Startups excite me, why? Because in what other industry can an idea go from conceptualization to global, dominant force in a few years? Yes I’m talking about the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Google – Companies which are disrupting traditional industry, cutting out the middle men, connecting the world and enabling people to monetize their passions.
Not long ago I was standing outside the Facebook HQ in Palo Alto, looking up at the corporate palace, the plethora of buildings around me thinking ‘wow, less than 6-years-ago this was a startup in Mark Zuckerberg’s bedroom.’ Never before has it been easier or cheaper to get a idea off the ground and the cost in innovation keeps coming down, I believe we are just at the beginning of not only a digital revolution, but also a political and social one too. In the not too distant future anyone with a laptop and WIFI connection will have access to all the world’s education and that will have huge effect on how countries operate and startups are the key to solving problems, driving innovation and change.
From hosting TheNextWeb conference in Amsterdam, reporting on SeedCamp to my company being media partners with Innovate100, TechCrunch Europe and covering startups on Techfluff.tv, I’ve been heavily involved in the European Internet and technology industry again this year.
Last year’s list was a little bit non-specific, so this year I’ve decided to pick my top startups, ones that I think have most potential moving forward for 2011. Hope you had a good 2010 and here’s to more startups in 2011.
Viber- Free your calls! Call anyone, anywhere.
GiffGaff- The mobile network run by you
Moonfruit – Beautiful Websites, Simply
Angrybirds (Rovio.com) Gaming App
Onefinestay – The Unhotel
Moshi Monsters - Virtual gaming experience for kids
Bambuser- Live video streaming from your phone
SoundCloud- Your sounds are free to go anywhere on the we
Inbox2- Social email application
Struq- Predictably profitable results
Shutl- Shutl brings delivery up to speed by letting shoppers get what they want, when they want it.
Trebax - turns Advertising into Gaming and Apps
Fits.me- Virtual fitting room for online retailers
Waze -Real-time maps and traffic information based on the wisdom of the crowd
Paper.li – Read Facebook and Twitter as a daily newspaper
GIS Cloud: World’s first freemium geographic information system
GroupSpaces – Online tools for real world groups.
Brainient- Turn existing videos into engaging and interactive experience
Daily Chic – Groupon aggregator
PressDoc – The engaging press release
Gaboom- Get the games you want for the games you have
Imeveryone- anonymous problems, confessions and discussions
Clearbooks- Online accounting made easy
SwiftKey- Enables users to write on their phones up to 50% more efficiently than existing solutions
Tastebuds.fm – Dating site based on music choice
SendSocial- Send real things over your social network
LeapCR- Innovative platform for employing volunteering
Hellotxt- Fun Twitter client
Stupeflix- Video production made easy
SocialAnnex- Next generation social commerce
Getitkeepit- One place to analyze your bills
Tinypay.me -Sell where it matters within 60 seconds
Skimlinks- Convert words into affiliate links
