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

1. Revenue potential
2. Leadership team
3. Brand/product traction
4. 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. VNN

Founded: 2012

“The largest, fastest-growing high school sports marketing and media network. Partnered with over 12% of the nation’s high schools, VNN connects local sports communities together.”

2. CertifID

Founded: 2017

“CertifID instills trust in the funding process through real-time identity and account credential verification.

CertifID was founded by Lawrence Duthler and Tom Cronkright, experienced attorneys and award-winning business leaders of Sun Title, one of Michigan’s largest title agencies which has been ranked as an Inc. 5000 company for the past four consecutive years. In 2015, Sun Title fell victim to a social engineering fraud that cost the company nearly $200,000. The fraud, which stemmed from an elaborate transaction scheme that took place over two months exposed Tom and Lawrence to the level of industry knowledge fraudsters acquired.”

3. PhotoUp

Founded: 2012

Also honored in: 2018 Best Tech Startups in Grand Rapids

“PhotoUp is a proprietary digital platform that empowers a community of professional photographers to grow their businesses through a variety of specialized and socially responsible BPO services and online software products. Since 2012, we’ve been partnering with real estate photographers around the world who’ve reached a plateau in their earnings due to laborious editing time and the lack of centrally located solutions for scaling their company.”

4. Fathom

Founded: 2015

“Fathom is creating new ways to explore the underwater world. By connecting with the Fathom One, people can experience what happens under the surface first-hand, share those experiences with others, and enjoy the waves even more.”