Finest Tech Startups in San Francisco, Ranked 2021 • Benzinga
When you hear Silicon Valley you probably think of “tech” and “startup”. Over the years, San Francisco has always been the hub of all technology and home to thousands of successful startups. Since there is a fine line between when a company is still considered a startup and when it finally left its mark on the world, you may only know startups that are now successful companies.
DoorDash, Wish, Chime … these companies were all startups that made it big, and early investors benefited from them.
If you are or are about to invest in startups, it is important to keep an eye out for the next big thing. Check out Benzinga’s list of the top 10 best tech startups to find startups to watch out for right now.
# 1.Best crowdsourcing startup – Lime, founded in 2017
Lime was founded on the idea that “all communities deserve access to smart, affordable mobility”. Lime’s focus is also on leaving future generations a healthier planet than the present.
Lime was structured under the premise of crowdsourced fast, easy and affordable transportation to reduce environmental hazards and pollution through the equitable distribution of common scooters, bicycles and transit vehicles in each city.
In order to take full advantage of Lime, users are encouraged to download the Lime app, find a means of transport and scan it with a QR code. At the end of each trip, users have to scan the barcode again and leave the transport behind for the next driver.
# 2. Best Robotics / Autonomous Delivery startup – Nuro, founded in 2016
Nuro specializes in the use of autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery services and has special permission from the State of California to perform autonomous deliveries. Nuro is a startup founded by two former Google engineers who acquired a smaller startup called Ike, an autonomous shipping company. Founded in 2018, Ike began its journey licensing software from Nuro, one of its stakeholders. Eventually the two startups merged to form Nuro as it is now. Although Ike is currently focused on the local delivery business, Ike brought Class 8 semi-trailer technology to the table and will expand Nuro’s offerings across the region.
Once implemented in Nuro’s current infrastructure, the company began using a “handover system” for delivery over the motorway system. This is when a human driver exchanges cargo and then navigates the semi-trailers in and out of facilities.
Prior to the acquisition, agreements were made between Ike and transport companies such as Ryder System Inc., DHL Supply Chain, NFI Industries and several smaller companies that will lead the startup in equipping 1,000 trucks with its newly integrated technologies. These companies will automate their existing trucks through an annual software subscription model.
# 3. Best startup for shared mobility – PIX Moving, founded in 2014
PIX Moving is a unique startup that aims to “reshape future cities with autonomous mobility” by providing sustainable solutions for urban development. Known as the world’s first vehicle design and manufacturing system, they are powered by both artificial intelligence (AI) and metal 3D printing.
The company wants to rebuild the modern city with autonomous mobility in the overall design. The aim is both to improve road use and to create a better quality of life for the residents.
The company offers 4 main products:
- PIXBOT – “The World’s First Autonomous Open Source Chassis” that shortens product development lead times
- PIXKIT – An open source kit for autonomous driving development and education for the rapid prototyping of autonomous vehicles
- PIXLOOP – An autonomous, software-defined chassis drive platform for rapid application development and prototyping, “built by engineers for engineers”.
- PIX CITY – A concept in action that realizes an integrated application of self-propelled technology on a large scale .; PIX cities are an intelligent IoT infrastructure combined with human-vehicle interaction
PIX Moving offers a one-stop solution that combines a self-driving software and hardware stack, drive-by-wire chassis, batch customization, and 3D printing and vehicle manufacturing with self-driving software integration. With its open source capabilities, autonomous vehicles can be created for sightseeing, shuttles, vending machines, patrols and deliveries.
# 4.Best Semiconductor Solutions Startup – Instrumems, founded in 2016
According to Instrumems, its “fabless” high-performance semiconductors were developed using a novel “nanowire” acquisition platform that enables “sensor fusion and highly accurate measurements of flow, temperature, velocity and humidity” in both liquids and gases.
They are fast, accurate and energy-saving and achieve frequency responses between 10 kHz and 100 kHz.
