From 'Cockroach Award' to the Big Board: Hinge Health's unlikely path to IPO

Hinge Health co-founders Gabriel Mecklenburg (left) and Daniel Perez (right). Courtesy of Hinge Health At digital physical therapy startup Hinge Health, CEO Daniel Perez used to recognize hard-working employees with the "Cockroach Award," a distinction that brought with it a "cockroach squad" t-shirt and a cash payout. References to the insect were abundant at the company's old headquarters in London, where a picture of a cockroach was prominently displayed on the wall. For much of Hinge's 10-year history, the cockroach was the unofficial mascot. Staffers named it Flossy after the viral dance move "the floss." Perez relishes the symbolism. In his determination to build a company that will push through adversity, he's encouraged employees to think of themselves like cockroaches, due to the creature's grimy resilience and noted ability to survive harsh conditions. "It was the identity of every individual in the company," said Joshua Sturm, a vice president at Hinge from 2019 to 2024 and ... Read full article.