Spokane's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2025

Spokane is absolutely crushing it as a rising tech hub in 2025, with the manufacturing sector alone projected for 8% growth over the next five years.

The tech scene here is seriously taking off, especially with the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center leading innovation in advanced materials and manufacturing.

What makes this even cooler is how the city's combining tech with sustainability and healthcare innovation - creating a robust ecosystem where startups can thrive.

The aerospace tech initiatives are creating thousands of new jobs, particularly in software development, healthcare technology, and cybersecurity. Major companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and NASA are forming a strong tech consortium in the region.

The city's got this perfect mix of established companies and fresh startups, making it an incredible spot for tech professionals looking to make their mark. Whether you're into cybersecurity, healthcare technology, or cutting-edge software development, Spokane's tech scene is definitely worth watching - and maybe even joining.

Our evaluation of Spokane's most promising startups relied on a data-driven framework that draws from proven investment criteria, including innovation potential, market impact, and scalability.

We analyzed each company's technological solutions, market performance, and community contributions using a comprehensive scoring system. Research shows that successful startups typically demonstrate strong founder-market fit, problem-solving capabilities, and sustainable business models.

The selection process prioritized companies with solid growth metrics and innovative approaches.

According to ITONICS Innovation research, key evaluation factors include adoption costs, technological capabilities, and market integration potential.

We tracked job creation stats and economic impact—with Spokane's tech sector exhibiting impressive growth. Our analysis incorporated customer feedback and community engagement metrics, as startups with strong local connections outperform their peers.

Looking beyond basic metrics, we assessed each startup's potential for long-term success using benchmark criteria that include team quality, market opportunity, and financial sustainability.

The most promising startups demonstrated not just innovative products but also clear paths to profitability and scalable business models. These companies are transforming Spokane's tech landscape while creating real value for users.

Their success isn't just about cool technology—it's about building solutions that actually make a difference in our community and have the potential to expand nationally.

Safeguard Equipment is revolutionizing the electrical safety industry with their innovative personal safety technology. Based in Post Falls near Spokane, the company has experienced remarkable growth of about 50% in 2024, shipping approximately 100,000 products and expanding their active user base to 90,000.

Their journey began in 2016 when three University of Idaho graduates from families of electrical workers recognized a critical need for better safety equipment. Safeguard's flagship product, the Compass Pro Emergency Response System, now protects workers from electrocution hazards across multiple industries.

What sets Safeguard apart is their comprehensive approach to safety that combines prevention and emergency response features. The palm-sized devices clip onto hard hats and provide audio, sensory, and visual notifications whenever electrically charged surfaces are detected.

Their global expansion plan is bringing their technology to three European regions by year-end, with strategic partnerships already secured with Horizon Utility Supplies in the UK and Eurolaite Oy in Finland.

Early Spokane-based investors include Avista Foundation, Spokane Angel Alliance, and Cowles Ventures LLC, demonstrating strong local support for their mission. The company has set an ambitious goal to exceed $100 million in valuation within the next five years.

"We're anticipating 2024 to 2025 release dates for those co-development projects," says Tim Ledford, Safeguard's president, CEO, and co-founder, highlighting their ongoing innovation with industry leaders.

With their commitment to local manufacturing and assembly at their Post Falls facility, Safeguard Equipment is proving that innovative safety technology can thrive in the Inland Northwest while making a global impact.

Founded in 2018 by Joe Gellatly and Amanda Hepper, Medcurity has rapidly established itself as a leader in healthcare compliance technology. The Spokane-based company has experienced explosive growth, with its client portfolio increasing 650% since 2020, expanding from 40 clients in 150 locations to 300 clients in 1,800 locations.

Medcurity's AI-powered platform helps healthcare organizations navigate the complex landscape of HIPAA compliance with confidence. Their software provides comprehensive security risk analysis, customizable policies and procedures, and centralized management of Business Associate Agreements (BAAs).

What sets Medcurity apart is their innovative approach to combining artificial intelligence with healthcare expertise. The company recently received funding from the Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County to incorporate generative AI capabilities into their software, leading to more efficient, accurate, and timely security risk management.

