Stellic secured a place on Built In’s Best Startups to Work For in San Francisco 2026 list, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth journey. The recognition highlights Stellic’s strong workplace culture, competitive benefits, and clear mission to improve higher education outcomes through technology. In a region crowded with ambitious startups and tech giants, Stellic stood out as an employer that combines purpose, performance, and people-first values.
From Student Pain Point to Global Platform
Stellic began in 2016 with a simple but powerful idea. Founder Sabih Bin Wasi experienced firsthand how confusing degree requirements and advising systems created unnecessary barriers for students. Instead of accepting the problem as inevitable, he built a product to fix it. He and his team designed Stellic to give students clarity, ownership, and confidence in their academic journeys.
The company quickly evolved from a student-led initiative into a trusted technology partner for colleges and universities. Today, Stellic supports more than one million students across over 90 institutions worldwide. Universities rely on the platform to simplify degree planning, strengthen advising, and help students reach graduation faster.
Why Built In Recognition Matters
Built In evaluates startups using criteria that matter deeply to tech professionals. The organization focuses on company culture, employee benefits, compensation transparency, professional growth, and overall workplace satisfaction. Only a limited number of startups earn spots on the annual San Francisco list, which makes the recognition especially competitive.
Stellic earned its place by demonstrating consistency across these areas. The company showed that it invests as much energy in building a healthy internal culture as it does in building software. For job seekers in the Bay Area, this recognition signals that Stellic offers more than a paycheck. It offers an environment where employees grow, contribute, and feel connected to a meaningful mission.
A Culture Built on Ownership and Trust
Stellic’s leadership team designed its culture around ownership, curiosity, and empathy. Instead of rigid hierarchies, the company encourages employees to take initiative and influence decisions. Teams collaborate closely across engineering, product, design, and customer success. Everyone understands how their work impacts students, advisors, and institutions.
Leaders at Stellic promote open communication and continuous feedback. Managers support individual growth plans and encourage learning through real-world challenges. Employees do not wait for permission to improve processes or propose new ideas. This trust-based approach fuels innovation and strengthens accountability across the organization.
Growth Without Losing the Human Touch
Rapid growth often strains startup culture, but Stellic approaches scale with intention. The company hires carefully and prioritizes values alignment alongside technical skill. New hires receive strong onboarding support and early exposure to the company’s mission. Teams make time to share context, celebrate wins, and reflect on lessons learned.
Stellic also embraces flexibility. The company supports remote and hybrid work arrangements, recognizing that productivity and creativity thrive when people maintain balance in their lives. This flexibility allows Stellic to attract talent beyond a single geography while maintaining strong ties to its San Francisco headquarters.
Competitive Benefits That Support Real Life
Stellic pairs its culture with a benefits package that meets the expectations of top tech talent. Employees receive equity options, which allow them to share directly in the company’s success. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage support employee well-being. Generous parental leave policies reflect the company’s respect for family commitments and life changes.
The company also offers flexible paid time off and supports long-term financial planning. These benefits reduce stress and allow employees to focus on meaningful work. In a high-cost market like San Francisco, such support plays a critical role in employee satisfaction and retention.
Solving Real Problems in Higher Education
At the core of Stellic’s success lies its product impact. Higher education institutions face increasing pressure to improve student outcomes while managing complex academic rules and limited resources. Stellic addresses these challenges through a unified academic planning platform.
The platform helps institutions manage degree requirements, visualize student progress, and streamline advising workflows. Advisors gain access to clear, actionable data that supports proactive guidance. Students gain visibility into how their choices affect graduation timelines. Transfer students benefit from automated credit evaluation tools that reduce delays and uncertainty.
These capabilities translate into measurable results. Institutions report improved advising efficiency, higher student engagement, and better completion rates. Stellic’s platform handles millions of student interactions each year, demonstrating sustained adoption and trust.
A Global Perspective on Education Access
Although Stellic operates from San Francisco, the company maintains a global mindset. Distributed teams across the United States and Pakistan contribute to product development and customer support. This structure allows Stellic to tap into diverse talent pools and perspectives.
The company’s mission aligns closely with global education challenges. Many students worldwide struggle with unclear academic pathways and limited advising resources. Stellic’s tools address these gaps by providing structure, transparency, and data-driven insight. This focus on access and equity strengthens the company’s sense of purpose and motivates its workforce.
Standing Out in a Competitive Talent Market
San Francisco remains one of the most competitive hiring markets in the world. Startups compete not only with each other but also with large, well-funded technology companies. Stellic differentiates itself by offering meaningful impact alongside professional growth.
Employees at Stellic work on problems that affect real people at critical stages of their lives. This sense of impact attracts candidates who seek purpose as well as career advancement. Built In’s recognition validates that approach and amplifies Stellic’s employer brand among tech professionals.
Implications for the Edtech Sector
Stellic’s recognition also reflects broader momentum in the edtech sector. Colleges and universities continue to invest in technology that improves student success and operational efficiency. Startups that deliver measurable value and build strong partnerships gain long-term relevance.
Stellic’s growth shows that edtech companies can scale responsibly while maintaining strong cultures. The company demonstrates that mission-driven products and employee-centric practices reinforce each other rather than compete.
Looking Ahead
Stellic plans to continue expanding its platform capabilities and institutional partnerships. The company continues to hire across engineering, product, design, and customer-facing roles. Leadership remains focused on preserving the culture that earned national recognition while supporting the demands of growth.
For professionals exploring startup careers, Stellic offers a compelling example of what modern workplaces can achieve. The company blends ambition with empathy, technology with purpose, and growth with responsibility. Built In’s recognition confirms that Stellic does not just build tools for student success—it also builds a workplace where people thrive.
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