Orlando INNO Startups to watch

Launching a satellite, rolling out a new type of fitness training and amassing 100,000 users are just a few things some Central Florida startups are doing this year — and they’re just getting started.

This week, Orlando Inno is recognizing 10 early-stage Central Florida companies to keep an eye on this year in the inaugural Startups to Watch list. These companies were selected because they’re expected to make big strides in 2022, whether that’s through product launches, rapid growth or innovation in a high-tech industry.

To make the list, companies were required to be less than 5 years old, employ fewer than 110 people and not yet have reached a Series A investment round.

Innovative companies with the potential for growth are important for the region’s economy. They can add high-wage jobs as they scale, create new solutions other businesses can use, and contribute to the diversification and strengthening of the local economy. That’s critical because metro Orlando ranked a lowly 366 out of 501 metros on a list of most diverse U.S. cities compiled last year by WalletHub.

Read on to learn about the honorees and what’s ahead for them in 2022. And see the full coverage in OBJ's Jan. 21-27, 2022, weekly edition.

Care.ai

What it does: Care.ai deploys sensors in health care facilities that use artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor conditions, learn from them, and be able to predict and prevent patient issues. In addition, the sensors can automate mundane tasks to cut costs and ease burdens on health care workers.

Why you should pay attention: Care.ai is growing fast. The company hired more than 100 people in less than three years. Meanwhile, Care.ai sensors are deployed in more than 1,500 facilities. The company’s offerings are especially valuable as health care facilities are overtaxed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rising burnout among industry workers.

Censys Technologies Corp.  

What it does: Censys offers products and services for drone service providers and government organizations. The company’s remote sensing package uses unmanned aircraft systems — commonly referred to as drones — to collect information on infrastructure or property for clients in the agriculture, mapping, utility and public safety sectors.

Why you should pay attention: Censys showed results in 2021. It boasted a 100% success rate between January and November last year in getting its customers approved for a Federal Aviation Administration Beyond Visual Line of Site waiver. While these waivers are necessary for many drone uses, the FAA rejects roughly 99% of applications. Given the rapid rise of enterprise drone use, this track record bodes well for Censys.

Home Lending Pal Inc. 

What it does: Home Lending Pal is building out an AI-powered mortgage advising platform that makes it easier for prospective homebuyers to research and apply for mortgage loans. Home Lending Pal hides user identification information from lenders to eliminate lending discrimination based on race, age or sex.

Why you should pay attention: The company’s innovative solution to modernize the home loan researching process has attracted big-name partners and investors from the lending sector. They include San Diego-based financial network The Mortgage Collaborative; Troy, Michigan-based Flagstar Bank; and Dublin, Ireland-based credit reporting firm Experian. Next year, Home Lending Pal aims to hit the 100,000-user mark and connect its loan origination system with blockchain, said co-founder and CEO Bryan Young.

Kismet Technologies LLC

What it does: Kismet Technologies is developing NanoRAD, a patent-pending nanotechnology that continually deactivates viruses and bacteria, and won’t contribute to antimicrobial resistance, said founder and CEO Christina Drake. NanoRAD has the potential to deactivate pathogens like MRSA and Norovirus in roughly 30 minutes, Drake added.

Why you should pay attention: NanoRAD has the potential to disinfect surfaces, significantly reducing the spread of germs that lead to infections and illnesses. In 2022, Kismet Technologies will make big efforts toward gaining market traction for the product, including conducting pilot studies, ramping up marketing, and adding positions to bolster its business development and sales efforts.

Modularity Space 

What it does: Modularity Space aims to transform the way businesses access space. The company is building reusable space infrastructure, such as satellites, that can be rented monthly for a relatively low cost.

Why you should pay attention: Modularity Space will launch its first satellite in 2022. This is the beginning of the company’s vision of a constellation of 150-plus satellites that can be upgraded while still in orbit, and leased to other firms. In the next three years, Modularity Space will unlock access to outer space “the same way the cloud unlocked access to the internet,” said founder and CEO Scott Weintraub.

Nestre Health & Performance Inc.

What it does: Nestre is on a mission to revolutionize fitness “from the neck up,” according to founder and CEO Tommy Shavers. The company developed a survey that produces a “mindset profile,” along with a mobile app that uses the profile to provide customized cognitive training recommendations.

Why you should pay attention:

Nestre will go to market this year when it launches its app in the first quarter. In addition, the firm will open two neuro-strength training rooms at the new high-end Lake Nona Performance Club that use its training methods. The company is backed by big names in the sports world, including former NFL tight end Julius Thomas — who is a co-founder and chief innovative health and performance officer — and NFL Hall-of-Famer Calvin Johnson Jr., a Nestre investor.

Nohbo Inc. 

What it does: Nohbo’s products keep its customers and the environment clean. The company, which previously landed investment from “shark” investor and billionaire Mark Cuban, makes plastic waste-free personal care products. Shampoo, conditioner and other items are packaged in pods that dissolve when mixed with water.

Why you should pay attention: After opening a new Space Coast manufacturing facility, Nohbo is set up for growth in 2022. Specifically, the firm plans to expand in the hotel market as the tourism industry bounces back from a loss of business due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said founder and CEO Benjamin Stern.

Pink Lotus Technologies Inc. 

What it does:

Pink Lotus Technologies is the producer of POMM, a wearable device for children and people with pre-existing medical conditions that can provide health and location data to 5,000 emergency call centers in North America. POMM shares vital data with first responders including allergies, emergency contact information and vital signs.

Why you should pay attention: Pink Lotus in 2021 produced the first 500 POMM units, with nationwide sales expected to kick off this year. The device’s efficacy is boosted by a partnership Pink Lotus Technologies inked last year with RapidSOS, the emergency response data software used by 5,000 emergency call centers across North America. Meanwhile, founder and CEO Maryann Kilgallon said she expects to close a seed round this year and hire four full-time employees.

Protean Biodiagnostics Inc. 

What it does: Protean’s technology supports precision diagnostics for cancer patients, ultimately leading to better treatment. The medical laboratory’s Oncology MAPS system — supported with AI, telemedicine and digital pathology — saves time, improves treatment quality and can uncover new treatment opportunities, said founder and CEO Dr. Anthony Magliocco.

Why you should pay attention: The company has grown quickly since it relocated from Tampa to Orlando in 2020. Since then, it added jobs, raised millions of dollars in capital and experienced 100% revenue growth in 2021 as its precision diagnostic solution caught on. Meanwhile, Protean has found a new business opportunity: selling Covid-19 tests.

Statusphere Inc. 

What it does: Statusphere is for businesses that need to get the word out about their products. Based on a brand’s marketing goals, Statusphere connects it with social media influencers who align with the target audience. Statusphere then works with the influencers and gets products in their hands on behalf of the brands.

Why you should pay attention: The firm has experienced explosive growth, going from 10 employees before the pandemic to 50. Meanwhile, changes made by Apple to its iOS operating system in 2021 limits the effectiveness of online ad-tracking, which Statusphere founder and CEO Kristen Wiley said may cause more brands to embrace influencer marketing in 2022.

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