It's been nearly two years since the debut of Rhode Island Inno, and during that time, the Ocean State ecosystem has kept us busy. We've published nearly 350 stories on the entrepreneurs, companies and other groups that populate Rhode Island's innovation economy, and we're just scratching the surface.
And, with our second-annual 50 on Fire awards, we wanted to take the time to spotlight 50 of these entities that are doing uniquely fabulous work to continue to set the ecosystem ablaze.
The qualities that make a company stand out as "on fire" are numerous; anything from incredible scale, to an official launch, to a new product or sustained leadership count make a company "on fire" for us.
You’ll notice the list below is an eclectic one. That’s because the people, companies and organizations that shape and drive an ecosystem span a number of industries and stages; there's no one-size-fits-all methodology for the individuals and businesses that support and strengthen an innovation community. Some folks are newer to the ecosystem; some are headliners, or have served the state faithfully for many years; others you may recognize from our "19 Startups to Watch in 2019" list (as the same elements that made a startup one keeping an eye also qualified it for “on fire” status). Winners were culled from both a nomination process and insight from the Rhode Island Inno editorial team.
So: Without further ado, meet 2019's Rhode Island Inno 50 on Fire winners.
Food and Drink
- Bolt Coffee Co.: Founder Bryan Gibb launched Bolt Coffee Co.'s producation facility within the past year, where the company makes coffee for both its Providence locations as well as its wholesale partnerships (with entities throughout the Northeast). On the docket for 2019? Even more brand expansion.
- CakeSafe: Has your product made customers call or email you "filled with tears of joy"? CakeSafe's has! The company boasts a line of products, including its cornerstone piece: the CakeSafe transportation box (it keeps a fully tiered cake safe during a move). As of 2018, the company was tracking to hit $500,000 in gross yearly sales with annual growth of 30 percent every year.
- David Dadekian, EatDrink RI: "Food will help Rhode Island grow" is EatDrink RI's tagline, and it's a perspective that its leader, David Dadekian, lives and breathes. He consistently champions the RI Food Bank and is a driving force behind the forthcoming EatDrink RI Central Market (the state's first food hall).
- Feast & Fettle: This burgeoning food subscription service was born out a client's kitchen when founder Maggie Mulvena, a trained chef, was paying the bills as a nanny and making dinners so delicious the word spread throughout the neighborhood. The startup has scaled through the state by powerful word of mouth — so much so that the company, which had a residency in food incubator Hope & Main's Warren facility, has just moved into a kitchen of its own. Additionally, Feast & Fettle's 2017 revenue was $231,000 (a 144 percent jump from previous year), with customer retention rate at 40 percent.
Ocean and Agriculture (Environmental Science)
- Andrew Breiter-Wu: President of Breiter Planet Properties, Providence-based Breiter-Wu grew the energy consulting company to a team of 16 last year while bringing the organization to its first full year of operations. During that time, both the company's customer base and project volume increased "dramatically."
- Aquanis, Inc: East Greenwich-based Aquanis' mission is "to reduce the cost of wind energy by improving the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines." And last November, it got even closer to its goal thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy award of $3.5 million in funding.
- CBC Wind Energy: This company wants to unlock "the enormous potential of metropolitan wind," and was one of three other startups to win shares of the MassChallenge RI $50,000 grand prize at the conclusion of the program's first cohort.
- SeaAhead: This January 2018-born entity works to create a "blue-tech" hub in Rhode Island (and by extension, southern New England). It's a bootstrapped company with a few corporate sponsors that already boasts events and an incubation center. Additionally, SeaAhead announced it will be establishing a hub at the Cambridge Innovation Center next month.
- Siren Marine: This Newport-based company brings the Internet of Things to the marine industry via its “Connected Boat” technology, a type that the company calls akin to Nest or OnStar for boats. Last year, the company received a $50,000 Innovation Voucher in April. It's continued its successful streak in 2018 by being named one of the "Top 10 Most Innovative Company in the Marine Industry" by Soundings Trade Only.
Education and Government
- GoPeer: Led by Ethan Binder, GoPeer is a platform designed to connect high school students with local, college-age tutors, and it made its official debut in 2017. Since then, the service has gained more than 2,000 college-student users from Brown and RISD and it recently concluded a seed round.
- GAB-on!: Founded by Jarrid and Sylvia Hall as an educational tool for their own child, GAB-on! had a huge 2018. Some highlights: More than 300 families use the platform in six schools over three states; it was accepted into the MassChallenge RI accelerator's first cohort, as well as the Venture Mentoring Services RI; and won the Learn Launch pitch competition. In 2019, the team will present GAB-on! at the annual Across Boundaries Conference in Boston.
