A world away in the heart of Seattle: Remitly's new HQ provides more room to collaborate — and grow
It was only a three-block move across downtown Seattle, but it feels like a world away.
Remitly, the digital remittance company, cut the ribbon on its new headquarters space at the gleaming Rainier Square skyscraper on Thursday, officially welcoming employees to their new home after several years at 1111 3rd Ave.
But while the 14-year-old company is firmly rooted in the city's core, there are times inside the office where employees or visitors might feel like they're in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America.
That feeling is intentional for a company that does global business, as executives spelled out the reasons for the move, why the space looks like it does, how it all works for employees, and why — even with a new office — a hybrid work model is still optimal.
'This space is a result of what we built together, and it's a huge energizer for thinking about what's next,' co-founder and CEO Matt Oppenheimer said from a 10th-floor gathering space designed to feel like Seattle's beloved Pike Place Market.
What's next is more growth.
Remitly co-founder and CEO Matt Oppenheimer, right, cuts the ribbon on the new office space on Thursday alongside Heather Rogers, Remity's principal program manager for real estate. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
With 2,800 employees at offices around the world, and more than 500 of them in Seattle, Remitly takes its commitment to its home city seriously. The new HQ occupies floors eight, nine and 10 at Rainier Square, and there are plans to take over floor seven next year, with room for 220 more workstations.
From its initial startup days in Boise, Idaho, in 2011, across five or six headquarters spaces in the years since, Remitly has learned what works best when it comes to collaboration.
The new space is big on all of the necessary tech-office perks and designs that foster such work, including dozens of meeting rooms, large conference spaces, dining areas, private booths and nooks, gathering spots of all kinds, quiet rooms, and even a low-lit space popular with developers called 'The Cave.'
'Our new office is a bold expression of our mission and our tribute to the global communities we serve,' said Heather Rogers, principal program manager for real estate, who has been at Remitly for 11 years. 'Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, linking our physical space to our purpose.'
Meeting spaces of all kinds punctuate the layout of Remitly's new office. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Indeed, while situated in the heart of Seattle, the office does its best to transport employees and visitors to cities in one of the 170 countries where Remitly does business.
It starts at the 10th floor reception area, where a wall of video screens projects images of diverse people and places. A wall wrapped in tea leaves provides a subtle and pleasant aroma meant to transport visitors to a far-off destination. The lighting, plants, and color schemes all service the same goal.
The three office floors are themed around regions of the world, such as North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Textiles, furniture, wallpaper, artwork and even the screensavers on meeting room monitors offer a colorful reminder of a diverse global community.
Reinforcing culture in person
The main reception area at Remitly features a video wall flashing images from around the world. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
In a post-pandemic era when remote and hybrid work styles are still a major consideration at many tech companies — and return-to-office mandates have been debated and protested at others — Remitly's requirement is that employees spend 50% of their time in-office.
'I think we learned that there's some work that just is done more effectively when we're together,' Oppenheimer said, adding that Remitly has always been intentional about culture and integrating it into the interview process, the performance review process and everything in between.
'We don't have to be in person all the time, but when we are it's really helpful to have the space that does accomplish that collaboration that we're shooting for,' Oppenheimer added.
A recent report on trends in work styles showed that the structured hybrid model is still the dominant preference at U.S. companies, with 66% of firms requiring three days in office. Full-time in-office policies — such as Amazon's — increased to 33% in Q2.
Meeting rooms at Remitly are named for cities around the world and windows are screened with images from those places. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Chief Product and Technology Officer Ankur Sinha said workplace flexibility continues to be a net positive when it comes to recruitment of engineers. And the ability to collaborate in-office with teams or find suitable spaces for intense focus are also beneficial to Remity's retention efforts.
Tech spaces have come a long way from the days of ping-pong and free beer on tap.
'I don't know if that's why people choose to join a job now, as they used to before, when Google popularized this whole notion of stay-at-work culture,' Sinha said, adding that if someone needs a ping-pong break after coding for half the day, that's great.