Their customer base includes prestigious clients like Yale University, though most of their work supports midmarket community health centers, hospitals, and rural organizations. This focus on serving healthcare providers of all sizes has contributed to their remarkable growth trajectory.

The company has relocated three times in six years due to expansion and is now headquartered in downtown Spokane's Holley Mason Building, where the co-founders originally met while working at Inland Northwest Health Services.

As healthcare organizations face increasing cybersecurity threats, Medcurity's solutions are becoming essential tools for protection and compliance. Their work is helping establish Spokane as a hub for healthcare technology innovation while addressing critical needs in the industry.

Spiceology has emerged as one of Spokane's most successful consumer product startups, revolutionizing the spice industry with innovative blends and cutting-edge packaging. Founded in 2013 by Pete Taylor and Heather Scholten, the company has maintained impressive growth, achieving 222% growth over a recent three-year period and making the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for four consecutive years.

The company's success has been fueled by substantial investment, with Spiceology raising a total of $21.5 million over six funding rounds from investors including Cowles Company. This capital has enabled rapid expansion and innovation in their product lines.

In 2021, Spiceology opened a new 25,000-square-foot production facility at Playfair Commerce Park to increase the efficiency and volume of their processing operations. The move has positioned them for continued scaling and market growth.

What sets Spiceology apart is their chef-driven approach to product development and their innovative collaborations with culinary influencers. This strategy has helped them create unique flavor profiles and reach new audiences through targeted marketing.

The company offers over 200 spices, blends, herbs, chiles, salts, and modernist ingredients, catering to both professional chefs and home cooks. Their distinctive packaging, inspired by the periodic table of elements, has become instantly recognizable in the market.

As Spiceology continues to expand and innovate, they're demonstrating how a consumer products company from Spokane can successfully compete on a national scale, creating jobs and driving economic growth in the region.

SBLive Sports is revolutionizing high school sports coverage with its comprehensive digital platform. Founded in 2014 by Spokane native Dan Beach, the company secured almost $14 million in funding in April 2023 to continue its ambitious growth trajectory.

The company provides scores, schedules, statistics, rankings, articles, podcasts, and highlight videos across multiple states, filling a growing void in high school sports coverage as traditional newspapers reduce their local sports reporting.

Beach, who previously worked at ESPN as director of strategy for its mobile division, brought valuable experience in digital media and app development to the venture. Under his leadership, SBLive has built a team of 40 full-time employees and approximately 100 freelance reporters and photographers who provide comprehensive coverage of high school sports nationwide.

Strategic partnerships have been key to SBLive's success. In 2021, the company partnered with Sports Illustrated, giving them access to improved content management and advertising technology. This was followed by a corporate partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in 2022, strengthening their position in the high school sports market.

The company's innovative approach includes creating the SBLive Sports Data Hub, which makes sports content more accessible to coaches, players, fans, and media companies. Their mobile app and social media platforms engage millions of high school sports fans monthly, with traffic growth of over 100% year-over-year.

Based in downtown Spokane, SBLive Sports exemplifies how a media technology company can thrive in the region while serving a national audience. As they continue to expand their coverage to more states, they're creating valuable opportunities for tech professionals in the sports media space.

Gestalt Diagnostics is transforming the field of pathology through its innovative digital workflow solutions. The company was recognized as the "most disruptive" at the Ignite 25+5 Awards, highlighting its significant impact on healthcare technology.

Their platform enables pathologists to diagnose diseases faster and more efficiently through an intelligent, configurable, and vendor-neutral digital workflow. By leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, Gestalt is addressing critical challenges in pathology, including efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility.

According to The Tech Tribune, the company "transforms pathology through an intelligent, configurable, and vendor-neutral digital workflow that provides true interoperability enabling pathologists to diagnose diseases faster and more efficiently."

