Get big quietly, so you don’t tip off potential competitors. – Chris Dixon, Investor
Digital transformation has a profound impact on business practices around the world. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs have become more flexible and creative in developing strategies to operate in an environment where less face-to-face interaction is required. This has led to the creation of a new generation of startups, some of which are some of the most interesting and unique ideas in different industries.
OnlyFans
Founded in: 2016
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Funding: Undisclosed
OnlyFans is an online platform and application created in 2016 to allow users to pay for content (photos, videos and live streams) with a monthly subscription. This content is often used by YouTubers, fitness trainers, models, content creators, and the general public to monetize their work. It is popular with content creators.
StackBlitz
Founded in: 2018
Headquarters: 2018
Funding: $7.9M
StackBlitz is a full-featured web IDE designed for JavaScript environments. Powered by WebContainers, a first-of-its-kind WebAssembly-based operating system that runs Node.js in milliseconds, in folders and in your browser tabs. Now you can use the web to build a web, quickly and without problems.
Linktree
Founded in: 2016
Headquarters: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Funding: $165.7M
Linktree offers a great way to post all the links you want to share with your audience. It is a link and bio solution that can be used on social platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. You should use Linktree to make finding your job, brand or business easy. Linktree creates user-friendly landing pages that support multiple links. You then add that link to that landing page in your Instagram bio to drive traffic to your site. Linktree’s plans are divided into two categories – the free level and the paid “pro” level.
Fandom
Founded in: 2004
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
Funding: $145.4M
Fandom‘s mission is to enhance and improve the fan experience by creating the best sports and entertainment environment, content, services and experiences. This site has more than half a million community with more than 250,000 fans of all kinds of sports. The vast amount of information on this site attracts gamers from all over the world, with 315 million monthly visitors engaging in discussions about gaming-related topics. In addition to games, we also offer a wide range of additional content covering everything from fantasy to pop culture. With an active and active user base, there has never been a better time to be a part of Fandom.
Lalamove
Founded in: 2013
Headquarters: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Funding: $2.5B
Lalamove is an Asia-based technology company that connects users and drivers through its mobile and web applications. The company operates in cities across Asia and Latin America, bringing together more than 7 million employees and 700,000 drivers. Lalamove works 24/7, so you can easily deliver whenever you want to send or receive them. We specialize in immediate and same-day delivery services, so you can rely on us to get your shipment where it needs to go. Easily manage all your deliveries with a mobile app or website.
Preply
Founded in: 2012
Location: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Funding: $100.1M
Preply connects language students with private tutors for private tutoring. Language learning takes place online in virtual classrooms. All you need is a computer, WiFi, and a little courage. Preply is an online platform that connects students with independent teachers through video chat. Preply started as a platform for teachers to help students prepare for the SAT. In recent years, it has started offering lessons in nearly 50 languages, as well as subjects such as hobbies and arts. It has an algorithm that uses machine learning to rate and recommend its teachers to its students based on their needs. Preply is for speaking practice, conversations with native speakers, language lessons, and more.
Labster
Founded in: 2011
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark
Funding: $150.5M
The open scholarship program with Labster started in 2020 because there is a need for it. But many teachers and students have discovered that online learning has its benefits. One of the most challenging areas of human education in the past two years has been laboratory work. The laboratory is considered one of the last areas of science that requires face-to-face teaching. Labster’s software development team has created 250 advanced virtual labs for students to test everything from DNA sequencing to cancer treatments. The famous gamified system has worked, 1,800 companies and 900,000 students worldwide use Labster in real laboratory work.
Oura Ring
Founded in: 2013
Headquarters: Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Funding: $143.3M
Oura Ring is a sleep monitor that collects data about your body, activity, and sleep using an optical heart rate monitor. It’s made of titanium, so it’s strong and looks great on your index, middle or ring finger. The device has sensors to track a variety of health metrics, which can be viewed on the company’s Oura app. Unlike other fitness trackers that only display your data, Oura provides daily numbers for sleep, activity and fitness to help you see how you’re doing each day.
Tailwind App
Founded in: 2012
Headquarters: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Funding; 10.7M
Creating content for social media and email marketing is made easy with one tool: Tailwind. Pinterest and Instagram layouts, decorative templates, SmartScheduler, and more. make it easier for brands to get out of the competition. Designing the tedious parts of the content creation process, such as hashtags, color schemes, and timing, allows businesses to focus on the ideas behind the posts. More than a million small businesses — like Script, Serena & Lily, Jenny Yoo, and even Shopify — use Tailwind.
Gumroad
Founded in: 2012
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
Funding: $16.1M
Gumroad is an online digital marketplace where anyone can buy and sell products or services. It was founded by former Pinterest creator Sahil Lavingia when he wanted to sell his photography brand. Not only is it easy to offer discounts, update product content, create discount codes and add partners, but it’s also easy to engage with your audience through emails, content drips, growing subscribers, and access to market data.
Conclusion
Expect this year to be an exciting time for startups as technological advancements and new software continue. Keep an eye out for the names on our list as they continue to do well and make a name for themselves in their industry.