$250K - $500K
Average Budget
5
Average Team Size
$45 - $85/hr
Average Hourly Rate
Ongoing
Avg. Engagement Length
About
First Factory helps companies assess, build, and maintain custom software. Since 2000, our 175+ engineers, designers, QA, and analysts in Costa Rica work US hours as an extension of your team or independently. We offer formal consulting assessments and multiple implementation models. SOC 2 Type 2 certified. AWS Partner. Five-time Inc. 5000.
Why us?
or 25 years we've built nearshore software teams that work like your own. Our 175+ engineers, designers, and specialists sit in Costa Rica, one to two hours from Eastern Time, with full English fluency, so collaboration happens in real time, not overnight. What sets us apart: Speed without compromise. We assemble a dedicated team in two to six weeks, and back the start of every engagement with a 30-day risk-free guarantee. AI-accelerated delivery. More than 75% of our clients now benefit from AI-driven development that improves velocity, quality, and consistency. Enterprise-grade trust. SOC 2 Type 2 certified, AWS Certified Partner since 2019, carbon neutral, and a five-time Inc. 5000 honoree. Relationships that last. Our average client tenure is over three years, and 25% of our clients have stayed five years or more. Right-sized quality. We don't believe quality should cost more than it needs to. We build what's right for your project, nothing more and nothing less, with direct access to the engineers doing the work and no unnecessary layers in between.
CEO Quote
“I started First Factory because I believed engineers deserve a place to do their most ambitious work. Inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory, I built the company on one idea: great software is born where great people thrive. Twenty-five years later, that's still how we measure ourselves.“
Mission
We are committed to the professional success of our employees and partners. Through our devotion to quality craftsmanship we build exceptional software applications that fuels our collective future.
Vision
To be the number one nearshore software development partner for the world’s most trusted companies.
Values
Learn -> Share
Pasion + Engergy
Highest Standards of Quality
Honesty & Transparency
Commitment to Success
How we walk the talk
Decision making based on Mission/Vision
During feedback talks with team members
Regular Team surveys
What we build
Based on our clients from the last 12 months, here is a breakdown of our top specializations we build for.
Web Apps
25%
Enterprise Software
22%
SaaS
18%
Cloud Computing
18%
Databases
16%
Other Domains
Integrations
Marketplaces
Mobile Apps
Website Design
Banking & Trading Platforms
API
Booking Systems
CRM
ERP
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
VoIP
Conversational AI
Video Streaming
AI & ML Solutions
Architecture
CMS
Data Analytics and Visualization
Fleet Management
HR Platforms
Hardware
IoT & Smart Devices
VR/AR Apps
E-Commerce
Gaming Platforms
PaaS
Social Networks
Telemedicine
Voice Assistants
Engagement Style & Cost
We work six ways: consulting, staff augmentation, dedicated Agile Scrum teams, milestone-based fixed-price projects, ongoing service contracts, and SaaS implementation partnerships. Teams assemble in two to six weeks and scale up or down as needed. Rates run $50-$99/hour depending on skill and seniority, with a $50K minimum engagement and a 30-day risk-free guarantee.
Engagement Models
Project work
Team Augmentation
Support and Maintenance
Who we build for
We build for enterprises and Fortune 500s in finance and fintech, healthcare, education, professional services, and lifestyle brands, including Quicken, Generac, ServiceTitan, and FragranceNet. That means HIPAA-compliant patient portals and EHR integrations, payment and risk infrastructure, LMS and student information systems, HR and compliance platforms, and consumer apps built for scale.
Information Technology
FinTech
HealthTech
PropTech
EdTech
Recent clients
VRM Co
PropTech
Enterprise/Corporation
Vinous
Creative Media
SME
Turnstile
FinTech
Series B++ Startups
The Sourcing Group
Business & Expert Solutions
SME
Teachable
EdTech
Enterprise/Corporation
Markets
North America (US)
Company Type
Agency
Consultancy
Enterprise/Corporation
Seed to Series A Startup
Series B++ Startups
SME
What clients say about us
4.8
Compared to 4.4 Pangea.ai avg.6 reviews
Clients rate us 4.9/5 on Clutch, and stay an average of three-plus years, with 25% past five. "The quality of their resources has been exceptionally high and consistent. Their backbench of technical expertise is a game-changer." "Their practical knowledge on the AI side in terms of application, planning, and deployment is highly impressive." "They delivered on time, on target, and within budget."
How do we determine score?
Client score is derived from the client sentiment (across 8 key areas), collected from respective references continuously.
- First Factory
- Pangea avg.
Organization
Founded in 2000 in New York, with our development center in Heredia, Costa Rica since 2006. 175+ full-time engineers, designers, and specialists, all direct employees, never subcontractors. Led by founder and CEO Jason T. Roff with a hands-on executive team across operations, client experience, and engineering. SOC 2 Type 2 certified, AWS Partner, carbon neutral, five-time Inc. 5000 honoree.
Organization type
Team-based Organizational StructureDecision-making Approach
An intuition-based decision-making cultureLeadership Transparency
5/5 starsProblem Management
The team is empowered to fix their own problemsProblem Management Channels
One-on-One Meetings
Through an open-door policy
General Employee Surveys
Growth Trajectory
Promotion Percentage
75.00%Promotion Decision Maker
1:1 Performance Topics
Career Development
Short & long-term performance goals
Giving & Receiving Personal Feedback
Culture
Engineers, not order-takers. We hire for technical depth, strong communication, and a real passion for learning, then trust people to do the work; nobody is looking over anyone's shoulder. Teams work hybrid on US hours, with a Heredia office open five days a week for the parts that are better in person. Everyone gets direct client contact, and everyone gets credit for it.
Explore our culture through our images
Company meeting frequency
QuarterlyTeam Bonding frequency
MonthlyTeam Bonding activities
Variety of organised evening activities
Social events
Tech talks
Team Health
4.4
Compared to 4.4 Pangea.ai avg.
Our people stay, which is why our clients get consistency. We back that with free private medical and dental coverage, an assistance program with free access to psychologists, nutritionists, lawyers, and financial advisors, added PTO after two years, gym reimbursement, and a $500 education stipend. Predictable eight-hour days, real balance, and one of Costa Rica's best employee NPS scores.
What is team health?
Team health score is derived from the team member’s sentiment (across 8 key areas), collected bi-annually.
- First Factory
- Pangea avg.