What sets Gestalt apart is their integration of cutting-edge AI technology with practical clinical applications. The company recently partnered with Pramana to enhance their solutions with AI and machine learning capabilities, including the development of new algorithms for mitotic cell counting.

As healthcare continues to digitize, Gestalt's solutions are becoming increasingly important for improving diagnostic processes and patient care. Their focus on interoperability ensures their platform can work seamlessly with existing hospital and laboratory systems.

Based in Spokane, Gestalt Diagnostics exemplifies how healthcare technology companies can thrive in the region while developing solutions with global impact. Their continued innovation in digital pathology positions them as a key player in healthcare technology and contributes to Spokane's growing reputation as a hub for medical innovation.

Founded in 2007, Scimitar Inc. has established itself as a leader in life sciences consulting and technology integration. The company recognized that life sciences organizations were relatively early in their operational maturity compared to established industries like automotive or consumer goods.

Scimitar brings best practices and innovative solutions to life sciences organizations through cutting-edge consulting and technology integration. Their expertise spans multiple dimensions, including strategy development, program management, strategic sourcing, organizational design, and change management.

What sets Scimitar apart is their deep understanding of the complete product and service value chain in life sciences. Their headquarters at 522 W. Riverside Avenue serves as a hub for innovation, where their team tackles complex challenges in biotechnology, biopharma, and medical devices.

The company has been recognized for its high-return solutions and strategic industry insights, having partnered with companies of all sizes over the past decade. This experience has helped establish Spokane as an emerging destination for life sciences technology.

Scimitar's focus on collaboration and growth has created an environment where professionals can thrive while working on transformative projects. With 14 certified employees holding a total of 24 certifications, they bring substantial expertise to every client engagement.

As highlighted in industry reviews, "Their remote-friendly work culture and emphasis on professional development make them particularly attractive to young professionals looking to make their mark in the biotech industry."

By combining technical expertise with deep industry knowledge, Scimitar continues to drive operational transformations and strategic initiatives across the drug product lifecycle, making them a vital player in Spokane's life sciences ecosystem.

OpenEye has established itself as an innovator in the design and development of cloud-managed software solutions for video management, business intelligence, and loss prevention. Based in nearby Liberty Lake, the company develops all of its platform software locally and manufactures many of its products in America.

Their OpenEye Web Services platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools that help businesses manage video surveillance, analyze customer behavior, and prevent losses. This cloud-based approach offers flexibility and scalability that traditional video management systems cannot match.

What sets OpenEye apart is their focus on creating solutions that not only secure facilities but also deliver actionable business intelligence. By analyzing video data, their systems can provide insights into customer patterns, operational efficiency, and potential security concerns.

The company continues to grow and bring in fresh talent, especially in software development, AI engineering, and customer success roles. Their office in Liberty Lake combines startup energy with the stability of an established tech company, making it an attractive workplace for technology professionals.

OpenEye's commitment to local development and manufacturing strengthens the regional economy while ensuring high-quality products for their customers. Their solutions are used across multiple industries, including retail, banking, education, and healthcare.

As video analytics and cloud-based security continue to evolve, OpenEye is well-positioned to lead innovation in this space. Their continued growth and development of new features demonstrate their commitment to staying at the forefront of video management and business intelligence technology.

Share Farm is a pioneering platform dedicated to transforming the agricultural supply chain through enhanced transparency and sustainability. The company is bridging the gap between underrepresented farmers and major food buyers, leveraging innovative technology to streamline the sourcing process.

Their mission extends beyond simple marketplace functionality – they're addressing fundamental issues in food systems by empowering small and diverse farmers who often face significant barriers to accessing larger markets. This approach supports both economic and environmental sustainability in agriculture.

Share Farm has established an impressive network of farm hubs that serve as both procurement centers and research facilities. By working directly with local farmers to create seasonal production plans, they're creating more predictable income streams for agricultural producers.

What sets them apart is their commitment to paying farmers premium prices for quality produce, creating a sustainable business model that benefits all stakeholders in the food system. This approach has attracted partnerships with e-commerce companies looking for high-quality, transparently sourced agricultural products.

