Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Vera and the Vereda AI platform.
Can't find an answer? Contact our team.
Last updated: March 2026
Getting Started
Is Vera really free to start?
Yes! Async standups are free forever for your whole team — no user cap. You also get 4 free platform seats for goals and check-ins. No credit card required. The full AI platform (1:1 prep, signal detection, performance reviews) is $15/seat/month.
How long does setup take?
Most teams are running their first standup within 10 minutes. Add Vera to Slack, configure your questions, and you're ready to go. No complex onboarding required.
Do my engineers need to sign up?
No. Engineers just respond in Slack — they never need to create an account or log into anything. Only managers need platform access.
Can I try the full platform before committing?
Yes. Every account starts with 4 free platform seats so you can evaluate 1:1 prep, goal tracking, and signal detection before upgrading.
Standups & Check-ins
What's the difference between channel and private standups?
Channel standups post responses publicly in a Slack channel—everyone sees each other's updates. Private standups collect responses via DM that only you (the manager) can see. Use private mode when you want more honest feedback about blockers or concerns.
Can I customize standup questions?
Yes. You can fully customize the questions asked, the schedule (which days and times), and who participates. Common templates include classic standup (yesterday/today/blockers), weekly retrospectives, and project-specific check-ins.
What if engineers don't respond to standups?
Vera sends reminders at configurable intervals. If someone consistently misses standups, Vera flags it as a signal — so you know who to follow up with without manually tracking attendance.
How do async standups work across time zones?
Each engineer receives their standup prompt at their configured time, regardless of time zone. Responses are collected and summarized, so distributed teams can stay aligned without synchronous meetings.
AI Features
How does Vera detect problems early?
Vera watches for sustained patterns across 1-2 weeks: missed standups, sentiment drops, repeated blockers, stalled goals, or silence. A single bad day won't trigger an alert — Vera looks for trends that indicate someone needs attention.
What does Vera do between my 1:1s?
Vera reads every standup, tracks goal progress, follows up on blockers via Slack DM, and watches for signals. When you sit down for a 1:1, Vera has already built your prep brief with talking points, signals, and suggested questions.
How does Vera draft performance reviews?
Vera collects evidence continuously — standups, goal progress, check-in notes, blocker resolutions. At review time, Vera generates a structured draft backed by months of data. You refine and approve — Vera does the research.
Does Vera update goals and action items automatically?
After every check-in, Vera suggests goal progress updates, new action items, and status changes based on what was discussed. You review and approve — Vera handles the paperwork.
What can I ask Vera?
Anything about your team. Who needs attention this week? What should I discuss with Sarah? How is the migration project going? Vera pulls from standups, goals, check-ins, and signals to give you real answers.
1:1s & Goals
Can engineers see my private notes?
No. Private notes are visible only to you. Use them for sensitive observations, coaching notes, or things you want to remember but not share.
Can engineers create their own goals?
Yes. Engineers can create and update their own goals. Managers see all goals for their team and can add goals as well. This supports a collaborative goal-setting process.
How does stalled goal detection work?
Vera tracks goal progress over time. If a goal hasn't had an update or action item completion in a configurable period (default 2 weeks), Vera flags it and can follow up with the engineer directly via Slack DM.
Team Insights & Reviews
What is a 9 box grid in talent management?
The 9 box grid plots employees on two axes: current performance (x-axis) and future potential (y-axis). Each of the 9 boxes represents a different talent profile, from 'Stars' (high performance, high potential) to 'Risk' employees. It helps managers make data-driven decisions about development and succession.
How does Vera populate the 9-box grid?
Vera analyzes standup participation, goal completion rates, 1:1 feedback trends, and engagement patterns to suggest placements. You can accept suggestions or override them — final placement is always your decision.
How often should I run pulse surveys?
We recommend weekly micro-pulses (2-3 questions) and monthly deeper surveys (5-7 questions). Too frequent and engineers tune out. Too rare and you miss problems.
Will engineers actually respond to pulse surveys?
Vera delivers pulse surveys via Slack DM, which gets 80%+ response rates. Engineers respond because it's quick (under 2 minutes) and delivered where they already work.
Privacy & Security
Is my conversation with Vera private?
Yes. Your conversations with Vera are private. Managers can only see aggregated insights, not your direct chat history.
Can pulse survey responses be anonymous?
Yes. You choose the anonymity level: fully anonymous, manager-visible only, or attributed. For sensitive questions about management or team dynamics, anonymous tends to get more honest responses.
Where is my data stored?
Vereda AI infrastructure is hosted in the United States using Supabase (powered by AWS) and Render. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. See our Security page for details.
Is Vereda AI SOC 2 compliant?
SOC 2 Type II audit is in progress. Our infrastructure providers (AWS, Supabase, Render) maintain SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications.