As 2020 comes to a close, we have many things to reflect on. This year began much like any other, with founders and entrepreneurs looking toward funding opportunities, launching new concepts and pushing their startups forward.
When Covid-19 hit in March, it almost immediately reshaped the tech and startup ecosystem. And while some struggled to find their footing, facing early challenges and fears of the unknown, many emerged with stories of pivots and continued growth. Any founder will tell you that 2020 was not an easy year, but it was one during which they were forced to innovate to thrive.
That brings us to our Startups to Watch in 2021 list. The list is comprised of companies we believe are poised to have a breakout year in 2021. Some may be more established and in a position for that big moment, and others may be fresh and new with upward momentum.
We considered a variety of metrics while compiling the list — how quickly a startup has scaled, representation or success in local and national pitch competitions and accelerator programs, a successful pandemic pivot, a significant funding round or grant and/or someone solving an important problem.
Let's meet Richmond Inno's Startups to Watch in 2021.
Answers Now
AnswersNow, founded in 2017 by Jeff Beck, made a major pandemic pivot this year. The startup's online platform was built to provide support for families with children who have autism. This year Beck modified the business from a tech-based support model to a robust telehealth solutions company, where clinicians can work directly with people regardless of their age or location. In addition, AnswersNow closed on a $250,000 funding round in late October.
Bookclubz
Bookclubz, founded in 2017 by Nancy Brown, Anna Ford and Ian Campbell, is web and mobile app for book club management. Since permanently relocating to Richmond earlier this year, Bookclubz has been busy. The startup was one of nine to participate in Lighthouse Labs' fall accelerator program, which wrapped up last month. As of October, the platform had nearly 100,000 users, and its founders expect continued, steady growth into 2021.
Brandefy
Meg Pryde launched her beauty-based mobile platform Brandefy in 2018 to gives users the ability to find affordable dupes to pricey, cult-favorite beauty products through carefully cultivated comparison reviews, as well as user-based reviews. In September, Brandefy rolled out a new offering with its subscription beauty box and is currently in the process of raising a seed round of funding.
Goodfynd
Goodfynd, founded in 2018 in D.C. by Kyle Miller and Lemaire Stewart, amassed quite a following in the Richmond region after expanding to Virginia in 2019. Over the summer, Goodfynd reached a major milestone, hitting $100,000 in sales revenue. The startup was named an Inno on Fire Blazer for 2020 in the Tech and Software category, as well as this year’s Dominion Energy Innovation Center’s Pitch Competition Winner in the general category. Miller and Stewart have since added two more to the team, hiring Sofiat Abdulrazaaq as chief operating officer and Patrick Powell as head of sales and outreach. The team is currently working on raising a seed round of funding.
Grenova
Grenova, founded in 2014 by Ali Safavi, manufacturers technology that washes and sterilizes pipette tips used by labs to perform critical testing. Since 2019, the company has doubled in size and ramped up use of its unique tech. A sharp increase in the number of single-use tips being used for Covid-19 testing would put health care systems at risk of shortage without Grenova's tech that allows labs to safely wash and reuse the pipette tips. Earlier this year, the company was named to Silicon Review's "50 Innovative Companies to Watch 2020" list and Richmond's 2020 Inno on Fire list in the Crisis Innovators category.
Humanitru
Humanitru, founded in 2019 as Totem by PJ Harris, Alan Wei and Megan Cox, decided earlier this year that a rebrand was in order. A new name and logo was rolled out in the fall in response to concerns over cultural appropriation. Humanitru, which helps nonprofits all over the country through a subscription-based CRM platform that offers integrations and auxiliary software for functions that are crucial to a nonprofit’s operation, closed on a $550,000 pre-seed funding funding in February. It was also named to Richmond's 2020 Inno on Fire list in the Social Impact category.
Linebird
Early-stage tech startup Linebird was founded by Michael Beiro in late 2018 and uses drone technology to create and commercialize automation solutions for utility companies. Linebird participated in Lighthouse Labs' summer accelerator and was one of seven startups accepted into Dominion Energy Innovation Center's first-ever accelerator program, which wrapped up earlier this month. Due in part to its success and experience with those accelerators, Linebird is expected to enter into a pilot program with Dominion Energy in the coming months.
Micronic Technologies
Karen Sorber and Kelly Rock founded clean tech startup Micronic Technologies in 2008 and have spent the last several years perfecting the tech that can remove dissolved and suspended solids, bacteria and heavy metals from water in a fast, energy efficient manner. In October, the company announced it had raised a $3 million seed round that it will use to scale its industrial wastewater cleaning technology. The round was led by the Center for Innovative Technology and The Pearl Fund, with participation from CAV Angels. Sorber told Inno they plan to begin raising a Series A round in late 2021 to help support heavier manufacturing needs as the technology becomes commercialized.
Naborforce
Naborforce, founded in 2018 by Paige Wilson, connects aging adults to a network of "Nabors" for social engagement and on-demand support with errands, transportation and help around the house. The startup spent much of 2020 in a major pivot from in-person work due to Covid-19 but was but eventually able to regain its footing. It was named to Richmond's 2020 Inno on Fire list in the Tech and Software category. In September, Naborforce announced it was chosen as one of 10 startups to participate in the Techstars Future of Longevity accelerator program, which wrapped up earlier this month.
RoundlyX
RoundlyX, founded in 2017 by Will Trible and Andrew Elliot, is a global digital asset wealth management platform that allows is tens of thousands of users to round up spare change into digital assets while making everyday purchases. Earlier this year, RoundlyX was named to Richmond's 2020 Inno On Fire list in the Tech and Software category. The startup participated in Pax Momentum's fall accelerator program and secured an undisclosed funding amount over the summer through Richmond's Center for Innovative Technology.
SEQL
SEQL, originally STAC, is a platform that gives high school athletes the opportunity to connect with college recruiters. The startup launched earlier this year and was founded by Robert de Wolff, Bryant Drayton and Peter Hanneman. Since rebranding in August, SEQL has grown its user-base to several thousand and signed Los Angeles Lakers point guard Quinn Cook as a brand ambassador. SEQL has raised more than $600,000 in debt funding in 2020 and is working on raising a seed round.
Shoe Crazy Wine
Gwen Hurt founded Shoe Crazy Wine in 2013 but it wasn't until just recently that the startup began to gain traction. After little luck with ecommerce sales, Hurt decided to start her own Virginia-based distribution company. She acquired a license to distribute her product, prepared samples and started knocking on doors in Richmond. Shoe Crazy Wine now has a regional presence in retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger and Food Lion. Next, Hurt plans to focus on getting divisions up and running in North Carolina and Georgia for delivery into Sam’s Clubs and Walmart stores there.
