Vote for Workplace of the Year: Startups employ various methods in their commitment to culture

Startups vie for the title of "Workplace of the Year" by employing diverse strategies to foster positive workplace culture. From flexible schedules to innovative perks and collaborative environments, these initiatives reflect startups' dedication to nurturing inclusive, dynamic workplaces that prioritize employee well-being and engagement in shaping company culture.

Respect. Inclusion. Satisfaction. Employee-centric. Our judges for the Workplace of the Year category at the 2024 GeekWire Awards used a number of different words and phrases to describe what makes this year’s finalists special.

Five startups building everything from a real estate platform to software that recommends what TV shows to watch are also building cultures aimed at keeping employees satisfied.

Keep scrolling for descriptions of each finalist, and submit your vote here or below for Workplace of the Year, presented by JLL.

Lexion is a Seattle startup that builds AI-powered contract management software.

• Judge’s take: “Something that stood out to us about Lexion’s workplace is their commitment to a culture of respect and inclusion that has resulted in statistical team diversity not typically seen in the tech industry. Also notable, demonstrating their core values of ‘Work Well with Others’ is required to achieve a promotion or elevation in career band.” — Shannon Swift, founder and CEO at Swift HR Solutions.

Arrived is a Seattle-based startup that allows investors to buy shares of single-family homes.

• Judge’s take: “We really appreciated how employee-centric Arrived is, emphasizing interpersonal connections despite being a remote-first firm. They even went so far as to create their own virtual office so team members can pop into virtual meeting rooms and offices. Acknowledging that people still need to connect in person to build relationships, they host two all-hands offsite events each year to reinforce their inclusive culture. A virtual workplace that really seems to be working!” — Kelly Griffin, principal-workplace strategy director at NBBJ.

Likewise is a Seattle-area content-recommendation startup that helps users find TV shows, movies, books and more.

• Judge’s take: “Likewise has created an inclusive, diverse culture and a thoughtful 3-day hybrid workplace plan. Their emphasis on strong communication and employee buy-in sets them apart.” — Blair Stern, executive vice president at JLL.

Humanly is a Seattle startup that helps companies automate their recruiting functions.

• Judge’s take: “Humanly’s focus on building product hand-in-hand with building culture resonates with their great track record of employee satisfaction.” — Adam Chapman, managing director  at JLL.

Syndio is a Seattle startup that analyzes workplace pay equity issues and provides strategies for fixing disparities.

• Judge’s take: “Syndio’s strong culture is driven by a core product that helps organizations build more equitable workplaces. A recent selection for Fortune’s “Change the World” list, Syndio values its people and the contributions they make.” — John Cook, co-founder at GeekWire.

Last year’s winner was Adaptive Biotechnologies, a company developing technology to assess the immune response.

The GeekWire Awards recognize the top innovators and companies in Pacific Northwest technology. Finalists in this category and others were selected based on community nominations, along with input from GeekWire Awards judges. Community voting across all categories will continue until April 12, combined with feedback from judges to determine the winner in each category.

We’ll announce the winners live on stage at Showbox SoDo in Seattle on May 9. There are a limited number of table sponsorships available to attend the event. Learn more and sign up to attend on the GeekWire Awards event site.

Sourced from GeekWire