What attracts and retains top talent in Ottawa’s competitive tech sector? You guessed it – a thriving workplace culture.

One invaluable metric in gauging employee satisfaction and loyalty is the Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS). It reflects how likely employees are to stay at and recommend their workplace to others.

Semi-annually, Invest Ottawa (IO) runs an eNPS benchmarking exercise for high-growth tech companies in IO’s ScaleUp Program. With the latest round and scores now complete, we’re excited to share that TryCycle, Giatec, and Fellow, have clinched the top three spots!

“The latest results provide a unique glance into how these “Top Tech Employers” have successfully created environments where their employees not only work – but thrive – and love what they do,” shared Patricia Ip, ScaleUp Program Manager at Invest Ottawa. “By participating in eNPS, Ottawa ScaleUps can attract top talent and retain high-performing employees, setting them apart from their competition.”

How is eNPS calculated?

An eNPS is determined by asking employees one simple question: “On a scale between 0 and 10, how likely are you to recommend our company as a place to work?”

The system generates a score, first by sorting ratings into three categories:

• Promoters (score 9-10)
• Passives or “Neutrals” (score 7-8)
• Detractors (score 0-6)

The ratings are tallied, and the percentage of detractors is subtracted from the percentage of promoters. Scores can range from -100 (mostly detractors) to +100 (mostly promoters) and indicate overall employee sentiment.

A “good” eNPS score typically falls in the positive range between 10-30, reflecting a healthy and engaged workforce. An eNPS score between 30-50 is “great” and a score of 50 or above is “excellent”.

This round’s top scorer and first-time placer is TryCycle, with an impressive score of 84 and a 100% employee response rate. Giatec came in next with a score of 77, followed by Fellow with a score of 67. This is the third time that Giatec and Fellow have each placed as “top three” employers.

 

Meet the Top Scorers

We asked our top eNPS scoring companies how they continue to attract and retain top talent. Here’s what TryCycle, Giatec, and Fellow had to say.

TryCycle

“Being recognized in the Top Three for our employee culture is especially meaningful because it reflects the hard work and heart of our team,” said Kelly Gregoire, Chief Operating Officer at TryCycle Data Systems.

“Together, we’ve built something truly special—not just what we do, but how we work. We attract people who believe in our mission, and that’s what makes us unique, and strong. Our team brings our vision to life.”

Giatec

“At Giatec, we believe that attracting and retaining top talent starts with an exceptional employee experience,” said Dani Taylor, Human Resources Generalist at Giatec Scientific.

“From the recruitment process onward, we ensure every interaction with both candidates and employees is positive. We emphasize purpose-driven work, helping our team see how their contributions impact organizational goals, the construction industry, and the world at large. This commitment fosters engagement, inspires innovation, and drives our mission forward.”

Fellow

“When building a company, the most important thing is the talent that you bring in,” said Aydin Mirzaee, CEO and Co-Founder at Fellow.

“And so, the only way you can attract the best of the best is if you build a really great place that they want to come to work.”

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To learn more about Invest Ottawa’s ScaleUp Program, click here.