Your Setup Checklist

Work through these in your first day or two. Progress saves automatically on this device. Mandatory = required; Role-based = depends on your team; Day 1 = do early.

Tools & Access

Unless noted, log in with your Portcast Google account. Some apps are secured by Cognito — one Cognito account unlocks all Cognito-secured apps (request it from the Engineering / Data Science team).

Everyone

Also used: Miro & Figma (design/whiteboarding — request from the team).

🛠️ Engineering — for Kunal

Ping Stephen (Eng Manager) or the Engineering team to set these up. Full guide, project list & KT recordings are in the Engineering Onboarding page ↗.

Local setup: VS Code, GitLab SSH, pyenv (Python), nvm (Node), Docker / OrbStack, AWS CLI. Read the Software Development Manifesto, Architecture overview & RFC Docs (all linked in the eng onboarding page). Core projects: P-ETA (main app) and the DI-* data-ingestion microservices (Containers, Ports, Schedules, Terminals, Vessels).

By function — other tools

CORE Values & Culture

These aren't posters on a wall. They're how we make decisions, give each other feedback, and hire — and how we show up every day.

Who we are

We're a lean, globally distributed team of A+ players on a journey from data → insights → recommendations → actionability — helping supply chain teams move from reacting to disruptions to making confident, informed decisions ahead of time.

Culture in action

Our rituals keep culture alive across time zones — from All-Hands to Friday Hangouts, Random Coffee Chats, and the Well-Done appreciation bot. See Meetings & Rituals for the full rhythm.

Ways of Working

We're remote-first and we never track hours. We emphasise outputs, progress, and responsiveness. Remote flexibility matters — but work can't lack visibility, and slow responses that block others can't become the norm. These are non-negotiable expectations for a distributed team.

⏰ Core collaboration hours

Be reachable during the shared working hours for your region:

During this window: be online in Slack & present in Cosmos, keep your status accurate, and reflect PTO in Google Calendar (integrated with Slack). Outside the window, work can stay async unless urgent.

🛠️ Which tool, when

📈 Visibility & output KPIs

Every team runs on Quarterly OKRs → broken into weekly outputs. Focus is on outcomes vs. targets, not tasks worked on. Each team shares a simple weekly update, reviewed in weekly 1:1s with your manager.

🔄 Performance & feedback

We run quarterly feedback (1st week of each quarter), an annual review, and 30/60/90-day check-ins for new joiners — with anonymous upward feedback on managers. Consistent gaps are addressed openly. See the Growth & Reviews tab for the full picture.

Meetings & Rituals

Because we're remote and globally distributed, we're intentional about creating moments to connect, learn, and have fun. All meetings happen in our Cosmos virtual office.

Regular rhythm

Local meetup budget (per person, monthly)

Quarterly & annual

Slack Channel Guide

Where to post what. Search to filter the list.

Leaves

We recognise the importance of rest and life outside work. Leave is pro-rated for your start date; the leave calendar runs January–December.

Types of leave

🌐 Your employment type

Not sure which applies to you, or have a benefits question for your country? G is the team's EOR / contractor expert — just ask.

How to request

Learning & Development

We raise the bar through continuous learning, growth, and well-being. Each team member gets up to SGD 1,200 per calendar year to invest in themselves.

What you can spend it on

How it works

Perks & Expenses

Beyond L&D, here's what's covered and how to claim it. Reimbursements go through Xero; submit between the 1st–30th and it's cleared in your next paycheck on the 5th.

🏢 Co-working space — relevant if you're outside Singapore

Prefer working outside home? We reimburse a hotdesk membership (most affordable option) for team members based outside SG. If 2+ teammates are in the same city, coordinate and use the same space. Discuss with your manager & G, get the monthly budget confirmed, then submit receipts monthly via Xero under the Rent line.

🧳 Work travel

For conferences, events & client meetings (approved by your functional head). Only work-related costs are covered — personal add-ons are on you.

📍 Local team meetups

If 3+ teammates share a city, grab dinner or do an activity together (3rd or last Thursday of the month) — reimbursed via Xero. Budgets: SG & HK S$40, Bangalore/Delhi S$30, Manila S$25 per person. Don't forget to share snaps in #team-culture!

Growth & Reviews

How we support your growth — from your first 90 days through ongoing feedback and reviews, all tied to our CORE values and your team's KPIs.

🌱 Your first 90 days

Your first 3 months are a probation period. During it, G and your manager run 30 / 60 / 90-day check-ins to make sure you have what you need, clarify expectations, and surface support early. Expect honest, two-way feedback — and ask questions freely.

🔄 Quarterly feedback

In the 1st week of each quarter, your manager recaps the past quarter and aligns on KPIs for the next. You can also give anonymous upward feedback on your manager via a form HR shares, plus quarterly peer feedback on how well our ways of working are being followed.

📅 Annual performance review

Runs once a year (the 2025 cycle kicks off Feb 2026), reflecting on the full calendar year against your KPIs and CORE values, in four stages:

🛟 If expectations aren't being met

We address gaps early and openly. If a pattern persists (missed weekly outputs, repeated delays, low responsiveness, becoming a blocker), it moves to a structured Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) — a ~30-day plan with clear goals, a midpoint check-in, and support — before any further decision. The goal is always to help you succeed. Full detail in the HR Policy ↗.

Org Chart & Who to Ask

See where everyone sits and who to reach out to as you ramp up.

Who to ask — by function

Feel free to set up a 1:1 with any POC to understand how your role supports theirs.

Industry Primer — Domain 101

New to logistics? Start here. Already in the industry? Use it as a quick reference.

🔍 What Portcast does

A container ship carries thousands of metal boxes across oceans — from a factory in Shanghai to a warehouse in Rotterdam, often through multiple ports, over weeks. When a shipment is late, it means empty factory floors, missed commitments, expensive port fees (demurrage), and cascading failures.

Carriers (Maersk, MSC…) publish ETAs based on planned schedules — but weather, congestion, and breakdowns make those regularly wrong. Portcast uses real-time satellite (AIS) data, carrier updates, weather signals, and ML models to generate more accurate, continuously-updating predictions (pETA) — and tells customers what action to take when something goes wrong.

Mission: to be the most trusted information source for effective and sustainable supply chains. North Star: the monthly number of active containers with actionable data where we can deliver value.

👥 The three players

📦 The product suite

🗺️ The container journey

Glossary

The shipping, Portcast & engineering terms you'll hear in your first weeks. Search to find one fast.

No terms match — try another word.

Recordings Hub

One place for recorded sessions across Cosmos, Loom & Google Drive. Most Cosmos replay links need no login.

📦 Product Walkthroughs (self-serve Loom, no login)

🍽️ Lunch & Learn highlights

🛠️ Engineering KT — for Kunal

🎉 Team & culture

Policies & Resources

The authoritative pages — bookmark what's relevant to you.

📋 Policies

🌐 Follow & engage

At Portcast, everyone is a salesperson — not closing deals, but building trust by sharing our journey. Engage with our channels and consider a "first months" culture post (send a photo + 3–5 lines to G or Sree for your welcome post).