2020 Best Tech Startups in Columbus

August 21, 2019November 2, 2022 thetechtribune

The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best tech startups in Columbus, Ohio. In doing our research, we considered several factors including but not limited to:

Revenue potential
Leadership team
Brand/product traction
Competitive landscape

Additionally, all companies must be independent (unacquired), privately owned, at most 10 years old, and have received at least one round of funding in order to qualify.

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1. Root Insurance

Founded: 2015

Also honored in:

“Root is the first insurance company founded on the principle of fundamental fairness. We create personalized products that give good drivers the protection they deserve. At Root we only insure good drivers, and that is why our rates are always fair. Unlike other insurance companies, we do not bundle good drivers with bad drivers. Instead, we use data science to find and reward good drivers with the best rates. Root is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is an official carrier licensed by Ohio Department of Insurance, a member of the Ohio Guarantee Fund, and backed by the largest reinsurance company in the world.”

2. Olive

Founded: 2012

Also honored in:

“Olive is on a mission to build meaningful artificial intelligence that empowers and scales humans to achieve more than ever before. We are pioneers working to make the AI revolution both powerful and beneficial to humankind. We are putting a blue collar on AI and letting it do what machines can do best– and leaving the tasks that require creativity, empathy, and passion to people.”

3. Beam Dental

Founded: 2012

Also honored in:

“Beam Dental is a dental benefits company that offers employers a fundamentally unique approach to dental coverage by incorporating dental hygiene behavior into policy pricing while delivering world class support and service. All of Beam’s plans also include Beam Perks, a quarterly subscription service with an electric toothbrush, replacement heads, toothpaste, and floss. Beam makes it easy to find and access dental services with the tap of a finger from a broad, nationwide network of dentists.”

4. PriorAuthNow

Founded: 2014

“PriorAuthNow’s powerful, secure software works with your EHR system and connects directly with all insurance carriers, making it the fastest, most economical way to submit, monitor and complete prior authorizations. We eliminate the need for lengthy phone calls, going to many different payer sites, and filling out the many different authorization forms – saving providers and their staff countless administrative hours.”

5. READY Robotics

Founded: 2016

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Ohio

“READY Robotics empowers manufacturers to be more competitive through our line of easy-to-use industrial robotic systems. Our robotic solutions require minimum installation downtime, no robotic experience necessary and no Capital Expenditure needed. We deploy Robots as a Service.”

6. Columbus Collaboratory

Founded: 2014

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Columbus

“The Columbus Collaboratory is a rapid innovation company founded by leading companies in seven different industries that delivers business value through advanced analytics and cybersecurity solutions. Our unique model surfaces shared, complex challenges, and operationalizes cognitive and machine-learning technologies for our member companies and the broader market. We make this possible by capitalizing on the collective know-how possessed by our team, our membership, and our partners.”

7. Aware

Founded: 2017

Also honored in:

“Aware aims to adopt the latest advancements in cognitive computing, artificial intelligence and behavioral analytics to amplify enterprise value by monitoring the social graph (Office 365, Slack, Workplace by Facebook).

Our flagship product, Aware Risk Management, extends traditional governance and compliance technologies by providing human-centric insight to enhance employee engagement and reduce the risk of unsafe behavior on enterprise collaboration tools.”

8. Vantage Point Logistics

Founded: 2011

“If you’re a hospital, university or research institution and you’re not working with VPL, there’s a good chance you’re paying too much for your inbound shipping. Unlike other freight management companies who work exclusively with one carrier, VPL works with all of the major carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL and more), helps to find the best rates for you, and then allows you to manage your own carrier contracts to control your costs and receive any earned volume discounts. These practices have earned VPL a reputation in the industry for honesty, accountability, and the desire to ensure our clients always receive the best shipping services for the lowest possible price.”

9. nChannel

Founded: 2011

Also honored in:

“nChannel provides an easy-to-use, cloud-based platform that enables retailers to cost effectively synchronize and exchange sales, customer, and product data from transactions that occur at the register, in the warehouse, or via a web-store. The system is sold direct to subscribers via the nChannel website, but is also available through nChannel’s network of value-added resellers. Software developers can also partner with nChannel to provide connectivity from their software applications to the nChannel platform, further providing value to retailers.”

10. Acceptd

Founded: 2011

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Columbus

“Acceptd better connects applicants with opportunity and streamlines the recruiting and review process for visual and performing arts programs. We believe the right opportunity should be accessible to any applicant regardless of geography or socio-economic status.”