The Zebra, a car insurance startup, features shredded insurance documents behind a neon sign in its spacious lobby. Dziabiak told Business Insider that the startup removed "Insurance" from its name after they realized it made recruiting engineers much harder.
The Zebra's new office in East Austin is four times larger than its previous office in downtown Austin, and features several references to the company's namesake animal throughout the two-floor space.
The office was built for The Zebra by a local architecture firm called Interior Architects. The light-filled space contrasted with dark walls and industrial elements. A company spokesperson told Business Insider that the design was a step up from the company's first office that "looked like it was designed by a 22-year-old" with graffiti art installations and concrete floors.
The office interior was designed by Connecticut-based Chrystal Toth Designs. The Zebra cofounder and CEO Adam Lyons worked with Chrystal Toth on his family home in Connecticut — and was so pleased with the result he contracted the firm to work on The Zebra's office.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThere are 40 glass-walled conference rooms with full audiovisual capabilities. Each office is named after a different animal that corresponds to the size of the room. For example, a two-person phone booth was named "Rat," while the largest room was named "Kraken."
The office currently holds 154 employees with capacity up to 300, and features typical Silicon Valley-style perks like standing desks and an in-house barista.
Although The Zebra's last office was in the penthouse of an iconic office downtown, a company spokesperson said employees were supportive of the move because of the extra space and abundant natural light.
The office has several work spaces scattered throughout to promote collaboration, a key feature the team worked with Interior Architecture to create, the spokesperson said. Employees also have access to bike storage and kombucha on tap.
The fast-growing east side of Austin is only 1.5 miles from downtown, and The Zebra is within walking distance to multiple apartment buildings, breweries, coffee shops, and local transportation.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdPart of the startup's initiative in building a new space was sustainability, a spokesperson said. They brought three large siloes to fill with rainwater which they recycle for use on-site.
The startup's substantial outdoor space features seating, artificial turf, and grills. But most striking is the mural, commissioned by the company from local muralist Luis Angulo.