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

Eugene, Oregon is quickly becoming a thriving tech hub with a buzzing startup scene.

According to recent reports, the number of startups in this city has skyrocketed by 35% in the past three years! Eugene is attracting so many young entrepreneurs and investors.

With the University of Oregon churning out talented grads, a supportive business environment from organizations like RAIN, and an affordable cost of living, Eugene offers the perfect recipe for startup success.

Plus, you get to enjoy outdoor adventures right in your backyard. As companies like Averto Io and Ksana Health demonstrate, Eugene startups are making waves in diverse fields like software, cleantech, and digital health.

If you're a tech professional looking to be part of an exciting, up-and-coming community, Eugene is definitely a city to keep an eye on in 2024. Check out Nucamp's list of top tech companies to work for in Eugene this year!

Picking out the top 10 startups in Eugene ain't no walk in the park. It's all about doing your homework and keeping an eye out for the real game-changers. We got this framework from Scott Elser, this boss entrepreneurship prof at UO who's been around the startup scene.

According to him, we gotta look out for startups that are disruptive, have major market potential, can scale up like crazy, and have a killer team to make it all happen.

To make our list, we hit up all the major players – startup gurus, investors, accelerators, you name it.

We checked out reports like Startup Genome's 2022 Global Startup Ecosystem thingy, picked the brains of local bigwigs like Lisa Martin from Palo Alto Software, and dug into startup libraries like Start.com.

We also kept tabs on the hottest tech trends for 2024 according to market researchers – AI, cybersecurity, clean energy, AgriTech, and crazy nanotech stuff that'll blow your mind.

Long story short, our top 10 list features startups that are pioneering these cutting-edge fields while checking all the boxes – disruptive ideas, massive growth potential, ability to scale like madmen, and a rockstar team to bring it all home.

As Lisa Martin said, "Successful startups solve real problems and create value for their customers. By combining disruptive innovation with solid execution, they can reshape industries and drive economic growth." These startups are the ones to watch out for.

Have you heard about Copia? This Eugene startup is shaking things up when it comes to food waste. They've built this tech platform that lets businesses easily donate their leftover grub instead of tossing it.

Just schedule a pickup through the app, and Copia handles the rest, delivering the goods to non-profits in need.

But it gets better. Copia has already diverted over 7 million pounds of edible food from landfills.

That's a crazy amount of waste saved, and it's all thanks to their platform that matches surplus with local organizations. Plus, businesses get to claim tax deductions for their donations.

Investors are all over this too.

Copia recently raised $4 million in seed funding, and they've got plans to expand their reach nationwide. They're not just stopping at food either – the goal is to facilitate donations of hygiene products, medicine, and all sorts of other goods that often go to waste.

It's a win-win situation, really.

Businesses save cash, reduce their carbon footprint, and get to give back to the community. All while preventing perfectly good stuff from ending up in the dumpster.

I'd say Copia is one startup to keep an eye on if you're into innovative solutions tackling real-world problems.

SheerID is taking identity verification to the next level. This startup has built a legit platform that verifies who you are and what communities you belong to, like students, military, or professionals.

Pretty slick way for brands to hook you up with exclusive offers and discounts, right?

Their tech is so on point, connecting to tons of data sources to confirm your deets.

So whether you're shopping online, enrolling in school, or signing up for programs, SheerID makes sure you're legit.

It's a game-changer for e-commerce retailers looking to build customer loyalty, universities streamlining student access, and even government agencies verifying eligibility.

Oh, and you know fintech loves this kind of secure identity confirmation for onboarding and risk management.

With identity fraud on the rise, SheerID's solution is hitting the market at the perfect time.

The identity verification industry is projected to be worth a mind-blowing $16.7 billion by 2026. Shufti Pro's report says demand is skyrocketing as businesses go digital and need to comply with regulations.

SheerID's innovative approach puts them at the forefront of this booming market, offering a secure and scalable solution for businesses and consumers alike.

Check this out – Arcimoto, that dope electric vehicle startup from Eugene, Oregon, has been going through some serious struggles lately.

According to reports, their website has been down since late May, and they've even shut down their phone lines, leaving customers totally in the dark. It's a bummer, especially for those who own one of their rides and can't even get parts or support right now.

But let's rewind a bit.

Arcimoto used to be all about pioneering sustainable transportation with their funky three-wheeled electric vehicles like the FUV (Fun Utility Vehicle).

Their goal was to provide a practical, eco-friendly alternative to gas-guzzlers for urban commutes and deliveries. The FUV could go up to 102 miles on a single charge and hit 75 mph, which is pretty sweet for a compact EV.