- Laurie White: Head of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Laurie White has impact throughout the Rhode Island ecosystem, leading numerous boards and entities. She led the Chamber to be the first funder of the Social Enterprise Greenhouse; she helped establish Innovation Providence, a "group charged with identifying and facilitating synergies amongst our research and development innovators in Rhode Island"; and she created series like #RIOnTheMove video series to showcase specific ways the chamber is working to build up Rhode Island (to name just a few of her initiatives).
- Richer Picture: In 2018, Providence-based education company produced a new online system that helps schools better personalize students' learning and insure that said students gain mastery of the subjects at hand.
Design
- DESIGNxRI: This nonprofit economic development organization helps coalesce in-state design talent, and this year continued its partnership with the city of Providence, RISD and Real Jobs RI for the rebirth the Design Catalyst. In addition to the DesignRI Week and its monthly events, its support was considered "key" in bringing Infosys to the Ocean State.
- Kezari: A minimalist travel and lifestyle brand, Kezari launched in Rhode Island in 2018, with insight and advice from both contemporary fashion label Theory and a RISD professor of fashion. Pre-sales for its first pair of pants have already begun.
- Tom Derecktor — The Fehn: An engineer and shipbuilder, Tom Derecktor's newest work, The Fehn —a unique desk chair that allows users to move and adjust continuously throughout the day — is the result of two years of work.
- Fuzion Design: An 11-year-old design company, Pawtucket-based Fuzion has consistently helped large and small brands (like Hasbro, Babies R' Us and more) communicate their vision through eye-catching design. Its work has won it various awards and accolades, such as becoming one of the winners of the American Graphic Design awards.
Inno Choice
- Ameri/Sewn: This Cranston-based company designs "protective gear for the military, law enforcement and the mental health industries." Currently, creator John Caito III is developing his next-generation Riot Suit in a R&D lab developed in part with the help of a state-granted Innovation Voucher.
- BedJet: Rhode Island-born BedJet, "the world’s first rapid cooling and heating system just for your bed," has had a big past couple of years, and isn't slowing down. From earning more than $1 million on Kickstarter to getting featured on Shark Tank, the company, which was created by a former NASA engineer, has continuously made interesting if not impressive moves. Most recently, BedJet is the No. 1 mattress product on Amazon; has been featured in various national publications; been chosen as a Coolest Company and 2019 Startup to Watch by Rhode Island Inno; and named clinically proven as a non-hormonal sleep treatment for menopausal women.
- Práctico Innovation: This Providence-based enterprise looks to “advise, mentor and invest” in underserved or underrepresented communities and entrepreneurs. Investments include Savvy Girl, Purifad and PetRover. Formerly named one of Rhode Island Inno's Coolest Companies, it has sustained results in its space. In fact, within "five years, we’ve reviewed over 200 business ideas from three communities of underrepresented entrepreneurs — Latinos, Blacks and Asians," its website states.
- Aging Easily, LLC: This Rhode Island company's site, RIElderInfo.com, was created to solve to be a one-stop-shop resource for both the elderly, their loved ones and health care providers on pertinent information about elder care. It covers everything from information on health care policies to insights about medicade, as well as town-centric events calendars. Its creator, Deborah Burton, won the top prize at the Social Enterprise Greenhouse Health and Wellness Accelerator's Demo Day.
- Skyline Collective: Established by freelancer Javaughn Henry, Skyline Collective is a space in downtown Pawtucket that will "offer freelancers access to shared office and studio space, various lessons and an art gallery." Henry has helmed a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the collective.
- Women in Leadership Nexus & Carrie Majewski: This one's a two-for-one entry. The Women in Leadership Nexus officially debuted as a membership organization in 2018 after its previous lives as both a blog and interactive community in 2017. As for Carrie Majewski, its founder, its not even her fulltime job, but under her leadership, she was able to scale the entity into one that's 100-members strong.
New to the Ecosystem
- Formally: Founded by Amelie-Sophie Vavrovsky, Formally is “the intuitive form-filler for asylum, immigration and citizenship.” Vavrovsky is a Brown 2018 graduate and participant in the 2018 cohort of the Breakthrough Lab. While the company is still in its early stages, mentors have called the team "scrappy" and creators who will solve the problems they are working on with unique vision.
