeks employees with a "grindset mentality" willing to work weekends.
AI startup LemonLime has admitted that its recent promotional stunt, which offered job interviews to individuals willing to get tattooed, was "reckless" and demonstrated "poor judgment." CEO Jordan Zietz stated he "messed up" and got "carried away" with the gimmick.
The company, which focuses on optimizing existing data for AI, had previously used other unconventional hiring tactics, such as a game to assess applicants. The tattoo event, held on July 25 following a Y Combinator Startup School event, aimed to find "unhinged" individuals willing to take risks.
Seven people ultimately received tattoos at the event, with the LemonLime logo being an option but not a requirement. The predictable backlash on social media quickly escalated, reaching traditional news outlets. Zietz issued an apology on July 30, acknowledging that connecting permanent tattoos to job opportunities created an inappropriate pressure dynamic, regardless of intent.
LemonLime is known for its demanding work culture, with Zietz previously stating that the entire team works seven days a week and that applicants unwilling to work past 5 p.m. or on weekends often withdraw. He also noted that the company prioritizes hiring people they want to be friends with, emphasizing a fun, collaborative environment for changing the world.