The company's technology platform provides critical supply chain visibility, helping buyers track products from farm to table while giving farmers better access to markets. This transparency is increasingly important to consumers who want to know the origins of their food.

As a Spokane-based startup, Share Farm demonstrates how technology can address fundamental challenges in traditional industries like agriculture. Their innovative approach to combining tech solutions with sustainable farming practices positions them as a company to watch in the region's evolving startup ecosystem.

Threshold is revolutionizing the entertainment industry with its innovative approach to connecting artists with audiences. Based in Spokane, this small but ambitious team is building a Progressive Web App (PWA) that helps artists find their fans around the world and set up shows in their homes or businesses.

Their platform serves musicians, authors, subject-matter experts, and anyone with a fanbase, creating opportunities for more intimate and profitable performance experiences. What makes Threshold unique is their "humans-first" philosophy, which guides all aspects of their business model.

This commitment to putting people first led them to become a Public Benefit Corporation, establishing a charter that prioritizes the well-being of artists and audiences over pure profit motives. This socially conscious approach resonates with creators looking for more sustainable career paths in entertainment.

The company's vision addresses a critical challenge in the creative economy: helping talented artists earn a living wage without depending on traditional venues or intermediaries. By facilitating direct connections between creators and fans, Threshold is creating a more equitable entertainment ecosystem.

Their technology platform simplifies the logistics of organizing home shows, handling everything from fan discovery to booking and payment processing. This comprehensive solution removes barriers that have traditionally made home performances difficult to arrange and monetize.

As a Spokane startup with global ambitions, Threshold exemplifies how technology companies in smaller markets can develop innovative solutions with worldwide appeal. Their focus on creating sustainable income streams for artists makes them a company to watch in the evolving entertainment technology landscape.

RiskLens has established itself as a leader in cyber risk quantification and management, helping organizations understand and mitigate their cybersecurity risks in financial terms. The company is headquartered in Spokane with an additional office in Reston, Virginia, bringing advanced cybersecurity expertise to the Inland Northwest.

Their platform is based on the Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) model, an international standard for quantifying cybersecurity and operational risk. As the only software purpose-built on FAIR, RiskLens offers a unique approach to cyber risk management.

The company has gained significant traction in the marketplace, with over 30 percent of Fortune 1000 companies using their risk quantification methods. Their client base spans multiple industries, including retail, healthcare, hospitality, energy, and financial services.

What sets RiskLens apart is their ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into financial metrics that business leaders can understand and act upon. This approach bridges the gap between technical security teams and executive decision-makers, enabling more strategic investments in cybersecurity.

Their Risk Treatment Analysis capability allows security and risk managers to assess and compare different risk mitigation options, optimizing both spending and risk exposure. This data-driven approach is particularly valuable as organizations face growing cybersecurity threats with constrained budgets.

With cyber risks continuing to evolve and regulatory requirements increasing, RiskLens is well-positioned for continued growth. Their presence in Spokane strengthens the region's cybersecurity expertise and creates opportunities for technology professionals in this critical field.

The future of tech in Spokane is looking incredibly bright! Recent economic forecasts show that funding for startups is about to take off in 2025, with the startup community experiencing major growth.

The stats are pretty mind-blowing - Spokane's tech sector has grown significantly over the last decade, outpacing the national average. Local venture capital activity is increasing, with the Spokane Angel Alliance investing $5.45 million in 2023 alone.

What's really cool is that economic experts are predicting steady growth for 2025, even though it might be at a slower pace than before.

The best part? Tech companies are seriously investing in the region - just look at the health care tech sector, which is bringing thousands of new jobs to the area.

For anyone thinking about jumping into tech, Spokane's startup scene offers amazing opportunities to work with innovative companies that are actually making a difference.

With more networking events, mentorship programs, and collaboration happening through places like LaunchPad Inland Northwest, it's becoming easier than ever to break into the industry.

Plus, the cost of living here is way better than Seattle or San Francisco, making it perfect for young professionals looking to grow their careers without breaking the bank.