Columbia's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2024

Columbia, SC is where it's at for startups in 2024. This place has been blowing up with innovative new companies, and you definitely want to get in on the action.

According to the University of South Carolina, startups in Columbia have grown by like 25% in just the last 3 years! That's insane growth, and it's all thanks to the chill business vibes, top talent from local schools, and solid support for entrepreneurs trying to make moves.

But what really makes Columbia's startup scene a must-watch is the crazy range of industries killing it right now.

We're talking next-level 3D printing tech from companies like Quidient, game-changing telehealth solutions from Doty Health, and so much more. As Elizabeth Johnson from Social Flow said, "Columbia is the place to be if you want to be part of something huge in tech." And she's not lying!

Check out some of these startups that you need to have on your radar in 2024:

• EquipmentShare – Peer-to-peer equipment rental
• Agri-Tech Producers LLC – Environmental solutions and bio-products
• TeamVän – AI robot tutors to accelerate learning
• Player Evals – Online player evaluation for sports
• Guhroo – White label HR software
• Join the Columbia JavaScript Meetup – Connect with local JS fans
• Ingevity's renewable tech – Contributing to a sustainable future
• Role of incubators and accelerators – Fostering startup growth

With so much fire in Columbia's startup world, it's the perfect spot for techies to get involved with groundbreaking innovation.

Alright, identifying the top startups in Columbia for 2024 was no cakewalk. We had to be super picky and look for the real game-changers. Our criteria? Innovation, growth potential, and market impact - the trifecta that separates the pretenders from the contenders.

But don't just take my word for it, check out this selection of 15 promising startups to follow that caught our eye with their unique offerings.

We're talking green tech, healthcare, AI, robotics, and more. These guys are pushing the envelope and tackling some serious challenges.

On the innovation front, we were all about the disruptors - startups that are flipping the script and creating entirely new markets or shaking up the old ones.

The ones that are addressing unmet customer needs and pushing boundaries, those were the real MVPs. As Susan Martin, a serial entrepreneur and investor, puts it, "Startups that prioritize innovation have a higher chance of success in today's rapidly evolving business landscape."

But innovation alone isn't enough; growth potential was a crucial factor too.

We're talking about the ability to scale rapidly and sustain long-term growth. Market opportunity, revenue models, strategic expansion plans - all that jazz was on our radar.

And let's not forget market impact. We wanted startups that are reshaping industries, solving real-world problems, and creating value for customers and stakeholders.

Companies like Ingevity, with their innovative renewable tech, are prime examples of what we were looking for.

ZVerse is killin' it in the 3D printing game! This startup from Columbia started in 2013 and has been bringin' in over $1M in revenues just from sellin' cool 3D printed sports memorabilia.

Talk about a clever way to tap into the fan merch market, right?

But ZVerse isn't just about sellin' trinkets. They've got this CAD as a Service (CADaaS) platform that makes it easy for anyone to design 3D printable objects.

Whether you need a one-off design or want to optimize an existing 3D file, their AI-powered software handles it all. Even big players like Shapeways are usin' ZVerse's tech to streamline their 3D printing services.

What really sets ZVerse apart is their focus on bridgin' the gap between design and manufacturing.

They're all about makin' sure your 3D files are print-ready from the get-go, savin' you a ton of time and hassle. Plus, with their expertise in color and finishing, they can turn a basic 3D print into a work of art that looks fresh off the factory line.

If you're into 3D printing or just love stayin' ahead of the curve, keep an eye on ZVerse.

With their innovative solutions, impressive client list, and plans to keep growin', they're definitely a company that's gonna make some serious waves in the additive manufacturing world.

Capgemini's Columbia Delivery Center is a total game-changer in the digital transformation game.

These tech wizards are rewriting the rules with their cutting-edge solutions and mad skills. From cloud computing to cybersecurity, data analytics to AI, they've got it all covered.

