Fire 
Do you know of organizations or individuals that set the innovation scene on Fire? Tell us about them by completing a nomination for Inno on Fire.
CINCY INNO'S 2019 COOLEST COMPANIES
Doug Conant of Campbell Soup once said, "to win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.”
Now, with the fact that more than 78 percent of the companies in downtown Cincinnati (alone!) are small businesses, there's a lot of perspectives on what "winning in the workplace" looks like. Or, in Inno parlance, what it means to have a "cool culture."
But many can agree there are the obvious elements: fun perks, access to free food, perhaps, or casual dress.
It can be more than that. Perhaps it's the company's powerful mission that spurs its employees to band together and volunteer in the community. Maybe it's generous parental (or new pet!) leave polices; a robust 401(k) package or management's attitude regarding communication that inspires not only the best work from its employees, but also the organization's quick and steady expansion.
Whatever "cool" looks like across the state, having a solid culture matters. Consider the following stats, assembled by global culture management company CultureIQ:
- "94 percent of executives and 88 percent of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business success. Via Deloitte."
- "Employees’ overall ratings of their company’s qualities — like collaboration, work environment, and mission and value alignment — are 20 percent higher at companies with strong cultures. These qualities help winning cultures keep employees aligned and motivated. Via CultureIQ."
- "Companies with strong cultures saw a 4x increase in revenue growth."
In essence: "Company culture is not an isolated initiative," CultureIQ wrote in its culture report. "It’s not a team-building event or an awesome benefit that your company offers. Culture is how employees get their work done each day. It’s how leadership visibly models positive behaviors ... [it's] an integral driver of your company’s performance that is deeply embedded in every company interaction and process, from recruitment and retention to leadership and mission and values."
But what does having a strong, motivating culture look like in the Cincinnati ecosystem? To get a feel, we asked you, the Cincinnati startup and entrepreneurial community, for input on which in-state companies were the coolest — and you answered our call. Together, with editorial insight, we developed a list of entities whose culture stands out.
You’ll notice we used the term “companies” loosely. There’s some awesome nonprofits and other entities on the list, but hey — cool doesn’t discriminate.
Examining some of these exceptional companies — as well as reflecting on one's own company culture — is a healthy exercise. And it's not us just waxing poetic.
"Taking the time to identify and focus on specific opportunities related to culture will lead to lower turnover and higher performance, which in turn, will boost customer satisfaction and loyalty," CultureIQ added.
Get to it by learning more about Cincinnati's 2019 batch of Coolest Companies below.
80 Acres Farms
For 80 Acres Farm, the mission that drives the company is what makes its culture so unique — "changing the way the world eats."
"We a team of proud owners, and if you meet a team member, you'll know it," its nomination form stated. "We're thinking, talking and researching vertical farming, vegetables and everything in between at all waking hours‚ and some sleeping ones. If you visit our farm, you can feel the buzz (but actually, we have bees) of curiosity, the non-stop grind and the laughter as we push forward, creating scrappy solutions every step of the way."
84.51°
Sometimes, you don't have to look hard to realize that a business entity is cool. 84.51° is a prime example of this.
It boasts a sleek working environment, a virtual reality lab and onsite gym and massage services.
Then there's the more than 10 People Led Teams, which are opportunities for employees to engage in activities and initiatives around their passions (diversity and inclusion, green work, fun in the workplace, etc.).
Also pretty cool? "A fun fact about our office is that no two windows (and we have a lot of them) are precisely the same size," the entity told Cincy Inno. "This was an intentional (and cool) touch we incorporated into the design to remind us that no two customers are precisely alike!"
Abre.io
Abre, an open-source educational tool for teachers and students alike, has a host of initiatives that make the startup's culutre cool.
There're its Appathons, which engage high school students in learning coding or software development. Consider its Abre Everywhere program, which allows teachers to tailor their curriculum based on interests and personal experiences.
"An example is a great course that Bryce Carlson created," Abre told Cincy Inno. "Bryce is a science teacher in Cincinnati who developed a course on how to set goals and meet them based on his experience rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, shattering the previous record for that route."
The company added, "this isn't a volunteer day once a year. This is a consistent, on-going and embedded part our culture as a company."
Cincinnati Cares
"At Cincinnati Cares, it's easy to be passionate about your work when you're developing solutions to the region's most pressing problems," the company, which connects volunteers to changemakers in an effort to better volunteering programming, told Cincy Inno. "Our team goes to bed and wakes up thinking about how we can employ technology and programming to create a Greater Cincinnati."
The company's management, led by founder Craig Young, deeply understand the industry that it's working within — which helps its efforts stand out.
It doesn't hurt that the nonprofit has "the ideal workspace for a startup: an outpost at the Hamilton County Business Center where we all put our heads down to get work done in the same large room." It makes for easy collaboration and communication.
Cloverleaf
For Cloverleaf, a cool culture is one that makes its employees feel empowered.
"Working at Cloverleaf means that everyone, regardless of their role, feels that they can contribute to real change and drive results for the company," it wrote in its nomination form. "From intern to CEO, collaboration reaches across the organization to find efficiencies and help everyone do their best work."
ConnXus
ConnXus, a Cincinnati-based entity that works to simplify supplier management, encourages the #WeLead attitude, an initiative that informs its culture. #WeLead "embraces the idea that the [company not] only leads in supplier management innovation, but also in employee empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and coming to work with a CEO mindset every day."
Additionally, the company puts on ConnXus Cares, a program that includes a "Share Your Story" contest. Said contest allows customers to share how diversifying their supply chain has impacted their work for the better — and there's even a cash prize!
Frayt Technologies, Inc.
Frayt, an on-demand delivery app, boasts a diverse team that contributes to a wide breadth of insight and perspective ("50 year olds working alongside 20 year olds, CPAs engaged with creative marketers, tech working with truckers!").
Combined with flexible working arrangements and a team-focused management, the culture has helped drive "explosive growth in 2019."
Genetesis
Genetesis, which provides non-invasive, rapid cardiac imaging and has received the investment of SharkTank investor Mark Cuban, continues to meet significant developmental milestones (FDA clearance, successful clinical studies, etc.). These moves provide an electricity within the startup's culture that is impossible to ignore.
Its core principles drive the company, too: "Separate yourself from your ideas, both when receiving and providing constructive criticism; prioritize quality over efficiency/output; and anyone can pull the cord and stop the line," the company told Cincy Inno. "These principles create a healthy and collaborative work environment for Genetesis employees."
Helium SEO
It's easy to say one has a cool company, but does the company's actions support that statement?
For Helium SEO, its staff believe it does. In its second year, the company has seen explosive growth, growing to more than 30 team members "with almost no turnover," it said.
"My company trusts its employees to do their very best without micromanaging and rewards us as such, for example, we have a monthly Heely Award given to the most deserving employee where you receive recognition at our monthly meeting along with a $25 gift card," an employee said.
Other perks include an office hoverboard, company-sponsored clubs and casual dress. And, of course, the occasional Mario Kart matchup.
Interlink Cloud Advisors
Local technology firm Interlink has perks, sure (three weeks PTO, happy hours in-office, monthly fun team events, etc.).
But what makes the company stand out for its employees? "The people, management and our overall work atmosphere," its nomination form stated. "Interlink has a strong focus on family and well-being; our management makes it a priority to let employees know it's ok to take a break, take a day off or take a vacation when needed."
Additionally, the president routinely holds lunches with staff members where company feedback is shared on the business and its culture.
