Rilla: $18,000 to Live Near the Office in New York

A Housing Allowance to Boost Productivity

Sebastian Jimenez, CEO and co-founder of Rilla, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence, has implemented an innovative strategy to enhance the quality of life for his employees. By offering a housing allowance of $18,000 per year, he aims to encourage his team to live close to the office located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This allowance is available to employees who choose to live about 10 minutes by bike from the office, in order to reduce daily friction and allow them to fully focus on their work.

Rilla, which develops voice analysis software for sales teams, was founded in 2019. Since then, the company has moved to Williamsburg in 2026, where it strives to create an optimal work environment. In addition to the housing allowance, Rilla plans to equip its premises with a gym, a sauna, and a cold plunge to promote the well-being of employees who typically work 12 hours a day, six days a week.

A Company Culture Focused on "Flow"

Rilla's company culture is demanding, but it is based on a specific concept: "flow," or the state of optimal concentration. Inspired by the book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience," Jimenez seeks to create an environment where employees can achieve this state of total concentration as often as possible. According to him, this state is essential for accomplishing meaningful and high-performing work.

At Rilla, employees are not constrained by rigid schedules. The company attracts motivated individuals, often former athletes or entrepreneurs, who are accustomed to pushing their limits. Working long hours allows, according to Jimenez, for a focus on what matters and for managing time more intentionally. With a schedule where employees work 12 hours, sleep 8 hours, and train for an hour, there is little free time left, highlighting the importance of maximizing every moment.

An Office Designed for Cognitive Health

Rilla recently signed a ten-year lease for a penthouse office space at 25 Kent in Williamsburg. This choice was motivated by the exceptional air quality of the building, a crucial criterion for the company. Indeed, most offices have sealed windows, leading to a buildup of CO₂, which harms employees' cognitive performance. Rilla has grown to about 120 employees, and this expansion has underscored the importance of a healthy work environment.

To address this issue, Rilla collaborated with Dr. Joe Allen from Harvard, an expert in healthy buildings, to find a space offering optimal ventilation. The company visited around 20 offices before selecting the one in Williamsburg, which has a ventilation system that Dr. Allen considers the best in New York. Clean air is crucial for a company that relies on creativity and concentration, and this focus on air quality aims to support employees' creativity and focus.

Benefits Designed for Well-Being

The benefits offered by Rilla are designed to enhance employees' health and productivity. Rather than providing distractions, the company focuses on benefits that help employees enter the "flow." Thus, Rilla funds three meals a day and offers a housing allowance to encourage employees to live near the office.

Commute time is often seen as a waste of time. By reducing this time, Rilla allows its employees to spend more time on meaningful activities, such as spending time with family or reading. Commutes are considered one of the most tedious parts of employees' days. The company spends about $37,000 per employee each year to cover housing, meals, and sports facilities, not including healthcare and other benefits.

The housing allowance is optional, but about 80% of employees take advantage of it. Rilla, thanks to its capital efficiency, can afford these investments. Each engineer generates between $4 and $5 million in annual recurring revenue, allowing the company to maintain this advantageous policy.

Rilla's goal is not only to attract employees to the office but to create an environment where they can excel and do their best work. Over time, Rilla employees benefit from improvements in their physical and mental well-being, thanks to a company culture that values performance and well-being.