First Factory Makes the Inc. 5000 List

Transformative software solutions aren't about rebuilding your team. First Factory's nearshore talent delivers long-term value and a true partnership.

April 28, 2026

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We are happy to announce that our growing company has been placed on the Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious placement of the fastest-growing private companies in America. A company that started with a New York City-based CEO and four software developers (plus one office manager) in Costa Rica has evolved into over 135 full-time employees at First Factory. Since 2000, we have been providing staff augmentation and project-based custom software development services to dozens of US businesses in a variety of industries.

The First Factory Story

CEO Jason T. Roff started First Factory after working as a software developer, managing numerous development teams and even writing several books on different technologies. He has been a key player in the nearshore development model thriving in Costa Rica and has continued to employ top-notch multi-national talent.

“First Factory’s growth has been fueled by the collective honesty, integrity and quality of all of our employees,” Roff said. “Our clients recognize the value of our engineers. Our employees recognize the value of our company culture.”

Our Growth by the Numbers

Inclusion on this list meant that all revenue and company growth information from the last three years was compared to that of other companies across the country. First Factory saw a 170% growth during that time period and ranked 2,425 out of 5,000 companies featured and number 307 on the industry-specific software category list.

Expanding Our Expertise

As our team continues to grow, we are specializing in React, Angular, .NET, Java, Ruby, Python, PHP, React Native, Xamarin, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. We champion the use of functional and automated testing as well as continuous integration, build and deployment. We have clients in the finance, commerce, education, healthcare and other industries, and have worked to expand our growing portfolio each year.

“When you think Nearshore, we want First Factory to be top of mind. Our clients stay with us for years because they appreciate our engagement model and we don’t stop delivering,” Roff added.

Our commitment to quality and excellence in all that we do has been an integral part of our company’s growth, and the inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list has been a timely celebration during our 20th year in business.

Don Gregori is the Chief Operating Officer of First Factory, a multinational software solutions provider based in New York with nearshore operations in Costa Rica. A certified AI Business Leader, Don brings over 25 years of experience helping businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies navigate product development, digital transformation, and AI adoption. He is a contributing author to The AI Journal and the author of The Emergent Leader, releasing June 16, 2026.