How a Facebook Co-Founder Transformed His Company's Team Building in San Francisco
Philo CEO and Facebook co-founder Andrew McCollum transformed a company-wide onsite into an immersive team-building escape room, bringing 150 employees together in San Francisco.
Founders and leaders are innovators by design. They make bold choices, break playbooks, and bring fresh ideas to the table. So when Andrew McCollum—Philo’s CEO and a Facebook co-founder—set out to plan a team-building event for the company-wide onsite in San Francisco, he wanted to think bigger than the ‘typical’ activities.
This is the story of how he delivered on a bold team-building idea.
Andrew’s Vision for Philo's Onsite Team-Building Activity in SF
150+ Philo employees were going to be coming together at the headquarters for Gathering Week, and Andrew's goals were clear:
🤝 Encourage cross-team collaboration
🧐 Challenge employees' minds
💡 Reflect the innovative spirit of Philo
📺 Inspire employees to lean into the craftsmanship of their work
With those goals in mind, an idea hit him when he played in the Journey to Jidara escape room pop-up. Ninety minutes of puzzles, twists, and surprises left him saying, “I need this for my team.”
Most of all, he believed the craftsmanship of Jidara could inspire his employees’ work. He believed everything you touch, work on, and build deserves the same attention and care that went into Jidara.
How Jidara Transformed a San Francisco Onsite Into an In-Office Escape Room
A few months later, Philo’s San Francisco headquarters transformed into a full-scale in-office escape room team-building experience, an immersive format most employees had never experienced before!
For two weeks, they solved puzzle boxes, cracked codes at different installations, and worked together to complete the final puzzle.
Employees left with a renewed appreciation for craftsmanship, the kind of detail and dedication that Jidara embodied, and that Andrew wanted them to bring back to their own work.
Results of Philo’s Onsite Team-Building Escape Room
Philo's Journey to Jidara team-building event delivered exactly what Andrew envisioned: a company-wide, onsite team-building activity in San Francisco that brought people together, sparked creativity, and inspired employees to approach their own craft with renewed passion.
Overall:
- Employees reported stronger collaboration.
- Employee engagement increased.
- The event reinforced craftsmanship as a company value.
😊 It’s definitely the most unique thing we’ve ever done!
- Grant, Technical Writer
🧩 It was a really fun break in the workday and a really fun puzzle to work through with my coworkers.
- Brandon, Product Designer
🔗 It gave me that opportunity to connect with people I wouldn’t talk to otherwise.
- Jacobo, IT Support Analyst
What Philo’s San Francisco Onsite Avoided
Sitting in conference rooms all day? ❌
Awkward small talk over drinks? ❌
Shelling out money to shuttle 150 people around the city? ❌
None of that here. Jidara allowed coworkers who rarely interacted to become teammates, swap theories, and celebrate together. It was the type of onsite team-building event that folks who didn't live in San Francisco could collaborate on and enjoy.
The escape room worked because of two things: Andrew’s bold choice to rethink the standard onsite playbook, and the meticulous level of detail and storytelling that went into every element of the Jidara experience.
What Leaders Can Learn from This Onsite
Leadership shows up in the experiences leaders create. Andrew’s onsite told his team: creativity matters here, collaboration matters here, and craftsmanship matters here.
The Jidara onsite was a chance to play and connect. It was also a message: Every project, every product, and every detail deserves the same attention and care that makes Jidara unforgettable.
Ready for Your Bold Choice?
If a co-founder of Facebook saw the value in breaking the standard San Francisco onsite playbook with an in-office escape room, it shows that any leader can benefit from rethinking how they bring their teams together.
At Handstand, we design custom team events – onsite and offsite team-building experiences in San Francisco and all over the world. If you’re ready to make a bold choice for your team, we’re ready to help.
👉 Check Jidara's availability now, or learn more about our other team-building experiences.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Onsites in San Francisco
Why is San Francisco a great location for company team-building?
San Francisco is one of the best cities in the world for team-building because it blends culture, innovation, and creativity in a way few places can.
Companies can explore iconic landmarks through scavenger hunts, take advantage of the city’s parks and proximity to nature for outdoor team-building activities, or tap into the Bay Area’s creative spirit with workshops and unique experiences.
The city’s mix of natural beauty and progressive energy makes it an inspiring playground for onsite and offsite events.
What are some tips for organizing a company onsite in San Francisco?
We think the best onsite gatherings balance purpose and play. Start by getting clear on your goals. Do you want to align strategy, strengthen culture, or give the team a chance to recharge? From there, design activities that mix focus time with team-building activities.
All in all, our biggest tip is to build in play. Incorporate team-building events like scavenger hunts or escape rooms in San Francisco. Get people moving, using their creativity, and forgetting about work (at the work event 😉).
How do onsite team-building events improve employee engagement?
Onsite team-building events improve employee engagement by breaking routine, encouraging collaboration across departments, and creating memorable shared experiences that strengthen workplace culture. At Philo, employees left more engaged and connected after their onsite escape room in San Francisco.
What are some good activities for company team building in San Francisco?
There’s no shortage of activities for team building at work. The key is choosing ones that encourage authentic connection. Some of our favorites include:
- Escape rooms in San Francisco: As you saw with Philo, in-office escape rooms deliver collaborative problem-solving opportunities.
- Scavenger hunts: A classic. But team building scavenger hunts have to be designed meticulously to be fun for everyone. Exploration + collaboration + a little friendly competition = lasting memories.
- Field day games: Playful challenges that get people moving.
- Creative workshops: From cooking classes to pottery, shared learning builds bonds. If you're in San Francisco, try these top 10 team-building activities.
- Quick “work fun activities”: Even something simple like trivia or a puzzle break can reset energy during the day.
Our biggest tip? Lean into play.