Clear Function, a Germantown-based software development firm specializing in fintech and payment processing, was recently named one of the "Best Workplaces 2024" by Inc. magazine.
In general with such contests, employees of the company are asked to fill out questionnaires that dig into the culture and leadership of the business. Some really get into the corporate minutiae — entering into the fuzzy area involving snacks and pingpong tables.
Clear Function, according to founder/CEO Colin Neller, does not have a pingpong table.
"We used to have a foosball table, but nobody wanted to play it," he said.
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Neller said he's always had a knack for computers. Indeed, his kindergarten teacher asked him to teach her class. He was in first grade.
Later, in college, Neller studied software and business management. He went on to work for Lindsey Software in Little Rock and founded Clear Function in 2015.
"At the core of what we do is custom software development, usually for midsize enterprises," Neller said. "We do payments orchestration, specifically. We build code, we build web and mobile applications for other fairly large businesses."
A couple companies Clear Function has worked with are Juice Plus+ and Bite Ninja.
Clear Function currently has about 20 employees. It moved into a new headquarters at 2277 West St. in Germantown last winter.
Neller said being acknowledged by Inc. magazine is recognition of the efforts he's put in to create an engaging and supportive workplace.
"I've always tried to make Clear Function a place that I wish I had as an option to work at when I was early in my career," he said.
Supporting the younger tech workforce is particularly important, Neller said. He noted that the local tech community is not so much small as it is fragmented.
Neller said when someone like Elon Musk comes in with a project like xAI, it can be a "rally the troops" moment. Those are not always successful. But, ultimately, it could be a good thing overall.
"There are people who are pushing really hard on it, and a lot of people stand to benefit from it," Neller said. "We need to figure out some way to unite all those efforts together. If they could combine multiple smaller efforts into a single one, we'll be able to push the ball further."
What really excites him is the potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
"The current AI landscape levels the field in a lot of ways and gives very powerful access to technology to everybody," he said. "There are crazy exciting opportunities for people to leverage it in their specific industries."
Which means that nurturing talent is necessary for a strong local tech space.
Neller said that at Clear Function they work to develop their workforce so that they are growing and improving their skill sets in everything from communication to building products.
"We enjoy cultivating the next generation of developers, helping advance their careers," Neller said. "But they also help us while they're with us — they challenge us to be better as well."
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