2022 Best Tech Startups in Santa Monica

March 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. Swell Energy

Founded: 2014

“A home energy management and smart grid solutions provider, Swell Energy is accelerating the mass-adoption of residential clean energy technologies by making it easy for consumers to take control of their home energy use, achieve energy security, and generate revenue.

Swell Energy provides homeowners with financing and educational resources and partners with trusted local solar + storage companies for seamless, high-quality product installations. By creating a critical mass of dynamic and responsive clean energy resources within utility service areas across the United States, Swell Energy is also delivering resilient virtual power plant (VPP) networks and grid-balancing services to utilities, which are fundamental to our future carbon-free distributed energy system.

The future of energy is distributed, clean, and consumer-centric. Swell makes the future of energy a reality today.”

3. Tala

Founded: 2011

Also honored in:

“Tala is a financial technology company on a mission to build a financial system that works for everyone. Our first product is a lending app that instantly underwrites and delivers credit to customers who have little or no formal borrowing history. Tala has disbursed over $1B to more than 4 million customers across East Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and India who use Tala loans to start and expand small businesses, pay school fees and bills, and build more stable financial lives.

Tala is backed by leading venture and impact investors including RPS Ventures, GGV Capital, IVP, Revolution Growth, Lowercase Capital, Data Collective VC, ThomVest Ventures and PayPal Ventures. Tala is headquartered in Santa Monica with offices in Nairobi, Manila, Mexico City, and Bangalore.”

4. Recharge

Founded: 2014

“Seamless subscription commerce: Since 2014, Recharge has helped over 15,000 merchants launch and scale their subscription business. Be it a curated monthly box, recurring necessities or access to exclusive perks, Recharge powers billions of dollars in annual processing for 50 million consumers. Our remote-first team of 500+ is building the future of subscription commerce. Come join us on our mission to turn transactions into relationships.”

5. Autograph

Founded: 2021

“Autograph is an NFT platform that brings together the most iconic brands and legendary names in sports, entertainment and culture to create unique digital collections and experiences for users around the world. Co-founded by Tom Brady and headquartered in Los Angeles, Autograph is ushering in a new era of collecting through a streamlined and inclusive process, authentic and creative products and exclusive partnerships.”

6. PatientPop

Founded: 2014

Also honored in:

“PatientPop is the only all-in-one 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.”

7. Tastemade

Founded: 2012

“Tastemade is a modern media company that engages a global audience of more than 300 million monthly viewers on all major digital, mobile, and streaming television platforms, garnering 700 million minutes watched each month. We create award-winning video content and original programming in the categories of Food, Travel, and Home & Design that we share with an engaged, passionate, and global community.

Tastemade is built upon real data and an innovative approach to programming. We are changing the way the world watches and engages with premium lifestyle video.”

8. Surf Air

Surf Air

Founded: 2011

Also honored in:

“Surf Air is better travel for the modern world.

Surf Air members save an average of 2 hours every trip by skipping crowded airports and flying direct between private terminals—with 99% fewer people and no line, loudspeakers, or waiting.

We’re adding thousands of new dots to the map and millions of direct routes, offering a nearby landing spot for any itinerary. With scheduled flight or On Demand charter service, it’s your destination, your choice.

Instant reservations, hassle free cancellations, and flexible rescheduling put you in control. And our hospitality-trained team puts a human touch on each flight experience.

The freedom and flexibility of shared-private flying is now within reach.”

9. Atom Tickets

Founded: 2014

Also honored in:

“Atom Tickets is the award-winning social movie ticketing app. The Santa Monica-based company is certified as a Great Place to Work (2020 & 2019) and is backed by Lionsgate, Disney, and Fidelity Management & Research Company. Atom allows consumers to search for films instantly, invite friends, buy tickets, pre-order concessions and more.

Atom’s exhibitor partners include AMC Theatres, Cinemark, Harkins Theatres, National Amusements’ Showcase Cinemas, CMX Cinemas, Landmark in Cinemas of Canada, Studio Movie Grill, Malco Theatres, Landmark Theatres, ArcLight Cinemas, and Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, among others.”

10. Grow Credit

Founded: 2018

“Grow Credit is a first-of-its-kind financial product that allows the estimated 100M consumers with no credit or thin credit files to establish or build credit for free using their existing subscription accounts such as Disney Plus, Netflix, Spotify, and more. Grow delivers credit score improvements thanks to a virtual Mastercard backed by a small-dollar loan accessible via the Grow Credit mobile application.”