It seems like everyone is jumping into the startup game these days. How many times have you heard of someone in your network looking for VC funding, or planning to develop a startup business plan? You might even be taking the journey to establish a startup this year. This is not a bad idea, as Atlanta has grown into an ever-growing startup ecosystem.
According to Fitsmallbusiness.com, Atlanta, outside of New York and San Francisco, is the best city in the U.S. for startups. The relative cost of living, favorable business laws, and the city’s reputation as a transportation hub have made it a popular place for innovative people to try out their next big idea.
Related: Atlanta’s Growing Innovation Hub: The What and Why Behind Corporate Incubators
Who are those innovators, and what are they working on in 2020? Without further delay, here are five Atlanta startups to watch in 2020, and the reasons why.
Cognira
Founded in 2015, this advanced AI and data tracking company has experienced 3,136 percent growth over three years. It has also been recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. by Inc. The company’s purpose is to provide data science and analytics services to retailers who want to improve customer experiences.
Why They Are a Startup to Watch: Not only is their AI-enabled forecasting engine, on average, helping companies improve inventory turnover by 10 percent, but they have identified an emerging market: consumer data. As customers continue to demand personalized experiences, their demographics and buying habit data is going to be all the more essential for retailers to have access to. Cognira has found a sweet spot; also, a $7.6 million revenue in 2018 doesn’t hurt either.
Cove.tool
What happens when you add environmental sustainability to efficient architectural practices? Cove.tool is helping to make these concepts come together. This startup offers a big-data platform that enables all major players involved in construction and engineering to design buildings that meet municipal regulations while also encouraging sustainability.
Why They Are a Startup to Watch: The impact of carbon emissions on the environment is back in the spotlight as a policy and quality of life issue. Innovative companies are stepping up to the plate to manage the problem. Cove.tool has raised $750,000 in funding in 2018, and the company now has projects in Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. They are not only addressing the environmental sustainability issues that cities face but are spreading their knowledge beyond the streets of Atlanta to help architects around the world meet building code and ecological standards efficiently.
OneTrust
Data is all around us, and businesses are managing more of it than ever have before. OneTrust is a data privacy management and compliance tool that is set-up to help enterprises manage new data regulations (ex. GDPR). As policymakers and business owners continue to work out how these large groups of data should be handled, OneTrust is offering a timely solution to data concern issues.
Why They Are a Startup to Watch Out For: In 2019, the company raised $200 million to set the company at a $1.3 billion valuation. So, this startup, founded in 2016, has a lot of capital to use to support new initiatives like auto-blocking for tracking technologies, the simplification of CCPA, and the acquisition of Privacy Core, an e-learning tool. It also helps that the CEO, Kabir Barday, was named National Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young LLP. From capital to leadership, OneTrust is positioned to be a mover and shaker in the data privacy and management space in 2020.
Rimidi
Rimidi, is a cloud-based software program that uses patient-generated health data to allow for the personalized treatment of those with chronic disease. For years, policymakers and those in healthcare fields have discussed the need for streamlined and centralized healthcare records. Rimidi is stepping in to fill this gap finally. Clinicians run and have developed this startup, which puts them in a unique position to understand what their peers need to manage patient records.
Why They Are a Startup to Watch Out For: Healthcare is always a hot-button topic, and anything that can make the process of receiving effective health screenings easier is going to make some waves. In 2018, the company raised over six million dollars in Series A-1 financing with an investment from Eli Lily and Company. As we move into a world where more patients are interacting with doctors over the internet, and more data is collected over time, Rimidi will continue to hold a prominent space in streamlining healthcare data collection.
Rubicon
Rubicon Global provides full-service waste management, recycling, and smart city technology solutions to companies and cities throughout the world. A certified B-Corp, Rubicon has grown past the city limits of Atlanta to impact cities across the globe. Their work in helping cities better manage waste has recently earned them the 2019 Build Magazine Award. From Santa Fe, Mexico to Switzerland, Rubicon is helping to shape the way cities address long-term sustainability.
Why They Are a Startup to Watch Out For: This company and its leadership continue to be recognized for their groundbreaking waste management and smart city management work. Rubicon’s Vice President of Smart Cities, Conor Riffle, was recognized as a “40 Under 40” Winner by Waste 360. At the same time, EarthCam has partnered with Rubicon to help companies in the construction industry meet sustainability goals. Much like Cove.tool, Rubicon is addressing a relevant issue many companies and cities are facing. Their thoughtful work in handling environmental concerns like waste management and recycling will continually make them worth keeping on the radar.
Final Thoughts
Many of today’s startups are addressing some of the emerging technology and innovative solutions that will define the next decade. However, at their core, each of these Atlanta startups has been successful in identifying a unique need and developing solutions for these problems. As we move into the early part of the new decade, Atlanta’s startup ecosystem looks as if it is poised to continue to thrive if innovative startup owners continue to address the needs of today’s customers directly.
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