Accounts by 17 current and former employees and others close to Loot Crate provide an inside look at how start-ups can be swept into a grow-fast mentality that pervades companies funded by venture capital, even when such a strategy may not be suitable. Prioritizing growth can be a boon to software firms that can add customers to existing services with minimal extra cost. But in dealing with hard goods, international logistics, and a demanding fan base, Loot Crate shows the consequences of extending the tactics of the app economy to retail.