After another record breaking year of VC funding in the Bay Area ($120.1 billion according to PitchBook), the region is in no shortage of innovative companies offering innovative solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems.
In our inaugural Startups to Watch feature, the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal set out to identify the founders and their startups we think might be onto the next big thing. Reporters Sara Bloomberg and Sonya Herrera explored a number of companies to come up with a list of 20 that deserve extra attention.
From cellulite removal to psychedelic medicine development, these firms are blazing trails, while attracting deep pocketed investors. Keep watch this year to see which startups reach the coveted unicorn status, and which live up to the oft-repeated mantra of "changing the world."
Scroll through the gallery above for a quick look at the startups we choose this year, and click here to access stories on each.