Map: Tech Companies of the Seaport District

It’s hard to imagine that just over 50 years ago, Boston's Seaport District was basically a wasteland, filled with nothing but parking lots and abandoned warehouses. Today, high-profile development projects seem to be kicking off left and right, with new office buildings, restaurants, retail stores and housing cropping up all the time. Due to the Big Dig, strong championing from the late Mayor Thomas M. Menino and overflow from Kendall Square, the South Boston Seaport quickly went from a dingy no-mans land to one of the hottest real estate markets in town. And its prime location has made it a prime spot for innovation and growth.

A number of tech companies have chosen to flock to the Seaport in recent years, a trend spurred to a large degree by startup accelerator MassChallenge being located here. And as the program moved from One Marina Park Drive to Drydock Lane last year, many startups have begun to follow suit. Meanwhile, even two VC firms have settled in the Seaport District—which together with Fort Point makes up the area generally referred to as Boston's "Innovation District."

This interactive map proves just how concentrated the tech presence is in the Seaport:

“Startups need space to break new ground, and an opportunity to drop anchor in the Seaport provides the perfect opportunity to give entrepreneurs a space with breathing room to grow,” says Scott Bailey, managing director of MassChallenge Boston. “The industrial character of the neighborhood also lends itself to startups in manufacturing, hardware & design. This is a big reason why I'm so excited about launching our new hardware lab - MADE@ MassChallenge.”

Ken Deckinger, founder of the MassChallenge dating startup Jess Meet Ken, also commented on the vibe of the district.

“I love the Drydock area for the big open spaces and gritty feeling,” he added. “There’s a ton of creative energy here—it’s palpable.”

Meanwhile, Chris Petty, co-founder and VP at 908 Devices, noted that being in an area where tech is thriving has had major benefits for his company—especially in regards to recruiting top talent.

“In the Seaport, we are neighbors to an incredible range of universities and tech companies allowing us access to the ‘best of the best’ for collaborations,” he said.

Here's the full list of companies on our radar that are located in Seaport:

Kyle Alspach contributed to this report. Image of Marina Park Drive via Wikimedia Commons / Dandv.