Through digital media, events, data and more, American Inno is building the largest network of local innovation, cultivating engaged startup, tech and entrepreneurial communities in 11 (and counting) markets across the country. In a new bi-weekly series, Inno’s writers will collectively select an industry or theme and highlight a local startup operating in the space.
In 2018, the American Inno newsroom wrote over 5,000 stories (and 3,500 newsletters) on local startups, technology and innovation, tirelessly canvassing their respective ecosystems and keeping their readers informed and connected through engaging, authoritative editorial.
We covered fundings, launches, layoffs, expansions, successes, failures – you name it. If it was local and innovative, you could find it on Inno.
To wrap the year, we asked our writers to detail the tech story that impacted their markets the most, along with sharing their favorite story from 2018. Here’s to an even bigger, better 2019.
MADISON // ATLANTA INNO
Bird Launches its dockless electric scooters in Atlanta. Not only was this story one of the top 10 most read articles we published this year, but it marked the first time Atlanta saw dockless e-scooters and our city joining in on the scooter trend. Now, our city has four different scooter options that became available in just 7 months. Our leaders are scrambling to come up with a solution to scooters blocking sidewalks, injuries and damage we’ve seen (even a guy riding a Bird on I-85). It’s swept our ecosystem, and it’s not the last we’ll hear about dockless for sure.
My favorite stories of the year were part my “Madison Tries” series, where I try a tech experience and relay it to my readers. I get to do things that most people don’t have the opportunity or luck to try, like wearing VR gloves or riding the first JUMP bike in Atlanta. I get to have fun, and my readers do too, vicariously.
BRENT // AUSTIN INNO
Austin had an exceptionally big year, so it’s hard to pick one. Apple announced it will build a $1 billion new campus. Scooters flooded the streets. And one of our top startups, WP Engine, landed $250 million from Silver Lake, which made for a big payday for WP Engine’s prior investors. But, the one that really stands out is the growth of military innovation units in Austin.
The Army Futures Command is the largest – gobbling up two floors of a downtown University of Texas building. But the Department of Defense and Air Force had already planted roots in Austin at Capital Factory. Austin wasn’t previously much of a military town, but now many of our nation’s defense innovations will be flowing through Austin, giving local startups an open door to pitch ideas and the military access to a ton of talent and ideas that probably wouldn’t have come their way otherwise.
My favorite story of the year? Probably the exclusive we had on Trust Ventures, a newly-created venture capital firm backed by the controversial Koch brothers. It represented one of many VC firms that opened offices or new funds here this year – and it shows how Austin is seen both as a quirky college town and a booming business hub in Texas, which is consistently one of the most business-friendly states in the nation and loves to break down regulations on disruptive technologies.
LUCY AND SRI // BOSTINNO
At the end of June last year, Amazon made a huge step into the drug-delivery market — and it did it by acquiring a Boston startup. In a not-related-to-HQ2 move, the tech giant entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire online pharmacy PillPack in a “just under 1 billion” deal that scooped competitors such as Walmart and CVS.
In Boston, this story was one of the major tech exits of the year, if not the biggest one. BTW, PillPack isn’t the only Boston company that Amazon took home in 2018: in January, it acquired Sqrrl for just over $40 million. My point: Perhaps Boston didn’t land Amazon’s HQ2, but that doesn’t mean that the tech giant isn’t aware of the huge pool of talent we have in Beantown.
My favorite 2018 story? I have a soft spot for this Inno on the Road: Burlington series, where we explored Vermont’s startup ecosystem through a nice mix of anchor stories, Office Envy stories, profiles and university stories. We even found out that the startup that provides lactation rooms for Fenway Park is headquartered in Burlington! Check this out.
KATHERINE // CHICAGO INNO
As Chicago continues to work on boosting its reputation as a top tier tech hub, one of the biggest stories from 2018 was a big initiative announced that aims to do just that. In October, Chris Gladwin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Ocient, and Penny Pritzker announced the launch of P33. The initiative is made of up close to 200 business and community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, technology experts and policymakers who want to elevate Chicago’s status as a tech hub. The program was announced shortly before Amazon snubbed Chicago for its second headquarters, highlighting to some why P33 is so necessary.