Rainier Square, located at 1320 4th Ave., is one of the Seattle's newest skyscrapers. Amazon originally planned to occupy 30 floors but backed out in 2019, putting the high-profile 58-story building on the sublease market. PCC Community Markets, which originally had a full-format store at the base of the tower, left in 2023, but is set to return with a smaller store this summer.
Oppenheimer said it's important to him and Remitly to have a strong presence in downtown Seattle amid the city's efforts to bounce back from the pandemic.
'I think it's a bit of self-reinforcing,' Oppenheimer said of revitalizing the city's core. More workers mean more restaurants, more energy, etc. 'We care deeply about safety. We care deeply about public transport. Given our scale and size we do want to be part of the solution, working with the city in some of those areas.'
Beyond its growing footprint, Remitly is also seeing rising earnings. It reported first-quarter revenue of $361.6 million, up 34% year-over-year, with a net income of $11.4 million, up from a net loss of $21.1 million in the year-ago period. The company increased send volume on its platform by 41% to $16.2 billion.
Keep scrolling for more photos from GeekWire's Remitly office tour:
Employees gather in Remity Market during the company's official office opening party on Thursday. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Remitly CEO Matt Oppenheimer officially welcomes employees to their new home at Rainier Square. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Employees grab food during Thursday's party in the Remitly Market. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A lush corner of the Remitly office with views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A nod to Remitly's hometown in the 10th floor elevator bank. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A space called 'The Cave' at Remitly offers exceptionally low light for employees who prefer such settings for focus. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A wall in the main reception area is wrapped in tea leaves to provide a subtle and pleasant aroma. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Curved archways add a design touch to gathering spaces throughout the Remitly office. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A food and dining space on one of the Remitly office floors. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Private pods sit among traditional desks in the Remitly space. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
The unique shape of Rainier Tower, next door to Rainier Square, is visible from Remitly's offices. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Remitly's main reception area. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
11 minutes ago
- Fast Company
5 common Amazon scams and how to avoid them
Amazon is the the most efficient, popular online retailer. So maybe it shouldn't be surprising that it's a gold mine for scammers. These individuals, bless their blackened hearts, are adept at crafting new and increasingly plausible ways to trick the unsuspecting—and posing as Amazon is an easy way to attract attention. So, with a healthy dose of skepticism, let's examine a few of their more popular ruses. And, more importantly, how to avoid becoming the next victim. 'Your Account Is On Hold!' This particular chestnut arrives via email, often with a subject line designed to induce mild panic. It's adorned with a passable Amazon logo and a link, invariably urging you to verify your details or update your billing information. How to avoid it: Amazon, for all its technological prowess, rarely communicates critical account issues via unsolicited links in an email. Outsmarting this one can be done the same way you outsmart just about every other phishing email out there. Make sure to examine the sender's address. Does it genuinely end in '@ Or is it a peculiar string of characters, perhaps including ' somewhere? The latter is a strong indicator it's a scam. In the message itself, are there peculiar grammatical constructions or spellings that suggest English might not be the author's primary language? These subtle imperfections are often telltale signs, though they're getting harder to spot thanks to AI. And finally, resist the urge to click. If there's genuinely an issue with your Amazon account, manually navigating to in your browser and logging in will reveal all. Any legitimate alerts will be visible there. The 'Unexpected Refund' Text Message This rather sneaky tactic involves a text message, ostensibly from Amazon, informing you that a recent purchase of yours has failed some sort of routine inspection. Perhaps it's being recalled, or simply isn't up to Amazon's exacting standards. The good news, the message purports, is that a full refund is due, often without the hassle of returning the offending item. All you need do is click the convenient link provided to claim your compensation. