Fishtech, BacklotCars, Bardavon named to Forbes’ 2020 best startup employers list

March 10, 2020  |  Startland News Staff

Fishtech Group

A trio of fast-growing Kansas City companies are among the 500 best startup employers in the nation, according to a new ranking from Forbes.

Gary Fish, Fishtech Group

Gary Fish, Fishtech Group

Fishtech Group — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2020 — lead the local honorees at No. 277 on Forbes’ list.

BacklotCars was ranked at No. 339, followed by Bardavon Health Innovations at No. 439.

Click here to see the full list of America’s Best Startup Employers for 2020.

“Those who are drawn to [working at] early-stage companies may have different professional priorities than those at more established firms, but the qualities they value most in employers are surprisingly similar,” the Forbes report read.

Such values include a clear mission, learning and development opportunities, transparency, and a flexible structure, according to the report. The top 500 list was compiled by evaluating 2,500 American businesses with at least 50 employees on three criteria: employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth.

High-end amenities and cutting-edge office space also likely help.

Fishtech, a rapidly growing cyber security firm, boasts a sprawling Martin City campus with a more than $10 million cyber defense center. BacklotCars, which offers a wholesale platform for auto dealers, relocated in 2019 to fill a full floor of the newly renovated Lightwell building in downtown Kansas City.

Click here to take a closer look at Fishtech’s headquarters.

Matt Condon, Bardavon

Matt Condon, Bardavon

For Bardavon, the recognition was unexpected, said Matt Condon, the healthcare startup’s CEO.

“This was a surprise to us. However, we unapologetically expect that Bardavon will continue to be recognized as a national market force for evolving and improving healthcare,” he said. “Because of our unique mission to optimize outcomes by focusing on clinical data and disintermediating the claims process through technology and transparency, we have been able to recruit some of the best talent in the country to our Bardavon team.”

Bardavon is one of 62 healthcare startups and one of only nine healthcare startups in the Midwest; the rest are located on the east or west coasts, the company emphasized.

Bardavaon was named one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2018.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

2020 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    After waning state support, Kansas Bioscience Authority will go private

    By Tommy Felts | December 31, 2015

    A formerly state-backed investment organization for Kansas bioscience businesses will soon be transitioning from a public to private organization. After dwindling support from the State of Kansas, the Kansas Bioscience Authority’s board recently voted unanimously to shift the organization to the private market in 2016, allowing portfolio companies to partner with investors in the private…

    Rightfully Sewn founder stitches a vision for Kansas City’s fashion future

    By Tommy Felts | December 29, 2015

    Poised, posh and purposeful, Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer sits straight as a board at Kaldi’s coffee shop with unwavering eye contact. Donning a contoured-floral blue and white dress, Lapka smiles as she poetically recalls painting in high school and learning to sew with her grandmother in rural Kansas. Those experiences fostered a love for fashion, art…

    By the Numbers: A look at Midwest tech investment in 2015

    By Tommy Felts | December 28, 2015

    Startland News recently distilled a report by Lead Bank and investment research firm CB Insights that analyzed the Midwest tech investing scene. Here are a few more of the findings from the nearly 40-page report, as presented by Startland’s Kat Hungerford.  

    Shawnee tax incentives aim to lure startups to the ‘burbs

    By Tommy Felts | December 28, 2015

    The City of Shawnee is poised to kick off a tax incentive program that hopes to attract “high-growth” tech companies to the area by alleviating initial startup costs. Shawnee City councilman Brandon Kenig said that the “Startup Workforce Relocation and Expansion Program” will encourage job growth and innovation in one of Kansas’ fastest growing cities.…