In any startup ecosystem—whether it's D.C. or Silicon Valley—it remains important to have a fresh crop of new companies and founders testing what may be innovative and yet sometimes questionable ideas. Undoubtedly, most startups experience failure. In fact, it appears almost inevitable for some. What's more important though, is that the local scene also sees new characters and brands that improve upon that churn, past the turnover. Sometimes failure isn't the worst case scenario but rather, never trying again is the real tragedy.
Here in the D.C. area, there's been an influx of new founders and companies entering various markets. From working to disrupt the city's flawed commercial parking industry to making internet-connected smart sensors that help businesses better target customer for advertising, this 2015 class of local startups is worth watching.
Here's 9 D.C.-area startups launched in 2015:
Status: previously in stealth mode, launched in 2015
- As was first reported by DC Inno in February, Radius Networks finally came out of stealth mode and fully launched earlier this year. Radius Networks develops low energy, cloud-based Bluetooth proximity beacons that can interact with nearby mobile devices. Some of the company's high profile customers are the Verizon center, Fedex Field, CES, the Cleveland Museum of Art and National Geographic museum. Originally developed by a team of former SwapDrive engineers and executives—SwapDrive was acquired by Norton/Symantec in 2008 for $123 million—this startup closed a $6.5 million seed funding round in January. The investors in Radius Networks are Core Capital Partners, Contour Venture Partners and Wa.-based Trilogy Equity Partners, co-founder and CEO Marc Wallace previously told DC Inno.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- Veterati is a streamlined job finding and employment posting platform made specifically for military veterans. Founded by Leah Wald and Diana Tsai, Veterati is in the process of closing up a $650,000 convertible note round. "Veterati takes data about the veterans and potential mentors, using a proprietary algorithm to help match people best suited to meet. Based on responses after a first meeting, Veterati can improve the match if the first pairing wasn't a good fit," DC Inno's Eric Schwartz previously wrote. eHarmony co-founder Galen Buckwalter is an advisor. Veterati's plan is to pull in revenue by working with specific companies who're interested in hiring veterans but which do not have an in-house veteran outreach program/initiative.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- This startup is a direct competitor of the popular District Department of Transportation offering called Capital BikeShare. Baas Bikes has developed a smartphone app that appears like Uber with a full map display and multiple nearby vehicles, but instead of moving cars those dots are stationary bikes waiting to be rented. "We want to ease the current pain points of upfront cost, maintenance trips, risk of theft, riding up hills, and long distances," the company claims. While still early on in the development process of a full rack installation and checkout system to compete with BikeShare, Baas Bikes customer will not need a credit card or even cash to pay for a ride. Just tap a button, scan a code from the bike and you're good to go. The plan is to build several "pods" with bikes ready to go throughout the city; targeting apartment buildings and dorms in university areas.
Status: launched in 2015
- Though you may not get this from the name, NFF is the "Bloomberg of Weed." Launched in full force earlier this year, the company collects vast data and other information related to the cannabis industry. In February, NFF closed a $250,000 seed round from a combination of investors and crowdfunding on the cannabis-focused platform CannaFundr. Months after the seed round, NFF closed a $2 million Series A. Demand is hot for legitimate intelligence focused on this still-young and semi-legal industry that holds massive revenue potential. NFF claims "we provide investors, operators and policy makers with actionable intelligence as well as targeted consumer behavioral analysis to allow them to grow their investments and make informed decisions.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- Pyazza is a secure, social-centric luxury e-commerce company that is centered around the buying and selling expensive goods. The online, cloud-based web service can connect users to other customers that me interested in purchasing specific, brand name merchandise. Sellers are verified. Think of it like an upper tier Ebay with a select clientele that can then communicate outside traditional channels to form relationship and become acquainted with one another. Basically: social media + e-commerce for rich people.
Status: launched in 2015
- This accelerator was founded in the halls of D.C.'s ImpactHub co-working space. It aims to foster the growth of entrepreneurialism for individuals weighed down by previous prison experience. After scooping a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mission:Launch has accelerated efforts to help former prison inmates find jobs, start companies and establish stable lives after detention. The young accelerator also hosts hackathons and is working on other related projects with partner groups like the Rebuilding Re-entry Coalition, which offers online job finding tools.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- Founded by traveling adventure man and former COO of enterprise telecommunications startup Speek, Conrad Waliszewski has created a smartphone travel app that's unlike its competitors: TripScout is a mobile-centric application available on both iOS and Android. The app works to connect travelers with the knowledge and advice of verified, local guides in a number of metropolitan areas around the globe. The app is free but the content comes with a fee. After downloading, users can purchase different city maps for $4.99 a piece as in-app downloads. These static maps provide audio tours, tips and recommended visits. With every city map that is purchased, user’s are also provided with updated information regarding one local charity. Each regional charity comes with instructions on how to get involved and/or donate. This last addition works to include a philanthropic aspect to traveling while also helping users further experience foreign cultures in what Waliszewski previously described as a more authentic visit.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- D.C.-based 1776 member company ParkedIn has developed a smartphone app that looks to improve the usually tedious activity of finding parking in the city. Launched in June, app users can set up a parking lot reservation ahead of time via a mobile app and also post their own if they own a plot of territory where applicable. By the end of 2015, the startup hopes to offer 100,000 different parking spots throughout the city, CEO Matt Provo previously told DC Inno. Payment, renting and park processing is all done via the mobile app.
Status: founded and launched in 2015
- Smart.ly is the smartphone education app company of former Rosetta Stone CEO Tom Adams. The concept for Smart.ly along with early software development was done in-house by Adam's edtech consulting firm Pedago. Since then, Adams has added members to the independent Smart.ly team and has been courting investors. In broad strokes, the app bring a mobile-first business education platform underlined by “bite-sized” lessons. The early demographic is for students interested in marketing, finance and business. Adams told DC Inno that for what would be equivalent to a 2-year MBA program, Smartly will offer its application for a fee of roughly $9 per month.
