Autumn is unfolding in Boston. Whether you’re strolling the scenic lengths of The Public Garden, sipping a latte while checking emails at George Howell Coffee, or day tripping to Honey Pot Hill Orchards for apple picking, hayrides and hedge mazes, it’s a great time to take a beat and appreciate your surroundings, to ground yourself in a changing environment. It might also be a good time to catch up on the movers and shakers in your local tech scene — and Built In Boston has curated nine noteworthy companies to get you started.
After a banner August that saw just five Boston-based startups boast more than $1 billion in funds raised, collectively, many of the city’s tech employers are unveiling upgrades to the breadth, depth and inclusion of their culture and perks.
The Boston-based companies we featured are special in many ways. But all eight have one thing in common: They are unique, people-first organizations well worth keeping on your radar in the season ahead.
What they do: IoT-enabled beverage machine maker Bevi has raised more than $70 million since the company’s inception in 2013. In addition to providing flat, sparkling and flavored water to workplaces throughout the U.S. and Canada, Bevi, along with the company’s customers and end users, have helped to eliminate more than 200 million plastic bottles to date.
The Perks
- In addition to hiring practices that promote diversity, Bevi boasts nearly 50-50 gender parity at the executive level
- An annual company retreat — with past destinations including Austin, Texas; Portland, Maine; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Generous PTO benefits, paid holidays, sick days and volunteer days
Splashy announcements: This August, Bevi announced a $70 million Series D investment from Cowen Sustainable Investments. Additionally, Bevi announced plans to double the size of its team over the ensuing 18 months, adding more than 100 new roles in areas including sales, marketing, hardware, operations and software.
“We are driving the transition from an antiquated supply chain built around single-use plastic bottles to a network of smart machines that purify tap water and perfectly formulate beverages at the point of use,” Sean Grundy, Bevi’s co-founder and CEO, said in a press release. “To realize our vision at scale, we need to build out groundbreaking infrastructure, optimize systems to manage this infrastructure and grow Bevi into a household name.”
What they do: A SaaS company focused on collaborative utilization management, Cohere Health aims to help medical professionals and healthcare providers eliminate administrative burden and improve patient experience.
The Perks
- Documented equal pay policy, dedicated DEI staff and diversity ERGs dedicated to promoting a more equitable and inclusive workplace
- Health insurance benefits including dental, vision and mental health services
- Mentorship programs, cross-functional training and the ability to attend job trainings and conferences
Building a championship squad: “I really enjoy building teams, which is why I’m especially excited about our current growth phase,” said Chief Product Officer Gina Kim in an interview with Built In Boston this June. “We have great proof points at scale, so we’re only going to accelerate from here. There are so many ideas and directions, and it forces team members to come together to execute and prioritize what’s important.”
What they do: Employing an edtech platform dedicated to corporate learning, Skillsoft provides more than 180,000 training courses as well as books, videos and other educational resources to clients that include nearly 70 percent of Fortune 1000 companies. Skillsoft’s resources have been used by more than 45 million learners in 165 countries.
The Perks
- Paid holidays, sick leave and volunteer days, as well as a generous PTO program
- Performance bonuses, 401(k) matching — and a program that matches charitable contributions
- A tuition reimbursement, job training and conferences and access to online coursework
With the assist: This August, Skillsoft announced a new partnership with Coursera — an integration will enable the companies’ joint customers to access Coursera for Business resources directly within Skillsoft Percipio.
“Skillsoft is dedicated to delivering learning experiences that drive growth for employees and employers alike,” Apratim Purakayastha, Skillsoft’s chief product and technology officer, said in a press release. “This integration will bring even more choices of high-quality content to learners and further drive durable workforce transformation.”
What they do: Cambridge Semantics is an enterprise big data management and exploratory analytics software company. The company’s business solutions enable organizations in a variety of industries — including financial services, government, healthcare, life sciences and manufacturing — to accelerate data delivery and provide meaningful insights enterprise-wide.
