Fall is just around the corner. In Colorado, the color of the aspens will begin to change, crisper temperatures will set in and calendars will be marked with seasonal activities. Whether you’re making a family outing to the pumpkin patch at Chatfield Farm, watching the Elk at Estes Park or experiencing the frights of the Telluride Horror Show fest, the Centennial State has a plethora of activities throughout the season to satisfy any and every niche and interest.
Likewise, CO’s sprawling tech scene — which boasts more than 125,000 professionals — has something for those of all interests or fortes. The largest tech funding rounds for CO companies drew a total of over $140 million in June and July, demonstrating its continued dominance as a magnet for innovation and top talent.
At six local companies, tech professionals continue to make strides into a bright future despite a rocky year for the industry. These companies and their teams are empowered by notable benefits and strong cultures.
Read on for what drives them to reach new heights.
What Freshworks does: Freshworks is an AI-driven customer service, IT and CRM software that empowers businesses to improve customer relationships and employee experiences.
Notable perks and benefits:
- Unlimited PTO
- Mentorship program and promote from within
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Employee stock purchase plan
A collaborative environment: Freshworks breaks down silos between departments, empowering team members to work together to achieve optimal results. “When it is time to change strategies, we take the approach that more brains are better than one,” said Enterprise Sales Manager Paige Wunderlich in a 2023 interview with Built In. “We work with our marketing, customer success and professional services teams to come up with ideas and formulate our plans.”
What AutoStore does: By uniting hardware and software with human abilities, robotics company AutoStore helps increase warehouse capacity and order fulfillment efficiency.
Notable perks and benefits:
- Generous parental leave
- Documented equal pay policy
- Hybrid, remote and in-office work schedules
- Tuition reimbursement for continuing education
Recent accolades: This June, AutoStore received the SupplyTech Breakthrough Award for its PickUpPort, a customer self-service order collection technology. “Receiving this award for our first customer-facing port is an honor,” said Chief Product Officer Carlos Fernández in a statement. “The PickUpPort provides an alternative last-mile delivery option, allowing customers to receive their orders at a time most convenient to them.”
What Bonusly does: Bonusly empowers businesses to attract and keep employees through a peer-to-peer recognition program, exchangeable for money and gift cards.
Notable perks and benefits:
- Fully covered health, dental and vision benefits
- Unlimited vacation policy with a two-week minimum
- An annual budget for wellness and continued development
- Promote from within and customized development tracks
Encouraging experimentation: Taking risks and expanding into new frontiers are key facets of what allows Bonusly team members to create impactful product improvements. “Bonusly’s leadership works hard to empower our teams to explore where we can make the most impact for the business and test out possible solutions quickly and effectively,” said Senior Product Manager Liza Brazil in a 2022 interview with Built In.
What CyberGRX does: CyberGRX is a third-party cyber risk management platform that helps enterprises decrease risk and improve their detection and response via its database.
Notable perks and benefits:
- Monthly virtual and in-person events
- Unlimited vacation policy and paid volunteer time
- Comprehensive healthcare benefits for employees and dependents
- Employee assistance program and mental health care coverage
Focused on DEI: At CyberGRX, DEI has become a priority across the entire employee experience — even before someone is hired. “We have begun incorporating additional DEI-based training and interview questions into the hiring process to enhance our DEI hiring and retention practices,” Applied Security Engineer and DEI Committee Lead Brianna Groves told Built In. “This allows us to begin the conversation about DEI as well as build awareness with candidates around our program and goals.”
What SmarterX does: SmarterX connects product data to complex environmental compliance regulations, enabling companies like Costco, Albertsons, Colgate and more to make, market and move consumer goods better.
Notable perks and benefits:
- A companywide 401(k) plan with employer contributions
- Customized development tracks and paid industry certifications
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Documented equal pay policy
Sustainable growth: For SmarterX, sustainability is present not only in its mission but also in its significant internal scaling. “From the start, we focused on helping companies and organizations comply with environmental regulations. Today, we’re achieving our early vision for the company to not only power better waste diversion but also help our clients and their partners, up and down the supply chain, be more efficient and more sustainable,” said CEO Jacqueline Claudia.
What Wowza does: Wowza is a customizable streaming service software and integrated video platform with over 35,000 video streaming implementations worldwide.
Notable perks and benefits:
- Adoption assistance and generous parental leave
- Continuing education during work hours
- Unlimited vacation policy
- Diversity employee resource groups
Why employees stay: While discussing how Wowza advances DEI initiatives with Built In Colorado this year, CTO Michael Phillipi shared what the company’s ethos is about providing a great employee experience. “Recruiting diverse professionals is just as important to Wowsa as retaining them. We’re constantly asking, ‘Is this a place that enables a variety of folks to really thrive?’”
