Startups to Watch
Tech & Lifestyle startups we're watching, news you can use + media opps!
Happy Tuesday, everyone! First off, I made a small update on Hyde Park PR’s Instagram bio last week that I wanted to share.
Since day one, we’ve been all about serving startups, but our niche hasn’t been all that clearly defined. We know tons of PR agencies that focus solely on travel, interior design, or AI, for example. But we were more experimental in our first few years in business, serving everyone from B2B cybersecurity startups to B2C fashion brands. Three years later, it turns out that B2C tech and lifestyle are the areas in which I’ve had the most fun.
And it’s really fun when the two converge, like with our latest client Sunchill – a luxury water hammock built with high-tech materials.
Why this matters: Moving forward, this newsletter will aim to build a community of founders and marketers within the B2C tech and lifestyle spaces, but we’ll still include media opportunities for a variety of subject matter experts as well.
Onto the startups…
Inspired by American Inno’s annual list of Startups to Watch, today I’m highlighting some US-based tech and lifestyle startups I’ve had my eye on. 👀
I discover new startups from a variety of sources, including the Tampa Bay and Bay Area local Inno newsletters (find yours here), Product Hunt, Crunchbase, Angel List, and, of course, IRL events, to name a few.
Here are 8 startups from across the country we’d like to hear more from this year:
STARTUPS TO WATCH
Reform Botanicals
HQ: Brooklyn, NY | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: Reform Botanicals is a CBD wellness community founded by Sarah Choh, who learned the true impacts of CBD by intentionally using it as a supplement to support her mental health in a time of need. Nearly 65% of U.S. adults believe CBD is safer to consume than alcohol. A few weeks ago, they launched GUMMIES – a new line of vegan, organic, and small-batch chewy delights in three flavors for Relief, Calm, and Sleep.
Realworld
HQ: New York, NY | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: The Realworld app provides the resources and tools for young adults to navigate adulthood in nearly every way. From tax filing assistance to everything users need to know about getting their first pet — Realworld lays the foundation for organization and success. A recent survey found practical, tangible skills are the #1 priority for American K-12 education outcomes. Where was this app when we were growing up?!
Weaver
HQ: Tampa, FL | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: Weaver is a dating app based on core values. Research shows that relationships built on shared values, including religion, politics, life attitudes, emotionality, and fiscal views, are much more likely to endure. Young adults under 30 are nearly twice as likely as most 30+ Millennials to be current or recent users of dating apps. As Gen Z continues to demand more authentic connections and online dating users reach 452.5 million by 2028, apps like Weaver are primed for growth.
evrmore
HQ: New York, NY | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: evrmore is the wellness GPS that helps young people thrive by building a strong narrative identity. In a recent piece for Psychology Today, Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., explains that “each of us crafts a story of who we are—what psychologists call a narrative identity. Narrative identity is the internalized and evolving story of the self that each person constructs to make sense and meaning out of their life.” The app is the first protective technology for our mind in the age of AI and an algorithm-driven world and helps GenZs develop a strong sense of self with proven science-backed methods to build healthy mindsets and improve everyday well-being.
The Natural Nipple
HQ: Tampa, FL | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: The Natural Nipple has developed a natural infant feeding alternative to breastfeeding. A 2013 UC Davis Medical Center study of hundreds of first-time mothers found 92% of them had trouble breastfeeding three days after giving birth. Brooklyn Johnson, a Houston-based mother, nanny, and newborn care specialist, said Natural Nipple helped her regain autonomy when her daughter refused to use bottles. They’re also backed by Johnson & Johnson, Florida Blue, and National Science Foundation grant funding.
LifeBrand
HQ: West Chester, PA | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: Lifebrand uses AI to detect potentially harmful posts on social media. Last year, the Surgeon General issued an advisory on social media and youth mental health, stating “We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.” Working with both individuals and companies, LifeBrand has cleaned more than 8 million such posts across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
BioFluff
HQ: Miami, FL | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: BioFluff is the world’s first plant-based fur. Biofluff is plastic-free, fake fur extracted from plants and agricultural waste. Early research suggests that plant-based fur produces 50 percent fewer emissions than its plastic counterparts and up to 90 percent fewer emissions than real animal fur by eliminating the need to raise and feed livestock. As more fashion brands explore alternative materials to decrease their emissions, we predict sustainable and innovative brands like BioFluff are here to stay.