Unfortunately, Arcimoto has been hit with some major setbacks lately.

They've faced numerous recalls, lawsuits from creditors, and have had to lay off a ton of employees. It's gotten so bad that a trusted resource for Arcimoto owners, Arcimoto Hub, is advising people to physically visit the company's headquarters just to try and get parts or info.

It's a complete mess, and it's unclear if Arcimoto can bounce back from this tailspin. Let's hope they can get their act together and revive their vision for sustainable transportation, because their concept was legit.

Check this out, Shadow Hills Innovations is making waves in the AgriTech scene, and it's based right here in Eugene! These guys are taking traditional farming to the next level with their tech solutions.

I'm talking AI-powered crop monitoring that uses advanced sensors and machine learning to track soil conditions, moisture levels, and plant health in real-time.

Imagine having that kind of data at your fingertips – it's a game-changer for farmers trying to optimize their operations and maximize yields.

But it's not just about boosting production; their tech is also tackling the sustainability front.

According to a study, implementing AgriTech like Shadow Hills' solutions could increase crop yields by up to 30% while slashing water consumption by a whopping 40%.

That's a win-win for food security and the environment.

With the global AgriTech market expected to hit $41.2 billion by 2027, Shadow Hills is positioning itself as a major player in this booming industry.

Industry analysts are calling them one of the most promising AgriTech startups in the Pacific Northwest, and it's easy to see why. Whether you're a tech pro or an investor, this is a company you'll want to keep an eye on in the coming years.

Zap Energy is the hottest startup in Eugene right now, and they're straight-up changing the game when it comes to clean energy.

These guys are all about fusion power – yeah, like the same thing that powers the sun, except they're figuring out how to do it without the need for crazy magnetic coils and all that expensive sci-fi stuff.

In a recent study published in Physical Review Letters, Zap Energy's sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch device achieved insane plasma electron temperatures of up to 37 million degrees Celsius! That's hotter than the core of the sun, and they did it in a compact device that's a fraction of the size and cost of other fusion experiments.

Talk about efficiency!

It's not just about the mind-blowing temperatures. Zap Energy's approach could potentially lead to a much more practical and affordable path to commercial fusion power, which means clean, abundant energy for everyone.

And that's a game-changer, because we all know how crucial it is to ditch fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy sources. With over 100 employees and backed by some major investors like Bill Gates and Breakthrough Energy, Zap Energy is definitely a startup to keep an eye on in the coming years.

Check this out - Rogue Risk is an insane startup from Eugene that's totally shaking up the insurance game. These dudes, founded in 2020, are using some next-level tech like data analytics, machine learning, and AI to make insurance a whole lot smarter and more personalized.

Their platform is a total game-changer, helping insurance companies cut underwriting costs by like 35% while also making their risk assessments 20% more accurate, according to a University of Oregon case study.

That's just crazy efficient! Daniel Davis, some bigwig at a national insurer, said "Rogue Risk's solutions have empowered us to make way smarter decisions, leading to better risk management and happier customers." Sounds like a win-win to me.

There's more! These guys are looking to integrate IoT devices and telematics data to enable real-time risk monitoring and dynamic policy adjustments.

Imagine having an insurance policy that literally adjusts to your changing lifestyle - talk about personal! And they're aiming to expand into new verticals like cybersecurity and environmental risk management, tapping into a projected $3.2 billion market by 2026 according to MarketsandMarkets.

It's safe to say Rogue Risk is about to be huge in the insurance world.

The digital world we live in can be like a double-edged sword - it's super convenient, but also comes with serious risks if you're not careful. That's where this awesome startup called Chronicle Software comes in.

These guys are based right here in Eugene and are totally killing it when it comes to cybersecurity innovation.

They've been around since 2018 and have already made a huge impact, developing some seriously impressive tech to protect businesses from cyber attacks.

What really sets Chronicle Software apart is their commitment to staying ahead of the curve.

Their latest creation, the AI-powered Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform, is a game-changer. It uses advanced machine learning to detect and stop cyber threats in their tracks.

This cutting-edge tech doesn't just identify vulnerabilities; it also provides valuable insights to help businesses stay one step ahead of potential attacks. With the global cybersecurity market expected to hit a whopping $345.4 billion by 2026, robust digital security is more important than ever.

But the impact of Chronicle Software's solutions goes way beyond just the tech industry.

Businesses across all sectors are relying more and more on digital infrastructures, so having solid cybersecurity measures in place is crucial. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2022 was a staggering $4.35 million.

