• Welcome to Our Startup Community

    Home of the Startup of the Year® program, we are a community for startups to connect with mentors, investors, support organizations, and each other. This community has worked with diverse, emerging startups, founding teams, and entrepreneurs for over ten years to help push their companies to the next level.

     

    Powered by Established®, we are a global community and network, an exciting competition and awards program, and a resource designed just for you. We're so glad you're here.

     

    Want to learn more about Established? Check out our services supporting innovation at established.us. 

     

     

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    New Podcast LIVE Series!

    We are thrilled to unveil our new Startup of the Year Podcast LIVE series, spotlighting the innovation ecosystem's most groundbreaking founders, thought leaders, and investors.

     

    October 24 - Register | Dan J. Berger, Founder and CEO, Assemble Hospitality Group and former Founder of Social Tables

  • What Can You Do Here?

    STARTUPS

    Join our Startup Community

    Grow your business by:

    • Competing in our annual awards program to be the next Startup of the Year (rolling application)
    • Connecting via our Slack Community
    • Attending tailored events
    • Gaining access to opportunities from our Global Partners
    • Elevating your brand

    INVESTORS

    Join our Investment Community
    Expand your portfolio by:

    • Becoming a Mentor
    • Serving as a Judge for one or more of our events
    • Increasing your Deal Flow
    • Utilizing event-driven strategies to expand your portfolio
    • Gaining private access to pre-vetted companies with curated 1:1s

    SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

    Join our Partner Network 

    Build your innovation community by:

    • Creating value as part of an expanding and collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem
    • Building brand awareness
    • Sharing expertise and data to drive results
    • Implementing beneficial co-marketing activities
  • Recent Startup of the Year® Podcasts

    Make sure to catch all of the Startup of the Year Podcast episodes - and join us for our next Startup of the Year Podcast LIVE events beginning October 24!

    Startup of the Year Podcast - Allyson Kapin, W Fund

    Allyson Kapin, General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, Talks About Bias in Tech and Investing

    Ep. #0128 (9/23/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber, is joined by Allyson Kapin, Founder of Women Who Tech, Co-Founder of Rad Campaign, and General Partner and Co-Founder at W Fund, leads grassroots movements to bolster diversity in the tech and startup sectors. She is an active investor in tech startups, especially women-led and BIPOC startups.

    Startup of the Year Podcast - Aubrie Pagano, Alpaca VC

    Ep. #0127 (8/30/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor,Frank Gruber, is joined by Aubrie Pagano, General Partner at Alpaca VC, a venture capital firm investing in the people, products, and platforms reimagining the real world. Before joining Alpaca VC, Aubrie co-founded Bow & Drape, a fashion-tech startup that was acquired by Winn Brands in 2019.

    Startup of the Year Podcast

    Rohit Bhargava, Non-Obvious Company, and Natalia Talkowska, Natalka Design, Discuss Self-Promotion in Today's Digital World

    Ep. #0126 (8/9/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber, is joined by Rohit Bhargava of the Non-Obvious Company, and Natalia Talkowska of Natalka Design. The interview covers what it takes to think outside the box and see conventional practices and techniques, such as marketing, brand identity, and networking in a new light.

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    OtO Founder and CEO Ali Sabti Discusses the Growth and Development of the Automated Lawn Care Industry

    Ep. #125 (7/31/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber is joined by Ali Sabti, CEO of automated lawn servicing company OtO Inc. OtO Inc. is leading the way in innovative outdoor solutions using technology to make lawn and garden care better for people and the planet. The company received "Best of Innovation" at CES in 2022 and was recognized as TIME's Best Inventions in 2022.

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    Aron Kansal of SimpleTix and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures

    Ep. #124 (7/16/24) | On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, our host, entrepreneur, and investor, Frank Gruber is joined by Aron Kansal of SimpleTix and Vikram Bodas from Occom Ventures. Aron is a Startup of the Year Alumni from our days as Tech Cocktail / Tech.Co. SimpleTix showcased at our winter mixer in Washington, D.C. in February 2012.

  • Startup of the Year® Summit 2022

    From Las Vegas and San Francisco to Boston, Memphis, and Tampa - we've hosted thousands of startups, investors, and innovators over the years. With more than a decade of producing and presenting events, our purpose behind gat,herings is steadfast in - building authentic connections and celebrating one another's successes. Of all of our events - spanning across CES, SXSW, Client conferences and activations, virtual competitions, webinars, investor ask-me-anythings, and much more -- our annual Summit is one of the most special - see it for yourself.

    Watch the Startup of the Year Summit Finals recorded live in Tampa, FL in January 2022.

    >> View past online events here.

  • Subscribe / Contact Us

    Get in touch with Established, the team behind Startup of the Year!