Startup of the Year

Welcome to Our Startup Community
Home of the Startup of the Year® program, we are a community for startups to connect with mentors, investors, support organizations, and each other. This community has worked with diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs for over ten years to help push their companies to the next level.

Powered by Established®, we are a global community and network, an exciting competition and awards program, and a resource designed just for you. We're so glad you're here.

By scrolling below, you can find out what our Startup of the Year Community is all about and ways to become involved.
SXSW® was a hit!
Check out our playlist of videos from the Established® House (San Jac Saloon/Jack’s Upstairs) filled with authentic SXSW magic. Produced by Established, Startup of the Year, and Established Ventures; Sponsored by EcoMap Technologies.
What Can You Do Here?
Startups, Join Today!
STARTUPS
Join our Startup Community
Grow your business by:
Competing in our annual awards program to be the next Startup of the Year
Participating in Mentor/Investor Office Hours
Connecting via our Slack Community
Attending tailored events
Gaining access to opportunities from our Global Partners
Elevating your brand
Join our Community
INVESTORS
Join our Investment Community
Expand your portfolio by:
Becoming a Mentor and hosting Office Hours
Serving as a Judge for one or more of our events
Increasing your Deal Flow
Gaining insight into the best startups on the rise
Utilizing event-driven strategies as to expand your portfolio
Gaining private access to pre-vetted companies with curated 1:1s at our annual Summit
Become a Mentor
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
Join our Partner Network
Build your innovation community by:
Creating value as part of an expanding and collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem
Building brand awareness of your startups via our global investor and partner portfolio
Introducing your mission and capabilities to new, rising startups
Sharing expertise and data to drive results
Implementing beneficial co-marketing activities
Become a Partner Org
Recent Startup of the Year® Podcasts
Head here to catch all of the Startup of the Year Podcast episodes.
GameStop CEO, Author, and Entrepreneur, Gary Kusin Discusses His New Book, Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling Up from GameStop to Laura Mercier
Ep. #121 (4/30/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber is joined by Gary Kusin, Co-Founder of GameStop and Laura Mercier Cosmetics, former President and CEO of Kinkos, and author of his new book, Always Learning: Lessons on Leveling up from Gamestop to Laura Mercier.
Listen & Subscribe
Beyond the Buzzwords: How AI Can Be Leveraged to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Ep. #120 (4/26/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber introduces a panel of experts as they discuss the emergence of AI and how to utilize this new tool in support of entrepreneurial endeavors. This panel, which took place at the Established House at SXSW 2024, featuring insight from:
Sherrod Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecomap Technologies
Nicola Corzine, Founding CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Ryan Groves, CEO and Founder of Slyngshot
Brittany Sickler, Director, Ecosystem Development Division, U.S. Small Business Administration
Listen & Subscribe
Paulo Andrez, Author, Entrepreneur, and Investor, Discusses His New Book, Zero Risk Startup
Ep. #0119 (4/17/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, Frank Gruber interviews serial entrepreneur and unicorn investor, speaker, and author, Paulo Andrez as we’ll talk about his new book, Zero Risk Startup, which comes out in May 2024.
Listen & Subscribe
Arlan Hamilton, Investor, Entrepreneur, and Author, Explores Her New Book, Your First Million: Why You Don't Have to Be Born Into a Legacy of Wealth to Leave One Behind
Ep. #0118 (4/4/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Arlan Hamilton recorded live from the Established House at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Arlan is the Founder and Managing Partner at Backstage Capital and the author of her new book “Your First Million.” What’s amazing is that she launched a $20M+ fund from scratch while homeless. She has invested in 200+ companies led by underrepresented, underestimated founders.
Listen & Subscribe
Exploring Hands-Free Tech with Corten Singer of Augmental
Ep. #0117 (2/21/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear an interview with Corten Singer of Augmental, the winner of the CTA Foundation Pitch competition at CES 2024. Corten is the cofounder of Augmental, who recently launched the MouthPad, a Bluetooth-enabled intraoral interface for hands-free control of your computer, smartphone, and tablet. Learn more at: www.augmental.tech
Listen & Subscribe
Startup of the Year® Summit 2022
From Las Vegas and San Francisco to Boston, Memphis, and Tampa - we've hosted thousands of startups, investors, and innovators over the years. With more than a decade of producing and presenting events, our purpose behind gat,herings is steadfast in - building authentic connections and celebrating one another's successes. Of all of our events - spanning across CES, SXSW, Client conferences and activations, virtual competitions, webinars, investor ask-me-anythings, and much more -- our annual Summit is one of the most special - see it for yourself.

