Vcita: Aspiring to Create an Impact
“I love working at vcita.” Says Niki Tarablus, R&D team leader at vcita. “It’s a company in which you feel appreciated both professionally and personally. The work is both challenging and rewarding“
vcita helps SMBs and entrepreneurs build and manage a business they are proud of and remain competitive in the digital economy, with a business management platform that covers day-to-day needs. vcita's cloud-based solutions help solopreneurs and small teams manage their entire business, turning time-consuming tasks like scheduling, payment collection, and marketing campaigns into simple, one-click operations, from one app. vcita empowers about 1.4 million businesses in various countries around the world, and has partnerships with leading companies like Mastercard, Wix, Square, and more. vcita was founded in 2011 by serial entrepreneur, Itzik Levy, and has raised approximately $35 million. In 2019, vcita acquired WiseStamp, a dynamic digital signature technology. vcita employs 200 people in its Seattle, Florida, and Tel-Aviv offices.
Niki, a Tel-Avivian, with a BA degree in Computer Science and Linguistics, joined vcita straight out of college back in 2018. “I started out as a developer and after just two years, I was promoted to Team Lead. One of our biggest projects, Reports, was recently released. It gives businesses insights on their business and staff performance. We received great feedback. I feel that I made a real, direct impact on small businesses, which is very cool.”
Impact is exactly what vcita aspires to create. Helping small business owners run their businesses more effectively, by managing time, money, and clients through the online platform, has a direct effect on their professional and personal lives. With that in mind, vcita has an open attitude, welcoming new initiatives, solutions, and product developments, from any and all employees, regardless of hierarchy.
Niki’s typical day starts with breakfast with her team. “Even though I can work from home whenever I want, I enjoy being in the office and I come in almost every day,” she says. Along with her sweet Golden Retriever, Yellow, she holds daily team sync meetings, to discuss assignments and issues. “As Team Leader, I’m 50-50 hands-on, which means that I have tasks of my own – solving bugs, developing new features, researching development solutions, etc. – and I also help my team with things like kick-offs for new features, code reviews, pre-production, and launch. Altogether we’re a team of five women and two men; all awesome.”
In fact, nearly 50% of employees and 40% of management at vcita are women. Diversity is deeply embedded in the company DNA, and clearly apparent in person and in numbers. 66% of vcita employees are parents, approximately 30% are 40+ years old, and include members of the gay community, various religions and nationalities. vcita was recently recognized as one of the best startups to work for, and as a leader in diversity and inclusion by Dun’s 100.
vcita is an inclusive work environment in which employees' voices are heard regardless of their roles. Everyone is encouraged to share ideas, knowledge, and be involved in decision making – as far as both the business and their personal lives are concerned.
Following the Covid-19 lockdowns, for example, vcita conducted a survey asking employees about their preferred work format. The results of the survey led to the hybrid model that has been in place ever since. Employees can choose whether to work remotely or come into the office several times a week. This policy promotes work-life balance, while opening the doors to talented employees who live farther from the center, and would normally be apprehensive about the commute.
Post pandemic, vcita had to make adjustments to ensure its employees’ safety, and provide a supportive work environment. “Because of Covid and lockdowns, we see each other less frequently than before,” says Niki. “But it still feels like we are a big, happy family.” Before Covid, company events included a two-day trip to the Upper Galilee. “We stayed in a 5-star-boutique hotel and enjoyed fun activities like kayaking, wine tasting, and poolside massages,” she reminisces, pointing out an over the top Purim party, which transformed the office into a magical place, right before the first lockdown came into effect.
vcita makes an active effort to keep friendships and fun alive, while considering employees’ safety and wellbeing. The company offers a weekly Pilates class via zoom, with plans to add a Zumba workshop to be led by an employee. “Last summer, there were workshops in smaller groups, so we could still hang out, without feeling at risk,” says Niki. The workshops offered a variety of activities like SUP off the shores of Tel-Aviv, gourmet meat cooking, woodworking, and graffiti/market tours.
Along with wellbeing and fun, vcita also cares for its employees’ future. There’s an established internal promotion track, management training and workshops, and knowledge sharing. “I love my job and the opportunities and friendships it has created for me,” shares Niki. “So much so that I recruited my brother. He has a yellow labrador whose name is Nemo. They’re the vcita double mascot.”
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