My favorite Chicago Inno story from 2018 was our interview with Rahm Emanuel and his impact on the city’s tech ecosystem.
COURTNEY // CINCY INNO
While the news around Quotient’s $50 million purchase of Ahalogy immediately comes to mind, I want to talk about the Powderkeg Tech Census, which took a hard loo at #StartupCincy’s strengths and weaknesses according to feedback from the people who make it run. Our analysis broke down what folks are saying is working, what needs work and where the ecosystem can go in the next few years. It was an exciting report to read and just as exciting to write up.
NICK // COLORADO INNO
SendGrid’s $2B acquisition by Twilio and subsequent commitment to Denver , sent waves throughout the startup community. While it was the second billion dollar Denver deal in recent months after Marketo’s $4B deal, the resulting commitment to Denver is what makes this story important to the entire ecosystem. The company grew in the city, sporting about 325 employees in the Denver office at the time of acquisition.
Post-acquisition, SendGrid CEO Sameer Dholakia told the Denver Business Journal the company, which will operate as an independent subsidiary after the acquisition closes, remains “committed” to Denver as the hub for SendGrid’s headquarters.
“Our office here remains essential to us as we attract, motivate and retain a robust talent pool,” he said.
Not only does Colorado’s talent attract top companies for expansion, it also keeps its shining stars home.
Favorite Story: I loved researching and writing this story about Colorado’s push to innovate and fight wildfires. Not only does the topic hit close to home, it shows that innovation comes in many forms. An old dog can learn new tricks, and the state is proving that.
KIERAN // DC INNO
This one’s a no brainer. Amazon finally announced its decision on HQ2, which it will split between New York City and Northern Virginia. The site here in the D.C. metro will have 25,000 employees, 12,500 of which are software engineers, making it easily one of the largest private tech corporations in town. More importantly, the move shined a spotlight on the metro area that led tech leaders, government officials and the rest of the business community to more closely examine ways in which the region can improve its tech ecosystem.
MADDY // MINNE INNO
The Twin Cities tech scene had a handful of big fundings this year, but the buzziest came from insurance startup Bright Health. Bright Health, led by a group of healthcare industry veterans, closed on a $200 million round of venture capital in November, likely the largest raise in Minnesota history. The company is now valued at $950 million, according to Pitchbook. If Bright reaches a $1B valuation, it would be Minnesota’s first unicorn.
My personal favorite Minne Inno story of 2018 was Made at Mayo, our deep dive into the innovation scene down in Rochester. Mayo Clinic has been regarded as a hub for cutting-edge medical research for most of its existence. But for years, the healthcare giant barred its doctors and researchers from participating in most types of entrepreneurship. That changed in 2013. Minne Inno examined how one institution changing one rule impacted the entire city.
COURTNEY // RHODE ISLAND INNO
As far as the biggest ecosytem-centric story goes, I’d probably say the CVS/Aetna chatter really made a dent. But, snooze. I’d rather talk about the piece highlighting Rhode Island Inno’s 50 on Fire winners from this time last year (I’m counting it!). It was basically written by the community — as the team sourced the winners from nominations — and is such a beautiful portrait of the diverse and active Rhode Island startup ecosystem.
KIERAN // RICHMOND INNO
Richmond’s most impactful startup deal came in the form of brick and mortar, when the 1717 Innovation Center opened in March. The coworking space, which hosts incubator Startup Virginia and its dozens of member companies, is an important visual representation of the River City’s blooming tech scene. It’s partnership worth repeating, too: Capital One, Startup Virginia and the city came together to successfully build a resource for young companies, so Richmond can look forward to more of the same.
JIM // WISCONSIN INNO
Arguably the biggest tech story in Wisconsin in 2018 was Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer that is establishing a U.S. headquarters in Southeast Wisconsin. Following the 2017 announcement that Foxconn would build a plant in the state, it held a high-profile ceremonial groundbreaking in June, which was attended by President Trump.
The project has been heralded as a jobs creator and a boost to the state’s tech economy, as it will likely keep local tech graduates in state. The project has also been criticized by some who believe Wisconsin is providing Foxconn with unnecessarily high tax incentives. The state is providing Foxconn with a $3 billion state subsidy in return for a $10 billion investment and more than 13,000 jobs.
