The fall season is coming to Seattle. That means it’s time to grab a pumpkin spice pint at Two Beers Brewing Co. or head to one of the many Oktoberfest celebrations in the region.
The intense light, clear blue skies and bright reflections make this an ideal time to encounter wildlife and take in a view of Mt. Rainier from the Moraine Trail. It’s also the perfect time to pause and catch up on everything that’s happening in the area’s tech scene. Built In Seattle gathered news about five local companies to start you off.
These exciting employers, like others in the city, are building top teams to help them meet today’s challenges head-on. Keep an eye on them as we head into the last quarter of the year.
What Chewy does: Chewy is a Florida-based online pet food and pet products retailer.
The Perks
- Pet Friendly
- Recreational Clubs
- Online course subscriptions available
Giving back: Chewy’s official philanthropic program, known as Chewy Gives Back, started in 2012. Last year, the organization announced that it had surpassed $100 million in pet food and supplies donated to pets in need. The program has brought more than 96 million meals to rescue animals.
“Creating a better world for pets in need and the communities that serve them is at the core of everything we do through Chewy Gives Back. We are excited to celebrate this incredible milestone hand in hand with customers and community members who share our passion for helping pets everywhere,” said Vice President of Chewy Healthcare and Shelters Mita Malhotra.
What DoubleDown Interactive does: DoubleDown Interactive LLC develops digital experiences and mobile games to bring casino play to a global audience.
The Perks
- Company sponsored family events
- Flexible work schedule
- Massage and Yoga studio
Updated values: Although now in a hybrid work environment, DoubleDown has teams collaborate in person at least one day per week. It’s one way the company is preserving its culture. Leaders recently rolled out three updated values. The vision is for team members to see themselves as passionate, inclusive, and collaborative. Ian Smith, manager of game design, recently told Built In that collaboration and innovation are important to them.
“The thing that’s kept me at this company is a culture that encouraged me to explore and expand my skill set rather than seeing employees as static office equipment fulfilling a role,” Smith said.
What Unity Technologies does: Unity Technologies leverages a high-performance platform to create rich interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR experiences for mobile devices, home entertainment systems, personal computers and other platforms.
THE PERKS:
- Adoption Assistance
- Diversity recruitment program
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Continuing education available during work hours
Hiring and developing top talent: Nearly 20 years ago, three people started Unity. Now, the company has about 7,000 employees working in a hybrid environment. Those employees benefit from an internal Mobility program whose leaders help their colleagues achieve their professional goals. With growth ongoing, Unity has several local job openings including those for senior cloud network engineers, senior product designers, a benefits manager and an events coordinator.
What DreamBox does: DreamBox Learning provides a personalized and adaptive math and reading curriculum that works with its Intelligent Adaptive technology to provide feedback as students gather knowledge and develop the skills and abilities to build successful lives and careers.
THE PERKS:
- Family medical leave
- Highly diverse management team
- Company-sponsored happy hours
Taking it seriously: DreamBox Chief Learning Officer Tim Hudson met with Built In in April of 2023 to talk about how his company’s initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion drive the company forward.
“By providing employees with the opportunity to first reflect on their journeys and then hear their colleagues’ perspectives, these conversations lead to great ideas about what we can do better at DreamBox and in our communities,” he said.
Dreambox hosts monthly “proximity and purpose dialogues” where employees break into small groups of four to respond to questions focused on individual reflection and community actions. The company has also compiled an expensive page of DEI articles, videos, podcasts and other resources.
What Highspot does: Highspot is an AI-fueled sales enablement platform.
THE PERKS:
- Remote work program
- Diversity employee resource groups
- Free Daily Meals
Finding balance: While many companies claim to promote a healthy work-life balance, the equilibrium is something leaders at Highspot take seriously. Hotspot provides 10 “recharge Fridays” that employees can use. The time equates to an extra two weeks of vacation per year. The steps are meaningful for employees like Senior Account Manager Thomas Benning.
“Highspot truly believes in a work-life balance. On multiple occasions my manager has encouraged me to take off days to spend with visiting friends and family or to take advantage of a nice afternoon to get outside and exercise,” he said.