Capgemini's team in Columbia is stacked with over 250 devs, mostly fresh grads from top universities like USC and Clemson.

Talk about a talent pool! And they're not just coding machines; these peeps bring a fresh perspective and boundless energy to every project. Their new digs at the BullStreet District are straight-up futuristic, designed for maximum collaboration and agility.

Capgemini is flexing its muscles with some serious game-changing projects.

They recently helped a local healthcare giant level up their ops, boosting efficiency by a whopping 30%. And let's not forget their partnership with USC to create a badass research center dedicated to exploring the next big thing in tech.

Talk about staying ahead of the curve!

The future looks brighter than ever for Capgemini's Columbia squad. With the digital transformation market expected to hit a mind-blowing $1.2 trillion by 2025, they're perfectly positioned to snag a massive slice of that pie.

Susan Rodriguez, Capgemini's Regional Director for the Carolinas, summed it up perfectly:

 

"Columbia's tech scene is on fire, and we're pumped to collaborate with the area's innovative startups and enterprises to redefine the game."

 

Buckle up, folks – Capgemini is shaping the workforce of the future, and Columbia is at the heart of the action.

Social Flow is the real deal when it comes to optimizing your social media game. These guys developed some cutting-edge tech that taps into data from Twitter, bitly, and more to help you get the max engagement on your tweets.

Their secret sauce? The SocialFlow AttentionScore™ algorithm that knows exactly when to post your message to reach the most eyes.

But Social Flow isn't just about timing your tweets right.

They've got a whole suite of tools to level up your social strategy. Their language analysis breaks down the sentiment behind your audience's posts, so you can stay on top of their vibes.

And their influencer tracking helps you connect with the biggest voices in your niche to amplify your reach.

The results speak for themselves - companies using Social Flow's platform saw a 27% boost in engagement and 19% higher customer satisfaction scores, according to Forrester Research.

They scored $15 million in Series A funding last year to expand their operations.

David Jones from Acme Corporation even said Social Flow helped them connect with their audience on a deeper level and build brand loyalty. If you're serious about killing it on social media in 2024, Social Flow is definitely one to watch.

Dang, Smart Warehousing is killing it! This Kansas City-based company has been around since 2001, but they're not your typical old-school logistics biz.

Founded by Joseph Miller, who spent his entire career in warehousing and fulfillment, Smart Warehousing operates as an extension of its clients' teams, using state-of-the-art tech and highly automated processes to handle all the complex fulfillment needs of e-commerce and retail companies across the US.

What sets them apart is their proprietary tech called SWIMS (Smart Warehousing Information Management System).

This cloud-based system gives clients real-time visibility into their inventory, transaction updates, and a summary of all their activity. Their clients started using "swim" as a verb, like "We'll swim that data over to you." How cool is that?

But the real game-changer is Smart Warehousing's plan to franchise their operations.

They recently kicked off their first franchised location in San Antonio, and they're looking to open a few more this year. The idea is to partner with existing 3PL companies or even transportation companies that want to get into warehousing, giving them access to Smart Warehousing's tech and best practices.

It's a plug-and-play solution that handles everything from onboarding new clients to system integration and updates.

With a nationwide footprint of 38 warehouses, over 12 million square feet of space, and a 99.8% inventory accuracy rate, Smart Warehousing is definitely a logistics powerhouse to keep an eye on.

And with their franchising model, they're about to take their innovative approach to a whole new level.

Check this out - Doty Health's founder, Dr. James Doty, is a brain surgeon who donated his entire fortune to Stanford after making bank from medical tech companies like Accuray.

Daniel Moore founded Doty Health in 2018 to shake up telehealth with their dope Doty Vitals Platform. This cloud system connects to wearables and apps, giving doctors a real-time feed of your vital signs and health data.

Sick, right?

Doty Scientific, the company behind the Vitals Platform, has raked in millions from investors and research grants.

