Ones to Watch in 2021: Revolutionary Start-Ups

With the Overton Window blown wide open during recent pandemic disruption, and a populous more than ready for purpose driven change, these start-ups of the future are the driving force behind a better tomorrow for the many, and not just the few - innovating for the new normal:

{{divider}}

Coinbase

{{divider}}

Like many nascent technologies with great potential for change, Bitcoin suffers from more than a few image issues. However, there’s often more to the story than initially meets the eye, and the underlying technology in particular, has some big political and economic implications.

{{divider}}

The genesis of the 'peer-to-peer' electronic cash system was brought to online life with the mining of the first bitcoin transaction, and it came with the aura of a declaration of independence from banks, financial institutions, and mainstream political economies. A declaration underpinned by an emergent peer-to-peer network that

could replace institutional trust with a distributed, consensus-based trust.

{{divider}}

Coinbase are a mission-driven company, driven to unite the world through a fast, efficient, transparent and decentralised currency and technology.

{{divider}}

Signal

{{divider}}

With privacy more scarce than ever, Signal is the secure alternative to Whatsapp - the Facebook-owned messaging service that has recently received global backlash. Both Telegram and Signal are encrypted messaging services that have received the Elon Musk seal of approval. It’s widely known that popular platforms such as Facebook and Instagram collect large amount of data for commercial purposes, and when updating such software - opting out isn’t really a choice, it’s either: accept the terms, or don’t participate at all.

{{divider}}

Facebook’s highly criticised data collection ethos has eroded trust in the social network, and its practices can put vulnerable people at risk with mandatory features such as the ‘people you may know’ function. When Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, it pledged to keep the two services separate. Yet only a few years later, Facebook announced aims to integrate the messaging systems of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

{{divider}}

Ecosia

{{divider}}

Google is so pre-COVID.  Ecosia is a search engine based in Berlin, Germany, that donates 80% or more of its profits to nonprofit organisations that focus on reforestation and planting trees where they are needed most. Ecosia plants trees all around the world, with over 30 ongoing projects in 29 countries, planting over 100 million trees. With this, Ecosia has a full team of ecologists and reforestation experts who work with local communities to identify biodiversity hotspots.

{{divider}}

Pure Electric

{{divider}}

Pure electric are the UK’s largest electric bike and electric scooter specialists, playing a pivotal role in reducing society’s reliance on cars, lowering air pollution and congestion in cities across Europe, alongside walking and taking public transport. They are driven by their desire to offer their customers the best products, objective buying advice and unrivalled customer service, while making a real, meaningful positive impact on the way we all travel every day. They work directly with brands and manufacturers to ensure that their customers get the best quality products at the best possible price, bringing the reality of a cleaner, healthier future closer than ever before.

{{divider}}

Attestiv

{{divider}}

Attestiv is an information technology company that verifies the authenticity of digital media and data. Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, spotting deep fakes is more challenging than ever. The company uses AI and blockchain technology to assure the authenticity of digital media. That way, it could help organisations with fraud prevention and detection.

{{divider}}

Shortly after raising $2 million seed, Attestiv teamed up with another blockchain firm, Algorand, to fight insurance fraud. Attestiv is currently enjoying several recognitions. And that includes the 2020 Insurtech 100 for its tech innovation within the insurance market.

{{divider}}

Kaia Health

{{divider}}

Kaia Health is a digital therapeutics startup seeking to provide affordable and effective relief to chronic disease patients. These include back pain and COPD. To achieve this goal, the company leveraged technologies such as artificial intelligence and computer vision. It also works alongside medical personnel to offer interdisciplinary treatments via its app. In other words, Kaia Health provides quick access to non-pharmacological therapies at a low cost.

{{divider}}

Privacy.com

{{divider}}

Privacy.com is a fintech company that offers an innovative way to make online purchases without sharing personal information. The startup allows anyone to generate virtual and disposable payment card numbers for free. That way, users won’t have to share their personal information with online vendors or payment platforms. The service helps users avoid issues arising from e-commerce security breaches. Having already received a huge amount of consumer attention, they recently announced that they had raised $10.2 million in a Series A fundraise.

{{divider}}

Jeenie

{{divider}}

Jeenie provides an on-demand American Sign Language Interpreter to users that have hearing difficulties. Normally, in-person translators can cost anywhere between $90 to $125 per hour. Jeenie is a mobile platform that connects users to video calls with a live, trained medical interpreter for in-person patient communication - at as little as $1 per minute or less.

{{divider}}

Stenocare

{{divider}}

Danish startup Stenocare is a medical cannabis producer. The startup holds a license from the Danish Medicines Agency allowing it to cultivate, import, and handle cannabis for medical use. The startup grows cannabis in high-tech and hygienic climate rooms to ensure pharmaceutical-grade quality.

{{divider}}

CBD and THC, the two therapeutic components in cannabis, and their combination help alleviate a wide range of medical conditions such as appetite loss, muscle spasms, and epilepsy. However, doctors often prescribe only one of them in particular amounts to personalise treatment to each patient.

{{divider}}

To meet this need, startups offer cannabis formulations in varying proportions of THC and CBD to suit individual prescriptions, as well as over the counter health supplements in smaller doses, for stress-relief and topping up endocannabinoid health.

{{divider}}

LettUs Grow

{{divider}}

Between the UK’s EU exit and the growing threat of climate change, food security has become a headline topic. The supply lines from farm to fork that many of us take for granted can be more fragile than we think, as illustrated by recent weather events in the UK. LettUs Grow is one of several emerging UK businesses focused on vertical farming, where plants and crops are grown indoors in upright stacks, typically without soil, using LED lighting, climate control and targeted nutrient delivery.

{{divider}}

Although still a relatively niche enterprise, and far from natural and organic, it’s attracting plenty of attention, with grocery retailer Ocado recently announcing a £17m investment in the sector.

{{divider}}

‍