Ambitious product powerhouse recognized for exceptional growth, engagement, and attracting the best talent
TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, rapidly growing Canadian product development firm Connected was announced as one of the top 25 companies on LinkedIn's 2018 list of Top Startups in Canada. Focusing exclusively on Canadian companies, the new list ranks the most sought-after startups for professionals to work at. Connected was selected on the basis of four core categories: employment growth, engagement, job interest, and attraction of top talent.
"We are honoured to be recognized on LinkedIn's 2018 list of Top Startups alongside other successful companies like us who are changing the way we work through highly engaged cultures," said Mike Stern, CEO at Connected. "At Connected, we take great pride in our professional development program to attract, retain, and develop the best talent that's out there. We are actively growing our team of trusted product builders and are hiring across all departments and guilds. We are looking for individuals who are eager to make a difference to join us in our pursuit of building better products."
Since its inception four years ago, Connected has continuously doubled in size each year. The company has grown from 83 to 150 employees in the last 12 months alone, an increase of 81% in employee headcount showing that Connected is a place that designers, strategists, engineers, and builders of all kinds want to work. The company has received more than 15,000 job applications to date and has won the award for the Globe and Mail's Top Small & Medium Employers in Canada in both 2017 and 2018.
A uniquely integrated product development firm, Connected combines strategy, design, and engineering to build software-powered products that drive impact for their clients. Composed of world-class software engineers, designers, and product and business strategists—internally referred to as "Connectors"—the company leads with a people-first approach. Connectors are united in their values and shared pursuit of better, and this close-knit group of teachers and learners continues to grow exponentially in order to serve its ever-growing partnerships with some of the world's largest and most respected product companies.
"This recognition could not come at a better time as we just announced our rebrand to Connected (formerly known as Connected Lab) and shared our ambitious mission to become the world's leading product development firm by 2020," says Tammy Chiasson, VP Marketing, Connected. "Our team of Connectors build massively successful products for our clients—and we have fun doing so."
In addition to announcing a new brand, Connected opened its doors to the product and tech community with a new 30,000 sq ft head office in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district. Designed for collaboration, creativity, and connecting, Connected is a place for Connectors to come together with the broader tech community to collectively build better products.
To attract and retain top talent, the company demonstrates an integrated approach to employee engagement: Connected is 100 per cent self-funded and employee-owned, with each Connector receiving stock options upon joining the team. As Connectors are hired, they are assigned to one of six "houses" (think Harry Potter), each one made up of employees from different disciplines, furthering a sense of belonging with fellow colleagues outside of traditional working relationships. In their "houses," employees regularly participate in social challenges such as lunches, bowling, and cooking classes.
Finally, once a quarter, Connected embarks on company-wide "disconnects" where the entire company takes the day off to unplug and engage in fun activities together. At each disconnect, the company recognizes employees who have embodied Connected values that quarter, awarding them with one of the Connected Values Awards: Smart, Kind, Reliable, Teacher, Learner. In keeping with their fall quarter tradition, the company is heading north to Algonquin Park for three days' worth of team-building activities this very week.
To learn more about Connected and how to apply, visit: https://www.connected.io/careers.
About Connected
Connected is a software product development firm that partners with ambitious companies across the product lifecycle to build products that drive impact. For more information, visit Connected.io.
SOURCE Connected
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