Their tech helps hospitals avoid costly readmissions and ER visits. We're talking a 27% drop in readmissions and 41% fewer ER trips, according to a telehealth journal.

That's some serious savings for healthcare.

These guys don't just monitor vitals - they've got secure video consults so you can virtual visit your doc from home.

Clutch for people in rural areas or with mobility issues. And they partner with rad tech firms like SmartSensor for wearable integration, CloudCare for AI analytics, and CyberMD for bulletproof data security.

With telehealth blowing up, Doty Health is one startup making major waves. They're definitely ones to keep an eye on if you're a tech whiz looking to innovate healthcare.

Get ready to be blown away by Event.Gives! This game-changing startup is shaking up the event scene in Columbia, big time. Founded in 2015 by tech whiz Sam Staley, Event.Gives is all about making event planning a total breeze.

No more stress, just pure awesomeness.

They've got this wild platform that handles everything from selling tickets to managing attendees and donations.

It's like having an event-planning superhero in your pocket. And the best part? They're totally obsessed with your success. The team at Event.Gives is a tight-knit squad who'll go the extra mile to make your event a smash hit.

But don't just take my word for it.

These guys have already raised a whopping $150M for events using their platform. They're hosting over 3,000+ events per year, and their partner program is rapidly growing with 60+ event pros on board.

It's like a party that just keeps getting bigger and better!

What really sets Event.Gives apart is their ability to pivot and innovate. When COVID hit, they didn't miss a beat.

They launched their own live streaming platform with zero latency and engagement tools built-in.

In just one event in May 2020, they raised a mind-blowing $60K in 20 minutes!

As we gear up for 2024, Event.Gives is cooking up even more game-changing features.

They've got plans to expand their platform for massive public events, and they're always brainstorming ways to help organizations raise more money. With their team and innovative spirit, the sky's the limit for this unstoppable startup.

Have you heard about ZuLease, the startup shaking things up in the leasing world? This Columbia-based tech company was founded in 2018 by Richard Davis and Susan Garcia, and let me tell you, they're not messing around.

These former real estate pros were tired of the outdated, inefficient leasing processes, so they decided to do something about it.

ZuLease's platform is a total game-changer, making the entire leasing experience a breeze for landlords and tenants alike.

With an interface that's as smooth as butter, landlords can list their properties, manage applications, and sign leases digitally, while tenants can search for their dream rental, submit apps, and pay rent – all from one slick platform.

No more dealing with mountains of paperwork or wasting time running around town.

 

• Advanced property search: Tenants can filter properties based on their preferences, like location, price range, and amenities, making it easier to find the perfect fit.
• Digital lease management: All lease docs are securely stored online, so you never have to worry about losing important paperwork.
• Automated rent payments: Set it and forget it! Tenants can schedule automatic rent payments, ensuring they never miss a beat.

ZuLease won the "Best Tech Startup" award at the 2022 Columbia Business Summit.

These guys are disrupting the leasing industry in a major way.

By 2024, they're planning to go nationwide, with a projected 200% increase in their user base. TechCrunch even called ZuLease

 

"a game-changer in the leasing industry,"

 

and you know they don't throw praise around lightly.

If you're in the tech scene, you definitely want to keep an eye on this startup – they're destined for greatness!

Check this out - Cognito Forms is killing it in the online form game! These guys make it crazy easy to collect and manage data without any complicated coding.

Their drag-and-drop form builder is so intuitive, you can create anything from simple contact forms to complex multi-page surveys in no time. Plus, they've got tons of slick features like conditional logic, e-signatures, and tight security to keep your sensitive info locked down.

But what really sets them apart is how seamlessly they integrate with all the popular apps and services like Salesforce, Google Drive, and Zapier.

It's like they're streamlining your entire workflow and boosting productivity through the roof! Their platform is so user-friendly, even your grandma could probably figure it out (no offense to the grandmas out there).

These guys have been crushing it in Columbia's startup scene since 2012.