Fridie Outdoors
HQ: Portland, OR | LinkedIn
Why we’re watching: An app that empowers beginning campers to access the info they need offline. Fridie Outdoors aims to shorten the camping learning curve so everyone can enjoy the “confidence, joy, and freedom of camping sooner.” Its founder, Lestarya, is passionate about making camping and outdoor recreation accessible and enjoyable for all, especially people of color who have been under-represented in outdoor recreation. Fridie Outdoors is also part of the REI Co-Op’s Embark accelerator and is featured in several of the outdoor retailer’s stores.
Which other startups should be on our radar? Comment below or email hello@hydeparkpr.com
News You Can Use
🤳Marketing & PR
How Gen Z Gets its News (Axios)
Instagram’s Uneasy Rise as a News Site (The New York Times)
Why AI-Forward Communication is the Future of Public Relations (Entrepreneur)
How Olipop helped popularize the ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ (Marketing Brew)
Former digital-media darling Vice to end website, lay off hundreds (The Washington Post)
🚀Startups & Tech
Y Combinator wants climate tech, AI, body-scan startups and more (Bay Area Inno)
Inside the Funding Frenzy at Anthropic, One of A.I.’s Hottest Start-Ups (The New York Times)
Meet RDDT: Popular social platform Reddit to sell stock in an unusual IPO (NPR)
Slack Just Got an AI Injection That Might Speed Up Your Workday (Inc Magazine)
Disney star turned space CEO: Bridgit Mendler launches satellite data startup backed by major VCs (CNBC)
☀️Good News
NASA is back on the moon — with the first commercial lunar landing ever (Business Insider)
Good News for the Socially Anxious: People Like You a Lot More Than You Think They Do, New Research Confirms (Inc Magazine)
Rescuing Abandoned Dogs Is His Rehab (The New York Times)
Eye in the sky: Drone pilot uses thermal technology to rescue missing pets across the tri-state area (Bronx News 12)
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Today’s Media Opps 📰✨
Submission deadlines are listed below. If you need pitching tips, refer to this post.
The full list of opportunities and occasional last-minute media opps will be shared with PAID subscribers only.
If you’re a journalist with a media request to share with our community of tech and lifestyle startups, please send them to hello@hydeparkpr.com.
PLEASE NOTE:
These opportunities are time-sensitive, and sources may have already been filled. Enable Substack push notifications so you don’t miss a thing. FREE pitching guide coming soon.
Home Business Magazine
Deadline: 3/01 @ 7pm ET
Sherlyn Henderson is looking for products to feature for a Spring 2024 Home and Lifestyle guide for Small Business Owners that will refresh the home for the new season.
Requirements: Please send a short description that highlights the product, and note the product name, price, and URL. Include a high-quality image pasted in the email of the product as well, along with any photo credits. If chosen, a sample would also be required.
Email query-g5we@helpareporter.net
InformationWeek
Deadline: 3/06 @ 7pm ET
Technology journalist John Edwards is looking for experts who can answer some or the following questions:
1. What's the best way to determine an IT project's likely value to the enterprise?
2. What makes this approach so effective?
3. What tools can be used to help estimate likely project value?
4. What's the biggest mistake IT leaders make when estimating project value?
5. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Email query-g6bc@helpareporter.net
InformationWeek
Deadline: 3/13 @ 7pm ET
Technology journalist John Edwards is looking for experts who can comment on how AI will reshape retail, answering some or the following questions:
1. What will be AI's impact on the retail industry?
2. How will this transformation affect retailers?
3. What will be the impact on consumers?
4. How can retailers prepare for AI's impact?
5. How can IT leaders work with management colleagues
to prepare for the transformation?
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Email query-g6ua@helpareporter.net
Authority Magazine
Deadline: 3/22 @ 7pm ET
Chad Silverstein is looking for coaching thought leaders, innovators, and experts to discuss the Top 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Coaching.
The world of coaching is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends set to redefine its boundaries and possibilities. From digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence to the growing emphasis on mental health and the global rise of coaching cultures within organizations, these developments are reshaping the landscape of personal and professional growth. As we navigate through these changes, understanding the forces that drive the future of coaching becomes paramount.
Email query-g6hw@helpareporter.net
Authority Magazine
Deadline: 3/25 @ 7pm ET
Eric Pines is looking for young entrepreneurs to share secrets to rapid growth and success.
The entrepreneurial landscape is more vibrant and challenging than ever, with young entrepreneurs at the forefront, driving innovation and redefining the boundaries of success in the business world. These dynamic individuals are not only creating new products and services but also building sustainable business models that thrive in today's fast-paced, technology-driven environment. Their journeys are filled with lessons of resilience, strategic innovation, and the relentless pursuit of growth.
Email query-g6mw@helpareporter.net and CC articlecollaborationteam@gmail.com to ensure that we see your reply.