In the first year of the new millennium, Jason T. Roff, a Software Engineer with a desire to create a workspace that nurtured collaborative excellence, laid the foundation for First Factory. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s concept of “The Factory”–a space that supported open work environments and expressed the power of creative minds– Jason envisioned a perfect workplace for software engineers to cultivate ideas and undertake significant projects. Driven by a quest for the perfect office location, Jason selected Costa Rica for its exceptional education system and proximity to the United States. The people of Costa Rica possess a dedication, passion, and drive that aligns perfectly with what we most value, and this remains the not-so-secret to our success.
We began our journey in Costa Rica with just four developers, all specializing in .NET development, and one office manager. Over the years, we’ve refined our approach and honed our skills in identifying, managing, and motivating talented software engineers. Today, our team boasts over 230 members, predominantly in Costa Rica, with a U.S. presence in NYC, and a few key employees in Mexico and Colombia. As we evolved, we expanded our expertise across numerous technologies and added UX/UI design, manual and automated QA, DevOps, project management, and business analysis to our service catalog.
Nowadays, our reputation as one of the best employers in Costa Rica speaks volumes about our commitment to our team. With a low turnover rate and a lifetime Employee Net Promoter Score of 80, we’ve fostered a work environment where growth and success can flourish.
Quality Without Compromise:
In a world where quality often comes with a hefty price tag, we stand apart. We operate with unwavering integrity, ensuring that when a client chooses First Factory, they’re selecting a partner committed to their success. Our purpose is to develop software of craftsman quality, where each line of code is elegant and functional, and each project serves as a testament to our dedication to excellence. We firmly believe that our clients should receive the best quality work without unnecessary costs. Our approach is simple: we avoid over-engineering projects and focus on delivering what truly matters. There are no unnecessary layers of management, and our clients will always have direct access to every software engineer on the project.
Our dedication to quality isn’t just a claim – it’s a promise. Our work speaks for itself, consistently helping our clients reach business goals and building lasting working relations. With a team large enough to take on multiple projects yet small enough to offer personalized attention, First Factory has become synonymous with excellence.
Our team is truly unique!
Appetite for Learning: At First Factory, we’re perpetual learners. We know there’s always more to discover and more to improve. Sharing knowledge, teaching, and mentoring are not just responsibilities, but part of our culture. We all can learn from each other, regardless of department, skill set, or seniority. The more we share and the more receptive we are to hearing insights and feedback the more we can excel along our own career paths and drive the organization forward. Leveraging this knowledge and understanding our partners’ needs ensures mutual success.
Create Meaningful Partnerships: We’re not just in the business of software; we’re in the business of building lasting partnerships. The more we can learn about our client’s business, the desired user experiences, and the business impact of our technical solutions, the greater the chance for success, expanded opportunities, and long-term affiliation. Our client’s goals are our goals and our employee’s success is our success.
Highest Standards of Integrity: Our actions are guided by integrity. We’re respectful, honest, and transparent in all our interactions, both within our organization and with our valued partners.
Our commitment to quality, unwavering integrity, and a culture of learning and growth have made us a trusted partner in software development and a great place to work. We invite you to join us as we continue to craft excellence in software while building the most developer-friendly work culture.