Although tiny, these semiconductors were created using sophisticated algorithms and software to create a complete real-time capture solution for virtually any medical, IoT, or industrial device. As we begin to rebuild our global infrastructure, we will need innovative, state-of-the-art semiconductors in ways we have never had before.
# 5.Best transportation and logistics startup – Flexport, founded in 2013
Flexport digitizes the forwarding agency for the world’s leading brands on land, in the air, on the rail and in maritime trade. It offers companies a new way to optimize their supply chain while making it easier to move and store goods around the world.
With 24-hour real-time tracking and monitoring of customer data, a dedicated team of experts offers each customer valuable insight into their inventory and any bottlenecks.
About 70% of customers say the Flexport platform allows them to make their decisions more strategic. You will also experience increased transparency of the supply chain and increased control over logistics.
Flexport aims to provide its customers with world class import and export services in terms of shipping, price adjustment, tracking and tracing. It also mediates customs agreements, reduces uncertainties and offers advisory support in uncertain times.
# 6.Best cybersecurity startup – Sumo Logic, founded in 2010
Sumo Logic provides organizations with secure, multi-cloud support and real-time visibility into some of the most popular cloud applications on the market. Focused on operational security and visibility, Sumo Logic tracks big data, compliance, and business intelligence (BI) use cases to help organizations make more informed and informed decisions – especially when it comes to cybersecurity.
The Sumo logo is both proactive and forward-looking, enabling companies to not only identify problems through machine learning, but also to investigate those problems and implement rapid problem mitigation.
This startup also offers cloud-neutral SIEM tools and solutions for security intelligence and event management (SIEM) that give the security of your infrastructure both freedom and flexibility.
# 7.Best Ground Travel Rewards Startup – Miles, founded in 2016
Miles is a rewards program that allows users to earn ground miles on exclusive rewards and offers from some of today’s hottest brands. Miles are earned based on travel, and users earn points as they travel to everyday destinations on foot, bike, or bike.
Within the app, users don’t have to log miles and don’t even have to open the app regularly.
# 8.Best recruiting startup – GoodTime, founded in 2016
GoodTime is focused on delivering the best candidate experience possible so that top candidates can automatically schedule an interview and streamline the administrative process. Not only will this remove “unconscious biases” from the hiring process, but it will also allow hiring managers to spend more time finding candidates who really fit the role they are trying to fill. More time is spent on meaningful discussions, less time coordinating meetings and interviews.
GoodTime integrates with existing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are known to filter 80% to 90% of the top candidates from the market. Through this integration, talents are better tracked and filtered, taking them into account for future positions if they are a better match.
This platform also gives companies access to candidate data, which gives them more detailed information on the hiring process. Increasing transparency gives them everything they need to make more informed hiring decisions. They will understand more clearly where the cycle is falling short and what better things they can do to minimize high turnover rates with increased retention.
# 9.Best pet friendly startup – Fuzzy, founded in 2016
Fuzzy is known as “The Pet Parent Company” because it helps pet owners better care for their furry friends. Once upon a time, Fuzzy’s list of quality veterinarians made home visits to pets in need. But sometimes even a home call can’t come quickly enough.
Time is of the essence when pets are in trouble, but it’s usually quite a stressful situation. And sometimes the emotional reactions of the owners can tarnish the best decision. Veterinary visits, especially emergency medical visits, are also very expensive, although most of us would spend our last penny to help our pet.
Fuzzy helps eliminate the debilitating costs associated with emergency visits. In fact, all of the veterinarians’ staff are available 24/7 for pets in need. The company is making visits to the vet more convenient for both pet patients and their owners. It offers health and wellness support, treatment advice and empowerment in difficult times.
In addition to its major television services, Fuzzy also offers a variety of pet care items, including medication, preventive supplies, and veterinarian approved subscription boxes.
Learn more about startups
Keeping an eye on big-name startups will help you stay up to date on industry trends, especially in the industries you want to invest in.
Learn how to invest in startups to better educate your financial strategy. And if you’re looking for interesting startups across the country, check out our other ranking content, like Best Tech Startups in Detroit, Miami, and Chicago.