If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that predictions aren't always everything they're cracked up to be.
Each year, we at Rhode Island Inno look back at our coverage from the last 12 months — all the launches, funding rounds, new deals and partnerships, awards and more — and try to identify the startups that are on the precipice of something big. Now, the calculus is a little different. Whereas in the past, metrics included fast-paced scale, representation in pitch competitions and originality, among others, we're also taking note of which startup leaders have the two things most necessary to succeed: grit, and a willingness to pivot.
That brings us back to predictions. There's no crystal ball showing us what 2021 will bring, but we do know that Rhode Island's startup ecosystem is full of leaders eager to prove their worth, get to market and scale rapidly, all while trying to make a difference in the lives of Rhode Islanders. These are the leaders we expect big things from in the next 12 months and beyond.
Meet Rhode Island Inno's Startups to Watch in 2021.
Pointz: Co-founded by a group of Brown University students and accelerated at the B-Lab this year, Pointz is a GPS mobile app specifically for riders of bikes and scooters. The startup’s technology uses real-time car traffic data and crowdsourced safety data from locals to create the best route for micromobility vehicles. It placed second at the Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest in November, then went on to win the “Calamari Tank” pitch competition at the Rhode Island Startup Weekend.
KerlyGirl: KerlyGirl is a B2C startup selling hair masks, curl creams, serums and more through an e-commerce site. Its products are specifically catered to people with Type 3 and 4 hair — the very tightest coils — and are all plant-based and COSMOS-certified organic. Founder Kerlyne Jean-Baptiste started the year by participating in Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG)’s Social Impact Accelerator, then advanced in Get Started Rhode Island’s pitch competition to become one of six finalists. Jean-Baptiste is currently seeking outside funding and eventually envisions her company’s products in a brick-and-mortar store.
Biotica Bio: Providence biotech startup Biotica Bio is using microbiome-derived elements to modulate inflammatory bowel diseases. Founder John Round envisions a solution delivered as an oral pill or powder, one that is much more affordable and less invasive than traditional treatments. Biotica Bio was a finalist in the 2019 Get Started Rhode Island pitch competition. Round plans to submit the startup’s solution to the FDA for approval as a medical food as part of his go-to-market strategy.
ROIinU: Suzanne McDonald, the founder of marketing firm Angles and Insights and its subsidiary Newport Interactive Marketing, launched a new solution this summer for people entering the digital marketing industry. ROIinU, very short for "return on investment in you," is a seven-week course designed to up-skill recent grads with digital marketing tools and connect them with entrepreneurs and nonprofits. The course is based on curricula McDonald developed as an instructor at the University of Rhode Island and Framingham State University.
Giving Beyond The Box: Founded by former Bryant University professor Sandra Enos, Giving Beyond The Box is a social impact startup that curates gift boxes featuring products from social enterprises, then donates a portion of the profits to various charities. Another veteran of the SEG Social Impact Accelerator, the startup has curated several themed boxes, including Hope Strikes Back box, which includes products created by Rhode Island entrepreneurs of color; the Rhode Island Box of Hope, which contains products from Rhode Island business owners; and the Holiday Box of Light. Its boxes can currently be shipped, delivered within Rhode Island for a small charge or purchased directly at Pioneer Prints in Woonsocket and the 401Collective in Peace Dale.
PopUp Rhody: Founder Jo Lee wants to make PopUp Rhody the Airbnb of pop-up events. She has created an online marketplace for Rhode Island establishments to post available space for creative, culinary or crafts makers to set up pop-up stores. A veteran of SEG’s Covid-19 Response Incubator, PopUp Rhody currently exists in pilot mode, allowing businesses to list their properties for free. In the near term, Lee plans to focus on building the site’s audience and assisting with the state’s Take It Outside campaign.
Metal Alchemist: There aren’t many details about Metal Alchemist yet, but if it’s founded by Alex and Ani creator Carolyn Rafaelian, it’s sure to be interesting. The startup’s minimalist website features a small logo, the phrase "Live life without fear" and the words "Sans Crainte," which is French for "without fear." Although it originally said Metal Alchemist would be launching this holiday season, it seems the launch date has been pushed back, to May 22, 2021. Rafaelian said in an Instagram video that Metal Alchemist would be home to “all the love and the efforts and the designs that support things that are truly important to [her].”
ADDASPACE: ADDASPACE started over a cup of coffee in March, right as the pandemic was sending people into their homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In eight months, founder native Andrew Naperotic put together a startup that aims to solve the problem of small spaces by building extra living units out of shipping containers. The team pre-fabricates and insulates the units at a facility in Bristol, then essentially hammers them into the ground using structural metal pylons. ADDASPACE is now ramping up production with the goal of completing 50 to 100 units in New England within the next six to 12 months.
Fette: Brown University juniors Priya Mittal and Olivia Tulkoff are the founding duo behind Fette, a startup that makes transparent plastic cups from polyethylene terephthalate, one of the most recyclable plastics. Although Mittal and Tulkoff originally planned to go to market by selling to program houses such as Greek organizations and sports teams, the pandemic has forced a pivot, and Fette is now targeting smaller gatherings. The company launched in the first week of September and is currently selling cups to students at Brown, Yale University and Duke University.
includesign: Founded by Brown University students Diana Perkins, Chloe Rosenberg and Hannah Mintz, includesign is behind a collapsible shopping basket, called the "LapSnap," specifically designed with and for wheelchair users. The bag can also be used for a variety of other activities around the house, including laundry and gardening. includesign was one of 11 local companies to participate in MassChallenge Rhode Island this year. It went on to join Brown’s B-Lab accelerator, then tie for third place at the Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest.
Flashback: We published 11 Startups to Watch in Rhode Island in 2020 almost exactly a year ago. Curious to see how they fared? Check out some highlights in the gallery below.
