Powderkeg Announces Tech Culture Award Finalists at Unvalley Virtual Conference
Digital community for tech companies, investors and professionals presents second annual Tech Culture Awards to recognize company cultures across the nation

INDIANAPOLIS – December 17, 2020 – Powderkeg, a digital community for tech companies, investors, and professionals, today announced the winners of the second annual Tech Culture Awards, sponsored by companies such as CLA, Eleven Fifty Academy, Established, the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, JA Benefits, ADVISA, Morgan Stanley, Insperity and Formstack. The awards were held at Powderkeg’s first-ever two-day Unvalley Virtual Conference, where companies can connect with some of the biggest opportunities in tech beyond Silicon Valley. The 100+ finalist companies were recognized for being culture leaders at a national level, and 18 companies were awarded with top honors.

The 2019 awards were presented to Indiana-based companies, but this year, Powderkeg opened up nominations for businesses across the country in regions like Charlotte, Minneapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh, to expand recognition of what makes tech companies’ cultures unique, earn national recognition and attract even more top talent.

“Everything that tech leaders have ever known about company culture has been put to the test throughout the start of 2020. Some of the best tech companies are redefining what it means to be a top workplace by showing that they’re investing in their No. 1 asset; their people,” said Matt Hunckler, CEO of Powderkeg. “The awards showcase many of the talented people working in tech throughout the country, and make it easier for individuals to find the best jobs while also providing these companies the recognition they deserve.”

Attendees of the Unvalley Virtual Conference will also have the chance to interview with top employers at a virtual career fair and connect with startups and tech leaders between the coasts. Speakers at the event include Steve Case, CEO and chairman at Revolution, Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner at Backstage Capital and more.

The 100+ finalist companies include: KAR Global, Springbuk, OneCause, ConverSight.ai, Formstack, Onebridge, KSM Consulting, Kennected, Cariloop, CleanSlate Technology Group, Kinney Group, Greenlight Guru, Immertec, Upside Business Travel, Megh Computing, Eleven Fifty Academy, Kainos, ADVISA, Vibenomics, Kyra Solutions Inc., Tactive, Convr, Parker Technology, Narwal, Givelify, Blink UX, Simplus, Blackink IT, Skyepack, Kingsmen Software, Zylo, SEP, Trust Relations, Branch Insurance, Structural, Counterpart, Kiswe, Rize, Persolvent, Iris Telehealth, Edify, Lev, neu, Dyknow, Core10, FreightWaves, A.L.A.N, X-Mode Social, Pops, Anvl, Reviewbox Inc., LifeLoop LLC, ShearShare, RocketBuild, PlayEveryWare, Inc., DemandJump, Boardable, JustProtect, FullStack Inc, SmartLogic, PurposeHQ, SAAM Inc., Undock, Adaptive Computing, DriverReach, Increasecard S.A, Grifin, Jammber, Andromeda Galactic Solutions, Tampa Bay Innovation Center, DemandWell, Bundle, Savitude, Inc, U.Group, Introhm, Base, Aker Technologies Inc, Established LLC, Civic Eagle, Loop & Tie, Inprentus, PAIRIN, Bulu, Verusen, ChartHop, Klickly, AaDya Security, ATLAS Space Operations, BLASTmedia, JA Benefits, LLC, Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Branch Technology, Ikos, Upper Hand, Cleanshelf, Braviant Holdings, K4Connect, Ordway, Validic, Tegrit, hc1, iostudio LLC, Dispatch, Nylas, Jungle Scout, Probably Monsters, Validity, Calabrio, Zotec Partners, GyanSys, Inc., and Stanley Security.

The top honors in each category went to:

• Top-Rated for Work-Life Balance: LifeLoop (Omaha, NE)
• Top-Rated Leadership Team: Branch Insurance (Columbus, OH) 
• Top-Rated Career Path: Cariloop (Dallas, TX) 
• Top-Rated Remote Work: Rize (Arlington, VA)
• Top-Rated for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Kyra Solutions, Inc (Lakeland, FL)
• Top-Rated Overall Culture: Blink UX (Seattle, WA)
• Top-Rated Sales & Marketing Team: Boardable (Indianapolis, IN)
• Top-Rated Customer Experience (CX) Team: Parker Technologies (Indianapolis, IN) 
• Top-Rated Product Team: Formstack (Colorado and Indiana)
• Top-Rated Engineering Team: Upside Business Travel (Washington, D.C)
• Best Overall Culture: Southeast: FreightWaves (Chattanooga, TN), Midwest: Narwal (Cincinnati, OH), Northeast: X-Mode Social (Reston, VA), Central: Cariloop (Dallas, TX), NW: Blink UX (Seattle, WA), SW: Trust Relations (Williams, AZ)
• Best Startup Culture: LifeLoop (Omaha, NE)
• Best Scaleup Culture: Formstack (Colorado and Indiana)
• Best Enterprise Culture: KAR Global (Indiana) 

“Investing in our people and culture at Rize is investing in the future of our business. We’re making that investment by cultivating a culture of honesty and creating an environment that supports autonomy and agility,” said Ceilidh Cross, vice president of people operations at Rize. “Even as a small, early-stage company we have a responsibility to our team to make Rize a great place to work and to ensure that we’re being intentional about everything that we do. To be recognized as one of the Top-Rated Tech Cultures in the country, especially in 2020, is both incredibly exciting and assuredly validating that we’re on the right track.”

To see all the Culture Awards winners, please visit powderkeg.com/best-companies-to-work-for/

For more information on Powderkeg or the Tech Culture Awards, please visit www.powderkeg.com.

About Powderkeg
With more than 10,000 active members in tech hubs across the US, Powderkeg is the place to plug into tech in the middle of America. Through a robust offering of events, digital media and resources, Powderkeg supports thousands of professionals, employers and teams by creating opportunities to learn and connect. For more information, visit Powderkeg.com.

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