Working at a company that strives be an employee’s “new best friend” in an unfamiliar city is a gratifying professional mission, said Relocity COO Sasha Willimann.
“Our number one goal is to ease the stress of anyone in the relocation process, as we know firsthand that it can be painful without the help of a local expert,” said Willimann.
While a variety of jobs might align with an employee’s skill set, professional happiness and growth require more. Employees who believe their company has a higher purpose than just making a profit are 27 percent more likely to stay at their companies, according to a report by TinyPulse. Company mission and culture are often just as important to job seekers as salary and position title.
Professionals from each of the following nine tech companies told us more about their companies’ missions, the traits they look for in new hires and what unites teammates in the office. Besides camaraderie, curiosity and a healthy dose of competition topped the list.
What they do: Fundomate gives small and mid-size businesses access to working capital so they can grow. The team accomplishes this mission using a proprietary business funding platform that provides SMBs with revenue-based models and FLEX financing options.
One thing that would surprise people about Fundomate: They have built a profitable company without raising any equity capital to date. “Even though we have accomplished a lot with a small team in a competitive industry, it’s time to do even more,” said COO Cristian Agafitei.
One trait all team members share: Dedication. “We do whatever it takes to make sure our customers are successful,” said Agafitei. “And we always persevere in the face of challenges.” He said his team reaches creative solutions using their combined experience.
What they do: The Better.com team is working to disassociate the term “mortgage process” with fear. Founder Vishal Garg started the company in 2013 after he went through a frustrating mortgage process himself. The platform automatically identifies relevant customer data so users can get pre-approved from a mobile device in minutes.
One thing that would surprise people about Better.com: It’s changing the culture mortgage companies are expected to have. In addition to focusing on funding loans, rolling out new technology and improving the customer experience, Better.com strives to ensure employees are happy, said Processing Expert Manager Justin Legrottaglie. “This is the first company I have worked for where you constantly see more than 15 people leaving the office to go grab a drink, play a basketball game or just go hang out,” Legrottaglie said.
One trait all team members share: Appreciation for a greater vision. “I think everyone really is invested in what we are trying to do here,” said Legrottaglie. “They are able to see their contributions make a difference and they understand that it takes the full team working together to accomplish our goal.”
What they do: Scorpion provides marketing and technical solutions to companies in the legal, home services, healthcare and franchise spaces, specializing in areas like website design and online reputation management. In the past three years, they’ve seen 246 percent revenue growth.
One thing that would surprise people about Scorpion: Scorpion is 19 years old. “Our tenure and revenue growth are both a testament to our drive to continually innovate,” said CMO Corey Quinn. As the company enters the new decade with a reinforced, client-focused approach, it has relaunched its brand.
One trait all team members share: “One of the many traits we share is competitiveness,” said Quinn. The corporate marketing team was recently recognized for a content marketing campaign by the Content Marketing Institute. “It’s a nice ‘trophy’ and validation for impactful work done,” he said.
What they do: GoGuardian provides schools and teachers with web applications that help them better do their jobs. A few examples include a classroom management software solution, a suicide prevention service and a K-12 web filter.
One thing that would surprise people about GoGuardian: GoGuardian leads with trust. “We trust that you will come in and be successful,” said Technical Recruiter Edwin Sung. “We trust that you will ask questions when you need help. We trust that you will request the right tools to help you succeed.”
One trait all team members share: A sense of curiosity and experimentation, Sung said. The team is open to new ideas and focused on continuous improvement.
What they do: XPRIZE is a nonprofit that uses large-scale, global incentives to challenge people to pursue breakthroughs in technology, science and beyond. The company’s first challenge involved a $10 million Ansari XPRIZE for private spaceflight.
One thing that would surprise people about XPRIZE: How far-reaching the impact of their competitions extend. To date, they have launched 17 competitions and awarded over $150 million in prize money. “Our competitions have galvanized ecosystems across the globe, with hundreds of teams and dozens of partners investing thousands of labor years,” said Talent Acquisition Specialist Michael Reyes.
One trait all team members share: A collaborative nature. “Our greatest strength is the diversity of skills, perspectives and approaches that we bring to XPRIZE,” said Reyes. “We know failure can be the precursor to success and we always strive to learn and help each other grow.”
What they do: Emotive is a mobile messaging platform that helps businesses convert cold leads into customers using artificial intelligence to create an empathetic dialogue. The product is meant to work in tandem with other existing communication strategies and integrates with existing email CRMs and customer service portals.
One thing that would surprise people about Emotive: How personable and hands-on the company co-founders are. According to Head of Customer Success Katrina Musngi, their approach has created a collaborative culture where individual contribution has a direct impact on the overall business. “No task is ever too small,” she said.
One trait all team members share: “We’re all hustlers,” said Musngi. “We do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
What they do: Relocity helps employees who are relocating do so in a way that removes intimidation from the equation. Local residents serve as personal hosts, curating maps and connecting users with the greater community.
One thing that would surprise people about Relocity: The diversity of their staff. Relocity’s team includes people from all backgrounds and ethnicities, who specialize in topics including technology, communication, fitness and healthcare. “Many of our hosts hold master’s degrees and PhDs, while others are stay-at-home moms just getting back into the workforce,” said COO Sasha Willimann. “These diverse qualities allow us to offer anyone using our services a personal connection.”
One trait all team members share: Empathy. “We consider ourselves your first friend in a new city,” said Willimann. “Our number one goal is to ease the stress of anyone in the relocation process, as we know firsthand that it can be painful without the help of a local expert.”
What they do: Boulevard is a scheduling, point-of-sale and conversion platform for salons and spas. Its technology is customizable for customers and is designed to drive revenue, automate workflows and convert visitors into valuable, long-term clients.
One thing that would surprise people about Boulevard: It is on a mission to become the first payments provider uniquely suited to salons, according to Chief Revenue Officer Shannon Jessup. The company’s system processes hundreds of millions of dollars in payments. “We are building real mission-critical payment processing capabilities similar to what you might expect from larger companies like Clover or Square,” said Jessup. “Our key focus is on providing the best customer experience possible for hundreds and soon thousands of businesses.”
One trait all team members share: Commitment to customer satisfaction. All Boulevard employees are trained on clients’ workflows and the intricacies of their industries from day one.
What they do: Laserfiche is an independent, privately-owned technology company that develops content management and business process automation software. Its solutions span industries, including government, education, healthcare and financial services.
One thing that would surprise people about Laserfiche: The company has produced packaged software for more than 30 years. “Not a lot of tech companies have survived the ups and downs of the economy and changes in technology without either taking funding, being acquired or going out of business,” said Senior Product Manager Daniel Herndon. “That to me is a testament to a culture and leadership that is willing to make room for new ideas, even when they challenge the status quo.”
One trait all team members share: There’s a foodie culture within Laserfiche that starts at the top. One of the team’s executives is an avid baker, which means employees often find the results of his experiments in the office kitchen. According to Herndon, there is rarely a day employees can’t get a sugar fix.
