Diversity is a hallmark of Memphis’ population. And the city is known for its entrepreneurial nature. The inaugural class of Memphis Inno's Startups to Watch reflects that racial, gender, and business-focused diversity.
Since its fall 2021 launch, Memphis Inno — MBJ’s brand geared toward startups, technology, and innovation — has expanded its coverage of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. The section highlights startups and founders who are breaking technological ground in their respective industries, with new ventures and innovative product offerings. Represented among Memphis Inno’s Startups to Watch in 2022 are entities with concerns as varied as medical technology, music and digital content, transportation, finance, and retail.
Some are early stage companies figuring out how to get off the ground, and others already have significant sources of funding and are looking to scale up. All are uniquely Memphis ventures.
Youdle
Amid the stretched supply chain, finding the products you want can be difficult, but one local startup thinks they have the solution. Youdle's app helps shoppers quickly find products they need in nearby stores, while also providing a boon for brick-and-mortar businesses, aiding them in luring in customers.
Youdle was founded by Kontji Anthony, Johnita Anthony, Aurora Anthony, and Taiwo “Tai” Stanback.
Here’s how the app works: Let’s say there’s a business having a sale on candles. They can take a picture of the candles, note the price, select a category — Home Goods, in this case — and type in a hashtag, like #candles.
On the consumer side, if someone is looking to buy a candle, they can search “candles,” and on the app’s map, nearby postings about candles will pop up. Both businesses and consumers can post information and photos of products they see in stores. And the app has a timeout feature, since what’s at a shop one day might not be there the next day.
Youdle has gained $150,000 in funding, and it hopes to secure an additional $1.8 million.