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, among others, has recently issued warnings about this particular brand of mischief. How to avoid it: Excitement for an unexpected windfall should be tempered with a healthy dose of doubt. For starters, while Amazon does send legitimate texts, an unsolicited refund notification, particularly for an unspecified item and without requiring a return, is highly suspect. Clicking the link in the text message will, in all likelihood, lead you to a meticulously crafted phishing page that looks just like the official Amazon login page—just waiting to collect your Amazon credentials, payment information, and any other personal details you're willing to volunteer. Should you harbor even a fleeting thought that the message might be legitimate, bypass the text entirely by logging into your Amazon account via the official website or the app. Any legitimate refund or recall information will be clearly displayed within your order history or official notifications. The 'Accidental Over-Refund' This is a somewhat more sophisticated deception. You might receive a call or an email asserting that Amazon has, through some inexplicable error, refunded you too much for a recent return. The request is for you to remit the 'overpayment,' often via the purchase of gift cards or a wire transfer. How to avoid it: Before doing anything, consult your actual bank statements or Amazon account to confirm the alleged overpayment. It's almost certain you'll find no such anomaly. When it comes to Amazon's refund protocol, the company's internal processes are reasonably sophisticated. Should a genuine error occur, the company would rectify it internally, not solicit funds from you via questionable methods— certainly not gift cards! And if anyone purports to be from Amazon and requests remote access to your computer to 'correct' a refund issue, it's time to end the conversation. Amazon will never, ever, ever ask for access to your computer. 'Your Order Has Shipped!' Wait, what order? This particular trick plays on a combination of alarm and curiosity. A plausible-looking order confirmation arrives in your inbox for an item—often expensive— that you most certainly didn't purchase. The objective is to prompt you to click the 'Cancel Order' or 'View Details' link in a state of agitation. How to avoid it: Bypass the email entirely. Log into your Amazon account and go to your 'Orders' section. If the supposed order isn't there, it's a fabrication. Though generally ill-advised, should you feel compelled to examine a link, hover your mouse cursor over it and observe the URL that appears. If it deviates significantly from then it's best left unclicked. The 'Mystery Package' Brushing Scam This particular oddity is less about financial theft and more about system manipulation. You receive a package from Amazon, addressed to you, containing an item you never ordered—often something inexpensive and utterly random. The purpose? A third-party seller is using your details to create fake purchases, allowing them to post fraudulent positive reviews under your name, thereby artificially boosting their product's standing. How to avoid it: While seemingly harmless, receiving free—albeit often useless— goods does indicate your personal information is being exploited. Do a good deed by contacting Amazon customer service and reporting the unsolicited package. The company takes a dim view of such practices. And given that your address is being used, a periodic review of your credit report for any other unusual activity is probably in order.
Bloomberg
12 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
China's New Social Security Ruling Sparks Backlash
China's top court has ruled that companies and employees can no longer skip mandatory social insurance payments. The August 1 decision has sparked backlash online, with many concerned it could affect small and medium-sized businesses. Bloomberg's Minmin Low breaks down what's changing, who's affected, and why it's causing alarm. (Source: Bloomberg)
CBS News
12 minutes ago
- CBS News
Pittsburgh Steelers fall in Sportico's annual NFL franchise value rankings
The Pittsburgh Steelers have dropped two spots in Sportico's annual ranking of the most valuable National Football League franchises. The Steelers are ranked the 17th most valuable franchise in this year's ranking as Sportico says the organization is worth $6.51 billion, a 17% increase in their value compared to last year. Despite dropping two spots in the rankings, the Steelers' value has increased just over $1 billion since last year. Sportico lists the Dallas Cowboys as the No. 1 most valuable team at $12.8 billion. The most valuable teams from last year are unchanged with the Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Giants, the New England Patriots, and the San Francisco Giants rounding out the top five. While the Steelers dropped two spots, they still remain the most valuable among teams in the AFC North Division, ahead of: The average value of an NFL franchise currently sits at $7.13 billion, according to Sportico's valuations.
