This special section marks the launch of the annual Startups to Watch list, a collection of startups New Mexico Inno will keep an eye on in the next 12 months.
The list of 10 honorees includes businesses in various sectors — sustainable energy, health care and mobile communications, to name a few. Our Startups to Watch are trying to use data to identify the “social determinants of health” and deploy space-mining technology.
Like New Mexico’s broader startup ecosystem, one industry or vertical isn’t responsible for the majority of the startups we are watching. Generally, each company has raised funding and is in the process of developing or commercializing technology.
Startups to Watch honorees were selected by New Mexico Inno reporter Collin Krabbe, who, when considering each honoree, looked at how the businesses performed in 2021, as well as what they have planned in 2022.
In the coming days, you will have a chance to read about each startup online and see the work they are doing to grow their businesses in New Mexico and beyond. All 10 companies were also highlighted in the Feb. 4 print edition of Albuquerque Business First.
Next up, Teeniors.
Teeniors
Last year, Albuquerque tech company Teeniors reported a record amount of income.
This year may be even better.
The startup, which hires teenagers and young adults to train older individuals on how to use technology, plans to roll out pilot programs across New Mexico in 2022. The move could allow people across the state to more effectively utilize the technology at their fingertips.
Pilot programs are set for San Miguel County, Luna County, Taos, Pueblo of Jemez and Santa Fe, founder Trish Lopez told Business First in January.
In addition, Teeniors is also planning to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Lopez said she believes Teeniors, founded in 2015, has proven its model. Training events cost $300 to $500 on average with one-on-one coaching sessions starting at $49.95 per hour. Virtual coaching, ushered in by Covid, starts at $39.95 per hour, according to the company.
With that in mind, Lopez said she is taking a careful approach to building Teeniors. Some startups “don’t care if they’re working 70 hours a week,” she said, adding, “that’s not going to be me.”
Teeniors has a dozen young trainers and they are paid between $12 and $16 per hour, with in-person sessions being on the upper end. The type of training needed “runs the gamut,” Lopez said.
To date, the company has provided coaching for more than 4,000 adults primarily in central New Mexico, according to Lopez, who maintains that the training is not only for technological assistance.
“One thing I like to say is the main service we provide is not tech support,” Lopez said. “It is human connection.”
