Built In: A ‘Mini CEO Incubator’: How TestFit’s Culture Helps Employees Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Since launching in 2016, real estate tech company TestFit has seen three employees leave to found their own startups. Despite having a lean team — headcount currently sits at 40 employees — CEO Clifton Harness is genuinely excited when employees choose to pursue their passion projects full-time because it serves as proof that the company’s culture is making an impact.

That culture, according to VP of Marketing Laura Paciano, is steeped in autonomy and transparency. Employees are encouraged not to wait around for leadership to solve problems or recognize and seize opportunities. Instead, they’re given full information about the company’s goals and its current state and empowered to act.

“At TestFit, we set the vision for where the company is going and then quickly move the authority to where the information is,” said Paciano. “This creates an environment for thinking rather than following orders.”