- Predictive Optics: Founded by Vishnu Dantu, a 2019 Brown University student of applied math and biology, the company is a “a continuous imaging system to help surgeons better visualize brain vasculature.” A participant in the 2017 Breakthrough Lab, Dantu also won the MedTech/life sciences award at this year’s RI Business Plan competition; he won $15,000 in cash and $52,400 in professional services. Additionally, Dantu was named one of Rhode Island Inno's 25 Under 25 last fall.
- ReliaBra: Founded by Rose Mangiarotti (a 2018 graduate of Brown University) during her time at the school; it's a startup that develops “sticky bras that offer removable and replaceable adhesives.” Mangiarotti is still working out details around production, but that hasn't stopped the device's acclaim. In fact, not only was Mangiarotti named one of Rhode Island Inno’s 25 Under 25 entrepreneurs this year, but her idea also made her an audience favorite at the #GetStartedRI competition, winning the audience favorite prize of $5,000 by a considerable margin. Mangiarotti was also named one of Rhode Island Inno's 25 Under 25.
- Uproot (formerly Eve & Mathieu): This June-born startup was launched by two recent college grads who wanted to do something simple: "Make plant-based dairy alternatives more sustainable and more accessible." They created, as a result, Uproot, which has already had multiple flavors and existing demos in two of Johnson & Wales University dining halls. They'll expand their services to other Rhode Island university dining halls in the months ahead.
- VadatiVR: Sree Dasari, a high school senior, developed VadatiVR, a startup that looks to quell public speaking nervousness by giving the user a chance to practice in a VR classroom or on a stage. Since teaching herself how to code the VR software and undergoing case studies on the work, she's gotten a lot of attention. VadatiVR won both the “Best in Fair” award at the 2018 R.I. Science and Engineering Fair and first place at the state’s first-ever Lt. Governor Entrepreneurship Challenge in August; she was also named to Rhode Island Inno's 25 Under 25. Dasari is still hustling, "currently working on funds, developing the website and app and reaching out and trying to get more help."
- Visual Thrive: A product of Indermaur Media, Visual Thrive works to develop a "social media narrative that is aligned with [companies'] business brand." Developed during the Goldman Sach 10,000 Small Businesses class, it looks to be scaled at a national level, and currently has clients in two different states after just moving out of a beta phase.
Tech — Small (< 11 Employees)
- Cloud Agronomics: Aerial imaging and analytics company Cloud Agronomics wants to tech-enable the process of discovering the state of crops' health — as currently, the leading way to check for diseases is have testers physically walk through fields and examine the plants within. Incorporated in March 2018, the company has partnered with the largest manned fleet of aircraft carriers used for this work and made a name for themselves as the only entity besides NASA to collect data from these aircrafts. Recently, CA pitched at the #GetStartedRI contest and landed on the Rhode Island Inno 25 Under 25 List. On the docket for the new year is pursuing a first round of funding.
- Gradly: This company wants to make the degree-earning process for those looking to study abroad easier with its one-stop shop. Set to debut in March, the company has already hit a host of milestones.
- Jennifer Shaheen: Area entrepreneur Jennifer Shaheen had a big 2018, what with concluding a 20-year stint at her first company (Technology Therapy Group) and launching kepler12. It creates "industry specific online game experiences with built-in data capture that businesses can use to boost customer acquisition, develop a greater understanding of their market, and build stronger relationships."
- TextUp: The 2018 entity is a “secure messaging and software platform that empowers social workers to be more efficient with their work and improve the professional quality of their life." The company (founded by 2018 RISD grad Hanna Oh and 2018 Brown graduates, Michelle Petersen and Eric Bai) won the Rhode Island Business Competition, was named one of the finalists of the Cox Get Started Pitch Competition and participated in MassChallenge Rhode Island's inaugural cohort.
- PacketLogix, Inc.: Warren-based company PacketLogix, "wireless and IT experts," has served the Ocean State for 15 (nearly 16!) years, with a diverse and impressive portfolio that includes universities, hedge funds and even the White House. In 2018, the company participated in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program and developed a managed IT services division.
- VeerSAFE: Led by Roberta Powell, who has both health care profession and transportation industry experience, VeerSAFE is "the first online diabetes education course designed specifically for commercial drivers."
- Yotme: This startup is a "social relationship management" tool for both brands and nonprofits, which aims to turn event attendee data into "actionable marketing intelligence and individuals to enhance their social lives and measure their positive social impact." The Newport-based entity is at pre-beta launch, but has already received attention from large national brands.
Tech — Large (11+ Employees)
- General Assembly — Providence: While General Assembly has locations across the globe and isn't headquartered in Rhode Island, its Providence campus has made strides to educate and empower since its first program launch in 2016. "To date, GA Providence is educating a total of over 90 unemployed, underemployed or underrepresented citizens and placing them in jobs in the Rhode Island tech industry," the entity told RI Inno.
