Fifty top U.S. startups were recognized this past week in the 5th annual LinkedIn Top Startups list. The world’s largest professional network selected their top startups based on their own data that also revealed business sectors where startups are having their greatest success.
The startups they selected were identified in areas where demand for services and products were significantly increasing such as self-care, networking, financial management, and innovative technology that accelerates business growth and success.
Within the top 50 and in those growing areas, the five top startups are: Homeownership Better (#1) that tops the U.S. list for the second year in a row, followed by intelligence platform Gong (#2), beauty innovator Glossier (#3), communication app Discord (#4) and financial services company Brex (#5).
LinkedIn observed that many in their top 50 startups emerged in response to the pandemic, specifically those that offer new innovation associated with the future of work.
“We’re witnessing the Great Reshuffle – a moment where everyone is rethinking not just how we work, but why we work,” said Jessi Hempel, senior editor at large at LinkedIn. “The Top Startups on this year’s list are at the forefront of what’s next, keeping employees productive and engaged, giving them flexibility in where, when and how they work, and offering mental health and wellness benefits to help prevent burnout and protect work-life balance.
LinkedIn grouped the top fifty in these trending areas:
SELF-CARE SOARS FOR BODY AND MIND:
Startups focusing on Physical and emotional well-being:
- Glossier (#3) offers easy-to-use skincare and makeup,
- Youth To The People (#8) provides superfood-based skincare,
- Daily Harvest (#14) makes healthy food delivery easier,
- Therabody (#18) offers tech-based wellness and massage products,
- Ritual (#26) delivers clean vitamins. and
- Papa & Barkley (#43) is a cannabis-themed spa, dispensary and consumption space.
Startups focusing on Digital health services:
- Ro (#27) is a telehealth platform,
- Hinge Health (#31) is a physical therapy provider, and
- Lyra Health (#37) is a virtual mental health platform.
Startups working on the Well-being of their employees as they navigate the future of work:
- Glossier (#3) offers employees “mental escape days,”
- Getaway (#38) provides monthly floating holidays and mandatory vacation days, and
- Catalyst Software (#39) covers 100% of the health care plan for all employees and their dependents.
CONSUMERS CRAVE MORE CONTENT AND CONNECTION:
Startups engaged in Demand for digital content:
- Overtime (#24) delivers original sports content,
- Songtradr (#13) helps get music licensed.
- MasterClass (#21) provides educational offerings across topics,
- Discord (#4) is a communication app,
- Clubhouse (#6) is an audio-based social app, and
- Cameo (#17) gives people new ways to keep in touch virtually.
MONEY TALKS:
Startups addressing Financial needs of consumers and businesses:
- Better (#1) assist in home ownership,
- Brex (#5) offers crypto rewards,
- Gravy (#12) handles Payment recovery,
- Ramp (#19) is a credit card company,
- BlockFi (#28) is a bitcoin rewards credit card, and
- Gemini (#41) is a cryptocurrency exchange platform.
FUTURISTIC TECH TESTS THE LIMITS OF POSSIBILITY:
Startup Innovators:
- Nuro (#34) builds self-driving vehicles,
- Neuralink (#33) is a neurotechnology company testing implantable brain-machine interfaces,
- Boom Supersonic (#35) is building aviation transportation,
- Relativity Space (#45) is an aerospace manufacturer doing 3D printing reusable rockets.
BETTER BUSINESS TOOLS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK:
Startups that are making businesses work better and more efficiently:
- Gong (#2) is an intelligence platform,
- Attentive (#7) is a sales engagement platform,
- Outreach (#9) is an e-commerce accelerator
- MikMak (#10) is an eCommerce marketing analytics and eCommerce enablement software,
- Dutchie (#36) is a cannabis technology platform,
- GitLab (#20) is a software writing platform,
- ClickUp (#42) is a task management platform,
- Superhuman (#44) is an email app,
- Innovaccer (#46) manages health care via SaaS.
The following round out the top ten of the Top 50 U.S. startups:
- Clubhouse (6) a new type of social network based on voice,
- Attentive (#7) a comprehensive personalized text messaging solution. 99% open rates, 30%+ click-through rates, and 25x+ ROI,
- Youth to the People (#8) a skincare line with unconventional superfood ingredients backed by innovative science,
- Outreach (#9) an integrated sales engagement platform,
- MikMak (#10) an eCommerce marketing analytics and eCommerce enablement software.
LinkedIn based their selection of its Top 50 Startups on the billions of actions taken by the 774+ million members on LinkedIn and a four-pillar methodology. The latter measures employment growth, engagement, job interest and talent attraction.
For a company to be eligible in the startups list, it must be independent and privately held, have at least 50 employees, be no more than seven years old, be headquartered in the U.S. and have a minimum of 15% employee growth over the time period. The evaluation period ran from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. See more of LinkedIn Companies List
