As cities begin to reopen after a year of uncertainty, there are some Chicago companies that never slowed down.
From healthcare tech and pharmaceutical delivery to mobile marketing, tech organizations have been hard at work adapting their products to make more sense for their users in a post COVID-19 world. Teams have also been looking for ways to grow internally, whether through impressive company benefits, exciting collaborative partnerships, or hiring more top talent to accomplish even bigger projects.
Built In Chicago took a deeper look into four local companies with exciting things on the horizon that should be on everyone's radar. Ready for a new opportunity? So are they.
What they do: Higi is a consumer engagement platform with a built-in network of smart health stations, paired with digital and mobile tools, that help consumers better understand their health by tracking their health numbers and sharing that information with their healthcare provider. Going beyond steps and heart rate, Higi informs on a variety of health risk factors like hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, heart attack and stroke, and helps people who are at risk understand and connect to healthcare resources that will help them live healthier.
Employee buzz: “The product development team defines, builds and maintains the software that spans the various platforms we support,” Chief Technology Officer Robert Bakos previously told Built In. “Software engineers at Higi are not simply asked to implement code changes. They’re asked to help define and implement the right solution. We look to the collective expertise of our team to optimize our processes and solutions to deliver the best products possible.”
In the news: The American Heart Association’s Innovators’ Network at the Center for Health Technology and Innovation welcomed Higi to its member group in September 2020. The Center is dedicated to building relationships between healthtech companies meant to foster more innovative and scalable solutions that benefit the public’s health. Higi aims to help its users better manage their blood pressure by integrating its kiosks and software with The Center’s suite of health management plans called CarePlans.
What they do: divvyDOSE is a full-service home-delivery pharmacy focused on adherence packaging. This means that on the front of the company’s packaging, users are able to see the medication’s prescribed dosage, time, frequency and any special instructions.
Employee buzz: “I was working as a pharmacist and teaching myself to code on the side — but after six years, I was ready for a change,” Software Engineer II Carey Cade previously told Built In. “I wanted a job that was exciting and aligned with my values and priorities. DivvyDOSE is on a mission to make it easier for patients to take their medications and to, therefore, improve health outcomes. It’s been more than amazing and I am so thankful every day for this opportunity.”
Current openings: divvyDOSE is currently looking to fill approximately 36 positions either in its Chicago headquarters or remote. Some current openings include senior data analyst, director of engineering, senior product designer and technical recruiter.
What they do: Founded in 1998, Vibes is a software company that enables marketers and e-commerce professionals to acquire, engage, service and transact with consumers through a variety of mobile channels.
Expanding the team: “We’re doubling down on our strategic partnerships and alliances to go to market globally,” Richard Rivera, chief revenue officer at Vibes, previously told Built In when asked about the future of mobile marketing. “Our product engineering investment is accelerating. Most importantly, we’re elevating our customer success teams to be certified strategy leaders. The market is hungry to grow mobile engagement, so we’re growing our entire go-to-market team now.
Employee perks: Vibes offers an array of employee benefits, including compensation packages that extend beyond just medical and dental, a home-office stipend for remote employees, and an unconscious bias training to help promote its diversity and inclusion efforts.
What they do: OCC, or The Options Clearing Corporation, is the world’s largest equity derivatives clearing organization. They deliver risk management, clearing, and settlement services for a mix of financial products that include standard options, stock loans and futures contracts.
Tech transformation: In January 2019, OCC began a three-year initiative called ‘The Renaissance Initiative’ to replace the company’s core clearing, data and risk platforms with a highly modular system that will accelerate OCC’s ability to improve how risk management is completed. “One of the reasons we call it the ‘Renaissance Initiative’ is because it’s not just about the new platform,” Dave Hoag, OCC’s CIO, said. “It’s also about changing how we work and how we deliver capabilities to our market participants.”
Dedicated DEI: A few years ago, OCC realized a need for a dedicated DEI leader who would bring related strategies and programs to the forefront of the business. Since the role’s inception, OCC’s Chief Human Resources Officer Carla Dawson said they have developed a recruitment strategy that aligns diversity and inclusion with OCC’s mission, purpose and values; created new DEI-focused employee resource groups; implemented new DEI trainings; and hosted speaker series, events and workshops to increase their cultural competence and “inspire a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”