- NanoSteel: According to Pitchbook, NanoSteel is worth $142 million (the highest valuation for a venture-backed private business in the state). Usually, that would signal to casual observers that the company has well and truly arrived, but not NanoSteel; it keeps the flames of innovation burning. In September, the nanostructured steel materials company announced its additive manufacturing business unit had spun out to create a new entity, Formetrix.
- Upserve: Upserve has momentum in spades, and that's why this seemingly "arrived" startup was named one of Rhode Island Inno's "To Watch" this year — as well as one of 2019's 50 on Fire award winners. Its 2018 was filled with headlines: an acquisition (Tel Aviv, Israel-based inventory management platform SimpleOrder) and a new CEO (ACTIVE Network's Sheryl Hoskins; founder Angus Davis will serve as strategic advisor to Upserve’s board of directors).
- Vertikal6: A Warwick-based provider of advanced IT solutions, Vertial6 has recently expanded its application development team. That has allowed the company to finalize and debut its Elevated Strategy Platform (its own proprietary software).
Health Care
- Chewsi: The brainchild of Delta Dental of Rhode Island's boutique venture capital firm, Altus Ventures, Chewsi wants to get patients the dental care they need for a good price (whether or not they're uninsured). In the two years since its inception, the service boasts a partnership with AAA Northeast and just this past October, it announced that it had partnered with more than 2,500 dental locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
- GetJanes: This East Providence-based company creates Janes (or Jacks!), "a personal alternative to traditional patient examination gowns." The products were first ordered by the Breast Health Center at Women in 2012, and since then have been used and sold across the U.S. Most recently, GetJanes' products look "to add to the comfort and dignity" of patients at Newport Hospital.
- Medley Genomics: Led by Patrice Milos, Medley Genomics wants to make cancer a chronic illness instead of a fatal one. Milos and Medley have made a name for themselves in the regional health care space as well as the local entrepreneurial community, participating in the MassChallenge Bridge to RI competition, winning an Innovation Voucher and earning the grand prize at the #GetStartedRI pitch contest this fall, which included $25,000.
- Mighty Well: Mighty Well and its CEO Emily Levy are looking to “transform the patient experience” by creating a line of accessories meant to stylishly conceal treatment apparatuses, and it's been met with considerable acclaim: Considerable amounts of money raised, media attention, participation (and success) in area competitions, etc. Last fall, the company won WORLDZ conference’s startup pitch competition in both the “social impact” category and the overall contest, and the company just recently debuted a new product, the "mighty pack."
- New England Medical Innovation Center: While new to the ecosystem — the New England Medical Innovation Center debuted in Providence last September — it's already made a mighty stamp on the ecosystem. Founded by Aidan Petrie and Lydia Shin "after they noticed that Med Tech entrepreneurs are often ill-equipped to deal with the regulatory hurdles that they will eventually face in the commercialization of medical devices," it has the support of Lifespan, RISD and Ximedica.
- Sara Johnson, Ph.D.: Co-president and CEO of 21-year-old Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc., Johnson has received a number of recent accolades for her work. She was recognized in 2018 by the Health Enhancement Research Organization’s Mark Dundon Research Award, as well as the Health Care Services Woman to Watch by Providence Business News. Among her many current projects, she's leading a National Institutes of Health-funded ($1.4 million!) study for creating a chronic pain self-management app.
- Sproutel: Providence-based "patient-centered R&D shop" Sproutel, with a mission to "create technology at the intersection of patient and market needs," has, historically, been in the news for its wildly popular "Jerry the Bear." However, in late 2018, its second-designed device, "My Special Aflac Duck" (for children suffering from cancer), was named one of TIME Magazine's 50 Best Inventions of the Year.
Nonprofit
- Betsy Santarlasci: As Social Enterprise Greenhouse’s food initiative director, Betsy oversaw the graduation of 14 businesses from the SEG Food Accelerator in May and recruited a new class for 2019 with “a triple increase in entrepreneurs of color and a continuing majority of women.” Betsy cut her teeth in the food space as the first executive director of Hope & Main, where she onboarded more than 50 food entrepreneurs in 15 months. As of January, she is the director of advancement for the nonprofit grocery store Daily Table in Dorchester.
- Sprout CoWorking: Called "by far the best coworking space in Rhode Island" by customers, Sprout recently expanded to Warren with a new location, in addition to its Providence location.