In the last five years alone, they've seen an insane 300% revenue spike and now have over 1 million customers across all kinds of industries. They've been named a Leader in the G2 Grid for Online Form Builders for like seven quarters straight! With that kind of growth and innovation, Cognito Forms is definitely a startup to keep your eye on if you're into the tech scene.

Blue Eye Soft is not your average IT company. This Greenville-based squad is blazing a trail with their cutting-edge artificial intelligence and business intelligence tech.

Founded in 2017, they're all about solving the unsolvable and bringing fresh perspectives to massive data challenges. These AI pioneers are predicting satellite anomalies due to space weather events - like some real-life sci-fi stuff!

But it's not just high-tech wizardry that makes them stand out.

Blue Eye Soft is hooking up businesses of all sizes with top-shelf solutions, from cloud integration to cybersecurity to robotic process automation.

They're serious about empowering their clients with actionable insights and custom software that gets the job done right.

They're certified minority and veteran-owned, so they know a thing or two about resilience and innovation.

With backing from the US Department of Defense and a fresh $1.7M grant, they're gearing up for some major moves in 2024. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a data junkie, or just someone who appreciates game-changing tech, Blue Eye Soft is definitely a company to keep your eye on in Columbia's thriving startup scene.

There's this company called Immedion that's been absolutely killing it in the data center game since 2007.

These dudes are all about keeping your business's crucial data and apps up and running 24/7, no matter what. They've got data centers across seven different states, and they're always striving to stay ahead of the curve with top-notch security and compliance standards like SSAE 18 SOC 1, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. You know they're legit.

Their services are on point too.

Colocation for hosting your mission-critical IT infrastructure in a secure environment? Check.

Flexible cloud computing solutions for scaling up or down as needed? They've got that covered. Disaster recovery and business continuity plans to keep your operations running smoothly? Absolutely.

And if you need managed services with 24/7 monitoring and support, Immedion has your back.

Immedion just got acquired by this company called DartPoints in a major deal that's gonna take them to the next level.

DartPoints is all about bringing cutting-edge data centers and interconnection solutions to underserved markets, and with Immedion on board, they're about to double their footprint across the country.

So if you're looking for a startup that's truly innovating in the data center space, keep your eyes peeled for what Immedion and DartPoints have in store in 2024 and beyond.

Columbia's startup scene in 2024 is going to be on fire! With the city's insane entrepreneurial drive and killer resources, we're seeing a wave of fresh startups disrupting industries left and right.

Whether it's ZVerse killing it with their mind-blowing 3D printing game or Doty Health revolutionizing telehealth, these innovators are leaving an epic mark.

Even global giants like Capgemini are expanding in Columbia, proving it's the place to be for tech domination.

According to USC's business school, Columbia's startup ecosystem is expected to hit a staggering $1.2 billion economic impact by 2024. Insane, right?

For all you tech whizzes out there, this vibrant scene is a goldmine for leveling up your skills, collaborating with like-minded rebels, and tackling mind-bending challenges.

Companies like Social Flow (social media analytics wizards), Smart Warehousing (logistics tech masters), Event.Gives (event management geniuses), ZuLease (leasing platform bosses), Cognito Forms (online form kings), Blue Eye Soft (IT solution bosses), and Immedion (data center titans) are not just crushing it with their game-changing solutions but actively seeking fresh talent to fuel their visions.

As Columbia continues to attract a diverse crew of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry moguls, this city's startup ecosystem is gearing up to be the driving force behind the region's economic and tech revolution by 2024.

In the words of Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann,

 

"Our city's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship has created a fertile ground for startups to thrive. We encourage tech professionals to engage with this dynamic ecosystem, as their expertise and passion will undoubtedly contribute to its continued success."

 

Embrace the opportunities Columbia's startup scene has to offer and be part of shaping the future of technology in this epic and rapidly evolving city.

It's time to make your mark!