2020 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

April 9, 2020April 9, 2021 thetechtribune

The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best tech startups in Santa Monica, California. 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.

Looking for a badge to celebrate your awesome accomplishment? Find it here!

1. Fair

Founded: 2016

Also honored in:

“Fair is an automotive FinTech company that’s revolutionizing car buying by offering unprecedented freedom, flexibility and an end-to-end mobile experience.

We believe fairness matters. That’s why we’ve created a game-changing new app that lets you shop, get approved and pay for a car all on your phone with just a driver’s license and bank account. Get in-app approval for a monthly payment amount that works for you, then head to the dealership and check-out in minutes. You can drive your car for as long as you want, and return it any time you’re ready. That’s the Fair way to drive!”

2. Bird

Founded: 2017

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“Bird’s mission is to make cities more livable by reducing car usage, traffic, and carbon emissions.”

3. ZipRecruiter

Founded: 2010

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“ZipRecruiter is a leading online employment marketplace. Powered by AI-driven smart matching technology, ZipRecruiter actively connects millions of businesses and job seekers through innovative mobile, web, and email services, as well as partnerships with the best job boards on the web. ZipRecruiter is the #1 rated job search app on iOS & Android. Founded in 2010, Santa Monica-based ZipRecruiter has nearly 1000 employees in two states and three countries.”

4. Tala

Founded: 2011

Also honored in:

“Tala’s smartphone app uses alternative data to deliver instant credit and help customers build their financial identities. Unlike traditional credit scoring, our proprietary underwriting models draw on thousands of mobile data points including network diversity, social connectedness, geographic patterns, and financial transactions to score customers in real time, without a need for formal credit history.”

5. Headspace

Founded: 2010

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“Founded in 2010 by Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson, Headspace was created with one mission in mind: to improve the health and happiness of the world. With 30 million users in 190 countries, the Headspace app offers hundreds of guided meditations designed to help with everything from stress and anxiety to relationships and sleep.

Headspace has raised a total of $73.7M in funding. In June 2017, we closed a $36.7 million Series B round led by Spectrum Equity, a leading growth equity firm. In 2015, we completed a $30M Series A funding round led by The Chernin Group, with significant participation from other media and tech leaders including Jim Breyer (via Breyer Capital), Allen & Co, William Morris Endeavor, Freelands Ventures (the venture arm of Elisabeth Murdoch) and Advancit (the venture arm of Shari Redstone). Rounding out Series A raise were a handful of influential individuals including Jeff Weiner (LinkedIn CEO), Jessica Alba, Ryan Seacrest, and Jared Leto.”

6. Whip Media Group

Founded: 2014

“Mediamorph’s Content Value Management (CVM) Platform orchestrates the 360° process that brings content value from provider to distributor to the connected consumer. With advanced analytics and real-time access to actionable data, our cloud-based software tracks trillions of transactions and billions of dollars annually to maximize media monetization.”

7. Atom Tickets

Founded: 2014

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“An award-winning startup based in Santa Monica, California, the heart of “Silicon Beach,” Atom Tickets changes the way people go to the movies with its revolutionary social movie ticketing app and website. Backed by Lionsgate, Disney, Twentieth Century Fox Film, and Fidelity Management & Research Company and accepted at over 20,000 screens across the U.S. including AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Harkins Theatres, and Showcase Cinemas, Atom’s user-friendly and socially driven interface allows movie lovers to search for films instantly, invite friends, buy tickets, pre-order concessions and enjoy a VIP experience at the theater. The platform’s innovative marketing solutions and young, diverse user-base help studios, exhibitors and brands reach their target audience and maximize revenue opportunities.”

8. Surf Air

Founded: 2011

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“Surf Air connects a new type of traveler with a new way to fly. Launched in June 2013, we are the nation’s first subscription-based airline and membership club with services in California, Texas, and Europe. For one monthly fee, Members book unlimited private flights and travel in the company of an inspiring community. In addition to the “all-you-can-fly” membership, we offer both corporate and leisure membership options to fit the needs of every traveler.”

9. TigerConnect

Founded: 2010

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“As healthcare’s largest provider of clinical communication solutions, TigerConnect helps physicians, nurses, and other staff communicate and collaborate more effectively, accelerating productivity, reducing costs, and improving patient outcomes. Trusted by more than 4,000 healthcare organizations, TigerConnect maintains 99.99% uptime and processes over 10 million messages each day. Its category-leading product innovations and advanced integrations with critical hospital systems deliver high value for hospitals and large health systems.”

10. PatientPop

Founded: 2014

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“PatientPop is the only complete practice growth solution. By enhancing and automating each touchpoint in the patient journey — from first impression online to digital booking to post-visit follow-up — PatientPop makes it easy for healthcare providers to attract more patients, manage online reputation, modernize the patient experience, and automate the front office.

We are a fast-growing healthcare technology startup in the heart of Silicon Beach. We only hire the best candidates, and we make sure they stick around by providing a fun environment, desirable benefits, generous PTO, and more.”