The flexible workplace for innovation category recognizes best workplaces for innovators that adapt to employees’ needs to foster creativity.

Cirrus Logic, Austin

In addition to formal recognition, employees at the semiconductor company who secure patents receive a custom guitar or a donation to their chosen charity.

Elastic, San Francisco

Rather than sifting through mountains of data to find what they need to do their jobs, Elastic employees use ElasticGPT, an internal AI search platform developed during an employee hackathon.

Gamefam, Los Angeles

To empower game creators on platforms like Roblox and Fortnight, Gamefam added a creator fund to bring the next big ideas in games to its Gen Alpha and Gen Z audiences.

Instrument, Portland, OR

The design and tech company allows employees to work anywhere in the U.S. and offers stipends for wellness and professional development.

Scribd Inc., San Francisco

A series of cross-functional teams called “pillars” replace the traditional hierarchical model at Scribd, where employees collaborate in a variety of ways that work best for them.

Tailscale, Toronto

An engineer frustrated with VPN and firewall configurations worked with teams across Tailscale to create tsnet, a tool that embeds the company’s secure network into other apps, saving time for employees and customers alike.

Tractor Beverage Co., Greenwood Village, CO

Employee-owned beverage company Tractor Beverage brings its remote employees together each year at Farm Camp, an immersive retreat that fosters innovation through shared experiences on the farm.

Uplight, Boulder, CO

Eight legacy energy companies joined to create Uplight, and its employees have worked to unify and build unique solutions, like a new system that forecasts energy usage a day ahead and staggers its dispatch.

This story is part of Fast Company’s 2025 Best Workplaces for Innovators Awards. Explore the full list of companies that are key hubs for fostering innovative talent. Read more about the methodology behind the selection process.