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

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

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

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.