The Perks
- Generous child care and parental leave benefits including: parental leave, family medical leave, a return-to-work program post-parental leave, childcare benefits and a flexible work schedule
- Health benefits including dental, vision and mental health programs; wellness programs; and access to an in-office gym and team-wide workouts
- Chances to volunteer and contribute to the community through partnerships with Thompson Island, Rosie's Place, Wonderfund and other organizations.
Achieving at the highest level: “My colleagues are also smart, tech savvy and driven. They love intellectual challenges and working with leading edge technology,” Brooke Morton, human resources director at Cambridge Semantics, told Built In Boston this May. “Our data integration capability has uniquely positioned Cambridge Semantics as a pioneer in the field, and our people at the forefront of the curve.”
What they do: Sense aims to help customers reduce carbon emissions and make their homes smarter and more efficient. By using machine learning technology to analyze energy use in the home, The Sense Energy Monitor is able to provide insights into home energy use through intuitive apps for iOS, Android and the web.
The Perks
- Competitive compensation including 401(k) benefits and company equity options
- A flexible work schedule with benefits tailored to both remote workers — including a $200 a year home office allowance — and hybrid workers at the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters
- A free Sense energy monitor for your home
Building a home court advantage: This April, Sense announced a $105 million Series C funding round led by Blue Earth Capital. The announcement brought Sense’s total funding raised to date to $157 million.
“We’ve always known that the fastest path to mass market adoption is to get our core technology built into the infrastructure of homes,” Sense CEO Mike Phillips said in a statement. “This funding allows us to work with our key strategic partners to bring Sense intelligence into millions of homes.”
What they do: Insurify’s digital insurance marketplace allows customers searching for home or auto insurance to access personalized recommendations and real-time quotes online.
The Perks
- 401(k) and employee stock purchase plans
- Unlimited vacation and sick time
- A flexible work schedule with remote work options
Learning from the best: “‘Insurify is the best teacher,’ is a phrase that gets mentioned often, and it really is something that our team takes to heart,” Kellen Urbon, product manager, said in an interview with Built In this June. “With the return of in-person conferences, we have been attending events that highlight the intersection of insurance and technology. It’s a great opportunity to learn about how the insurance industry is changing and where it is heading in the future.”
What they do: Beacon Biosignals enables and accelerates new treatments for patients experiencing neurological, psychiatric and sleep disorders. By employing a machine learning platform for electroencephalography, Beacon intends to make brain monitoring more accessible, interpretable and actionable.
The Perks
- Generous PTO, paid sick days and holidays
- Parental and family medical leave programs
- The opportunity to earn company equity
Overcoming challenges together: “It feels incredibly exciting and rewarding to know that my contributions, no matter how big or how small, are going directly toward helping these patients — potentially giving them the opportunity to lead a more normal life in the very near future,” Alex Arslan, manager, applied sciences, told Built In Boston this February. “We’re each using our own skills and expertise, making impacts in our own ways, to complement one another and achieve something together that none of us could do alone.”
What they do: A technology and AI company working in affiliation with MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab CSAIL, Jobcase operates a social media platform and jobs marketplace employed by more than 130 million registered users. Jobcase collaborates with employers, nonprofits and government agencies to improve access in the workforce and help empower workers.
The Perks
- Customized development tracks and mentorship opportunities
- A 401(k) and company equity program
- 100 percent medical and dental coverage provided
Primed to meet the moment: One of the most compelling reasons that workers find to ply their trade at Jobcase, is the company’s timely mission.
“Our industry is an exciting place to work right now because of how much the job market has changed during Covid-19,” Jed Tranate, senior software engineer, told Built In this May. “Many of the workers most affected by the pandemic are a part of the Jobcase community. We provide access to the jobs and support they need to get ahead. As a popular online career resource in the US, Jobcase is well-positioned to help connect and empower workers.”