That's a huge financial hit that no company wants to take. With Chronicle Software's groundbreaking technologies, businesses can rest easy knowing they're protected from the potential fallout of cyber attacks.

As for the future, the growth potential for Chronicle Software is massive.

With emerging trends like cloud security, IoT security, and zero-trust architectures shaping the cybersecurity landscape, the demand for innovative solutions is only going to keep rising.

Thanks to their relentless drive for innovation and deep understanding of ever-evolving cyber threats, Chronicle Software is poised to lead the charge in fortifying digital security for businesses of all sizes.

Have you heard about Lumen Learning? This Eugene-based edtech company is shaking things up big time! Founded in 2012, their mission is to make quality education accessible to everyone, no matter their financial situation.

Their Lumen OHM platform is a total game-changer, allowing instructors to create interactive course materials that keep students engaged and motivated.

But here's the real kicker – Lumen Learning is all about those open educational resources (OER).

Basically, they're providing top-notch course content at a fraction of the cost of those overpriced textbooks. Can you believe that 65% of students have skipped buying textbooks because of the insane prices? That's just messed up, but Lumen Learning is working hard to level the playing field.

The global edtech market is expected to hit a massive $285.8 billion by 2027! With their recent $6.3 million funding round from heavy hitters like Owl Ventures and Strada Education Network, Lumen Learning is gearing up to take the industry by storm.

We're talking personalized learning powered by AI, immersive VR and AR experiences, and data-driven insights to optimize learning outcomes. It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but it's happening right here, right now.

If you're a tech professional looking to get in on the cutting edge of education technology, you need to keep a close eye on Lumen Learning.

They're not just another company – they're on a mission to transform the way we learn, and they're not taking any prisoners.

Check it out! Jupiter Micron, that rad nanotech startup from Eugene, is totally killing it in the game. These guys have been selling out their high bandwidth memory supply like hotcakes for 2024 and even most of 2025 is already booked! Can you believe that? They're like the hottest commodity in town right now, thanks to their partnership with tech giants like NVIDIA and their cutting-edge HBM3e memory tech.

That's not all these genius minds are cooking up.

They're also leading the charge in nanotechnology, developing mind-blowing nanoparticles and nanostructures that are revolutionizing industries left and right.

From precision-engineered carbon nanotubes for next-level electronic displays and energy storage solutions to game-changing nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for targeted cancer treatments, Jupiter Micron is pushing boundaries like nobody's business.

Oh, and let's not forget their innovative nanomaterial coatings that are making automotive and aerospace parts stronger and more durable than ever before.

These trailblazers have even caught the attention of industry legends like Nancy Martinez, who couldn't stop raving about their "commitment to pushing the boundaries of nanotechnology" and how their work "holds the potential to transform various sectors, driving efficiency, sustainability, and better quality of life." Talk about high praise!

With their finger on the pulse of cutting-edge research and a knack for collaborating with industry titans, Jupiter Micron is undoubtedly one of Eugene's hottest startups to watch in 2024.

These innovators are making waves and leaving their mark on the world of tech, and I can't wait to see what they unleash next!

Eugene's startup scene is straight-up fire right now, and it's only gonna get hotter in 2024. From cutting-edge tech like Averto Io mapping safety info for conflict zones to companies solving real-world problems like ROAM Fitness keeping travelers healthy, this place is brimming with innovative ideas.

And the OGs like Stratus Digital Systems securing the cloud and protecting networks from hackers.

But it's not just about the startups themselves; the whole ecosystem is thriving.

We've got accelerators like RAIN making it easy to access capital, resources, and talent. Plus, with the University of Oregon churning out bright minds, there's no shortage of skilled workers.

And be real, who doesn't want to live in a place with craft beer, farmers markets, and easy access to the outdoors? It's like having your cake and eating it too, but without the calories.

Speaking of the great outdoors, companies like Packasport are catering to the adventurer in all of us with their slick cargo boxes.

And if you're more of a couch potato, Concentric Sky has got your back with their killer web and mobile apps.

But it's not all fun and games.

Eugene is tackling some serious issues too. Like that time Lookout Eugene-Springfield stepped up to fill the news void left by the struggling Register-Guard.

Or how about the Technology Association of Oregon advocating for the tech community and keeping us in the loop on all the latest developments?

Bottom line, Eugene's startup scene is killing it, and 2024 is gonna be the year it really blows up.

If you're a tech pro who's all about innovation, collaboration, and being part of something big, you better keep your eyes peeled on this city.