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20 Charlotte Startups to Watch in 2020
It's nearly the end of not only the year, but also the decade. We at Charlotte Inno are celebrating by looking ahead and considering those startups who will lead the ecosystem in 2020.
But before we get to that, let's set the stage.
If 2019 is any indication, Charlottes's tech and startup ecosystem is in for another monumental year. Consider the amount of funds raised (Example A), the partnerships announced, the new jobs coming to the city, the innovation spaces opened in the past 365 days alone. If Queen City startups and related businesses can get that much done in just one trip around the sun, there's no telling what it can do in the next 10.
That brings us to our Statups to Watch list, which is comprised of companies that we (and other thought leaders) believe have especial promise in 2020. You may have met 10 of these startups during our related event in early November.
The metrics we consider as to what makes a startup worth watching are various. One is fast-paced scale. Two, representation (and success) in local or national pitch competitions, funding rounds or by receiving significant grants and awards. Three, the startup in question is doing something so new and interesting in the ecosystem that you can't look away. Ultimately, this list spotlights a range of startups, including some you might recognize, those who are more established but haven't had a breakout moment yet, and some who represent industries that may seem far removed from the tech scene. But all have one thing in common: sustained momentum.
If you're curious as to the identities of this year's picks, click on the logos below. Each tile contains a bit of the reasoning behind their inclusion, as well as a link to their site so you can check them out for yourself.
To keep tabs on these startups and all the other Charlotte startup news in 2020, sign up for The Beat newsletter, where you'll get front-row access to the news you need right in your inbox every week.
Let's meet the 2020 Charlotte Startups to Watch.
Ascend
Skoolaide, a platform to help high school students goal-set, has a new name: Ascend, a recently chosen moniker that leadership considered more reflective of its work. It's not the first change for the startup this year, which decided to pivot after a TechStars workshop. The move will have the company considering relationships with mentoring organizations, as well as high schools. What will it do with its new direction? 2020 will tell.
AVO Insights
2018-born AVO Insights wants to create "useful augment reality" — the kind, for example, that lets brands interact with its current clients or generate leads with new ones. In 2019, the company partnered with Barings for an art gallery event that allowed users to interact with the pieces on display. Will more partnerships like this be in the company's future?
BatteryXchange
BatteryXchange boasts a portable battery solution for cell phones. In 2019, it was named winner of the Audience Choice Award at TiE Carolinas and RIoT’s Women’s PitchFest in September, launched a recent Localstake campaign and participated in PitchBreakfast.
botsplash
Huntersville-based botsplash creates a software for AI-powered chat-based platforms for business. In 2019, the company announced a strategic partnership with Mass.-based Volly Platform, which offered the botsplash tool as part of the latter company's solution suite. In early 2019, the Charlotte Business Journal reported that the company was "on track to triple its revenue by the end of the year." With that kind of trajectory, 2020 looks bright.
Cloosiv
Cloosiv, the startup that allows users to order from independent coffee shops via a free app, had a big year. In October, it raised a $1 million seed round. 2020 will bring an expansion of the team and an inclusion of additional coffee shops in its network.
Ekos
Ekos, the company that develops software that caters to breweries, wineries, cideries (and more) closed an $8 million Series A round in October and has hired leaders in major positions. 2020 will bring a focus on additional products, like a product geared towards spirits, and adding additional integration.
Grocery Shopii
Davidson-based Grocery Shopii, an ad-tech startup that marries digital meal planning to grocers' ecommerce, has had win after win in 2019, setting the stage for even more growth in 2020. A few highlights: graduating from UNC-Charlotte’s Ventureprise Winter 2019 Cohort; a formal launch in March 2019; winning the Best Technology Application by Progressive Grocer; and a partnership with one of the largest private e-commerce platforms in the grocery space, Toronto-based Mercatus.
Lucid Drone
Three Davidson students established Lucid Drones, a startup that provides drones to wash buildings. In 2019, the company was featured in TechCrunch; inspired a $150,000 seed round and brought the team to the fabled Y Combinator accelerator (as well as Charlotte Inno’s first-ever Inno Under 25 roundup).
Nautilus Materials
Nautilus Materials has a big concept: converting coal into concrete aggregates that boasts strength and consistency without the weight. Its patent-pending mobile process — which boasts increased energy efficiency — creates the materials at coal mines. The company's work has resonated with the likes of BunkerLabs, Patriot Bunker and the NC IDEA Fund, the latter of which awarded Nautulus with one of its MICRO grants in 2019.
PetScreening.com
Sure, 2019 brought a $1.5 million seed funding round, but it also laid groundwork for the company's future. The platform allows property managers to outsource the process of pet risk assessment and animal validation for free.
PointGuard
PointGuard, a cloud based software platform for facility management, pivoted in 2018, debuted its new platform in early 2019 and expanded its team. How its 2020 moves build on the foundation established by the Charlotte-based company in the past two years makes the company worth watching in the new year.
Proctor Free
Huntersville-based automated, on-demand online proctoring startup offers, well, cost-effective proctors to colleges. The company boasts a host of partners, like Moodle and Brightspace, and is a Startup to Watch because of its consistent ownership of its niche in the edtech industry.
PureSurgery
Digital health program PureSurgery allows users to find the right surgeons for their elective surgery through its online platform. In 2019, the company participated in regional pitch competitions as well as the UNC Ventureprise Launch program — as well as opening a $500,000 seed round. When closed, the round will help fund elements of its pilot program and additional app integrations.
Skipper
The Skipper platform is well-known in the Queen City. But the dog-walking company has already outlined big plans for the year ahead — namely, Skiptown, the pet care/dog park/bar concept coming to South End in 2020.
Smart Girls HQ
Smart Girls HQ, helmed by Abi Olukeye, provides content, newsletters and more for parents looking to get their daughters excited to learn STEAM basics. It boasts a partnership with UNC Charlotte’s Computing and Informatics Department and an operation base at Dorothy J. Vaughan Academy of Technology. In the past year, Olukeye completed a pitch to the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research program, and the expected funding will help the company begin beta testing with customers.
Stash Wealth
2013-established Stash Wealth is turning the concept of financial literacy on its head, calling itself "not your father's financial advisor" and focusing on lifestyle/goals ahead of retirement and investment plans. While the startup has been around for a bit, it doesn't mean that its best days are behind it. In fact, its client base spans 34 states — "and counting."
ThreatSwitch
Just three weeks ago, ThreatSwitch — which offers security compliance solutions to highly regulated companies — announced raising a total of $672,000 on a bridge note in expectation of a priced funding round in early 2020. While details surrounding the round were sparse, chances are good that the funds will go towards doing something worth watching in the year ahead.
Vishion
2019 has felt like a major ramping up for the newly formed startup Vishion, which creates a search engine that allows users to find furniture and other decor in the exact color they are looking for. Among its many accomplishments in the past few months alone are its inclusion in The Brandery cohort in Cincinnati and winning the SoGal pitch competition in Washington, D.C. (as well as launching its own design award).
Vizla
Vizla uses QR codes so that construction workers can easily find the information packets (which include floor plans, shop finishes and more) and get their job done quicker and easier. Founder Fabio Ayala and his startup was one of the NC IDEA SEED grant recipients in 2019.
Xchange Post
Peer-to-peer rental company Xchange Post allows users to rent anything they need — to finish a DIY project or prepare their home for winter. In 2018, the company was featured as one of the Top 100 Startups at the Collision conference; participated in City Startup Labs; and won the Charlotte Veteran Showcase. 2019 saw the company launching its app in the Apple App Store.
