2021 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

January 20, 2021March 2, 2022 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.

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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:

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

3. PatientPop

Founded: 2014

Also honored in:

“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.”

4. Surf Air

Founded: 2011

Also honored in:

“Where does your business take you?

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.”

5. Atom Tickets

Founded: 2014

Also honored in:

“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.”

6. AirMap

Founded: 2014

“AirMap accelerates the adoption of sUAS technology by providing the digital infrastructure to unlock safe and efficient drone flight at scale. We equip civilian governments, defense and security, and enterprise sectors with UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and U-space solutions to manage drone operations. AirMap is committed to enabling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) through ongoing standards development work, global research initiatives, and industry collaboration. Learn more at www.airmap.com.”

7. Tradesy

Founded: 2012

Also honored in: 2019 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

“Tradesy is a new kind of peer-to-peer marketplace that addresses the pain-points associated with selling on sites like eBay and Craigslist. Our mission is to make it dead simple and delightful for anyone to sell the unused or underused goods cluttering their closets. We have millions of passionate members, a product that people love, and an office with an ocean view in sunny Santa Monica. We’re backed by some of the best investors around, including Kleiner Perkins (repped by John Doerr and Stephanie Tilenius on our board), and Sir Richard Branson.”

8. Songtradr

Founded: 2014

“Songtradr is the fastest growing music licensing platform in the world, delivering brands, apps, TV and film makers amazing commercial music directly from artists, songwriters and catalogs.”

9. Mobcrush

Founded: 2014

“Mobcrush is a technology and entertainment company focused on live streaming and the creator-driven media revolution.

Founded in 2014 in Santa Monica, CA, the thirty-person company has raised $35.9M in venture funding from prominent firms including Evolution Media, KPCB, First Round Capital, Raine Ventures, and Lowercase Capital.”

10. DroneBase

Founded: 2014

“DroneBase is the largest drone operations company in the world and provides fast, affordable, and reliable data from the air so customers can make better, real-time decisions about their most critical assets. Access to aerial imagery and data will become an indispensable source of vital business information not previously available, and DroneBase is quickly becoming the leading way companies acquire it. With a network of tens of thousands of drone pilots globally, we’re able to service clients in every industry for their aerial data needs.

Launched in 2014, DroneBase has one of the most seasoned teams in the Los Angeles tech ecosystem, and we are actively working to open the next frontier of information. We were incubated by Y Combinator and are backed by Union Square Ventures, Upfront Ventures, Hearst Ventures, Pritzker Group, Accel Partners, SV Angel, DJI (the world leader in building drones), and FLIR Systems (the world leader in thermal imaging hardware). We were named one of Built In LA’s Top Startups to Watch and one of CrunchBase’s Top Drone Companies to Watch.”