Watch the Startup of the Year Summit Finals recorded live in Tampa, FL in January 2022.

>> View past online events here.
2020 Startup of the Year® Competition
ELIGIBILITY
Have a founding date between 2014 and 2020 (fewer than 6 years old at time of application)
Have raised no more than $5MM USD (if funding is raised between application and the final competition, the Startup of the Year Team reserves the right to determine company participation)
Must have a live and viable product
Be an independent company (not a subsidiary)
STARTUP OF THE YEAR®
1. Attracts the most innovative, emerging startups from around the world - and has been since 2006. In doing so, we have had the pleasure of meeting and helping to amplify the stories of some great companies such as GrubHub, Groupon, LivingSocial, AddThis, Desk, and Uber.

2. Provides founders the opportunity to grow their startup to its best potential via a global network that includes investors, influencers, and a world-wide startup community.
- Check out the Daily Dealflow and Startup of the Year Podcast to learn how to get your startup in front of our global community.

3. Elevates inclusivity and embraces diversity; our 2019 competition had nearly 50% women or minority founders.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The Startup of the Year ® competition will culminate online from November 16 - 18, 2020 at our 8th Annual Summit.

1
Apply
All eligible applicants must apply through the centralized application. There is only one application. The conditional questions for the special .US Veteran Startup of the Year are within this application. Apply here.
2
Top 100 Selected
Established's network of external judges review the pool of eligible applications to carefully choose which startups to invite to join us as the Top 100.
3
8th Annual Summit
The 8th Annual Startup of the Year competition will culminate at our virtual Summit November 16 - 18, 2020.
The Top 100 will experience curated connections with Investors, Corporate Leads, and more. Past prizes have included potential investment, American Airlines Business Extra points, and more.

Stay in the Loop! Sign-up here.
4
1st Round of Pitches
Startups will compete in a private pitch and Q&A session with a small panel of renowned judges.
5
Top 5 Finalists
The Top 5 pitch Finalists will pitch to a virtual audience and a curated panel of judges at Summit.
6
Champion Announced
The 2020 Startup of the Year Champion will be announced!
Past Startup of the Year® Winners

re:3D
2019 Startup of the Year Winner
Houston & Austin, TX | San Juan, Puerto Rico

re:3D is committed to decimating the cost and scale barriers to industrial 3D printing. After pioneering the world’s first affordable, human-scale industrial 3D printer, they are now enabling 3D printing directly from reclaimed plastic pellets or flake.
Aperiomics
2018 Startup of the Year Winner | Established Ventures Portfolio
Sterling, VA

Aperiomics is revolutionizing the way that medical professionals around the world identify infections. Aperiomics identifies every known bacteria, virus, fungus, and parasite through Deep Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing, using our world renown database containing over 37,000 microbes. They help doctors and their patients identify the causes of infections that other tests cannot identify, thus streamlining the path to a positive clinical outcome.
Oska Wellness
2017 Startup of the Year Winner | Established Ventures Portfolio
Carlsbad, CA

Oska Wellness is committed to developing health and wellness technology-driven products that assist individuals in living a more active, pain-free lifestyle.

ShearShare
2016 Startup of the Year Winner | Established Ventures Portfolio
McKinney, TX

Connects salon and barbershop owners to individual beauty operators to fill unused salon suites and stations on a temporary basis, allowing salon and barbershop owners make money on their excess inventory.
Blendoor
2015 Startup of the Year Winner
San Francisco, CA

A blind recruiting app that facilitates job matching based on merit, not molds.

HIS Energy
2014 Startup of the Year Winner
Hampton, VA

Eliminating the cost and logistics associated with changing batteries in remotely located sensors.

Maxwell Health
2013 Startup of the Year Winner
Boston, MA

UPDATE July 2018: Maxwell Health acquired by Sun Life Financial June 2018.

The first ever operating system for employee benefits. Maxwell simplifies benefits, reduces costs, and improves employee health. Maxwell Health has gone on to raise over 69 million dollars in funding.
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