As the LA tech community has grown, it’s clear Santa Monica is the heart of what we call Silicon Beach. Now teeming with interesting startups, the area has solidified itself as a major player in the global tech ecosystem.
Top Companies in Santa Monica
- GumGum
- Headspace
- GoodRX
- Postmates
- Inspire
- 12Twenty
- Tradesy
- Leaf Group
- Naughty Dog
- PlayQ
- TaskUs
Industry: Real Estate
Crexi offers digital solutions for the commercial real estate industry. The company’s online platform lets users list properties for sale, lease or auction and conduct research based on market intelligence and property data. Users trying to find the right kind of commercial property can filter their searches on Crexi’s site by property type, size or price.
Industry: Healthtech
SimplePractice makes electronic health records software for health and wellness practitioners. Used by dietitians, substance abuse counselors, acupuncturists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other health and wellness providers, the company’s software is built to serve sole-proprietor practitioners and to function equally as an administrative assistant, billing department and tech platform for client communications.
Industry: Software, Logistics, E-commerce
Route uses logistics tech to track consumer goods while they are in transit. Partnered for integrations with Klaviyo, Salesforce, Status, Recharge and Zendesk to offer a deep and comprehensive tech stack to e-commerce clients, the company offers package protection, shipment tracking and carbon offsetting, protecting brands and giving consumers confidence to trust their goods will arrive safely.
Industry: Insurtech
Sure makes back-end technology for digital insurance operations. Its software platform handles claims, policy administration and distribution in addition to simplifying integrations with a library of more than 300 vendors it can automatically connect to. Sure says its tools are intended to enhance the customer journey and make it easy to incorporate new technologies into an insurance program.
Industry: Automotive, Machine Learning
A product of Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, Motional has become a leader in driverless vehicles. Combining AI and machine learning technology, Motional is building vehicles that learn as they accumulate miles and provide seamless driving experiences. The company has built up partnerships with Lyft and Uber Eats, laying the foundation for robotaxi fleets as it welcomes in the next chapter of transportation.
Industry: Adtech
Artificial intelligence startup GumGum is doing things for marketing that have long been considered afterthoughts: quantifying the importance of images in advertising and marketing. Through its robust AI platform, the startup helps businesses unlock the value of images and videos across the internet.
Industry: Social Media, Mobile
Snap Inc. helps more than 200 million daily users to tell their stories through innovative platforms. The publicly-traded company, which created social media giant Snapchat, helps users to create, film and share the world around them in unique and fun ways.
Industry: Automotive, AdTech
Santa Monica tech companies don't get more OG than Edmunds. The online consumer website for cars started as a magazine way back in 1969, but that doesn't mean it's still stuck in the Summer of Love. The company's massive headquarters was named as one of our favorite offices of 2016.
Industry: IoT, Greentech
Inspire makes clean energy approachable for everyone with personalized home subscription plans. Members can upgrade to smarter, cleaner homes through a combination of customizable clean energy solutions and smart home devices. Since 2014, the clean tech company has raised over $38 million in funding.
Industry: Healthtech
GoodRX saves users time and money by letting them compare prescription drug prices from local pharmacies. On top of finding the lowest deals in their area, users can also take advantage of GoodRX’s coupons, which help to save users even more on everything from Lipitor to Omeprazole. GoodRX is accepted at thousands of pharmacies nationwide, including Walgreens and CVS.
Industry: Healthtech, Software
Medely gives nurses and allied professionals the flexibility to book jobs and assignments on-demand. The company’s platform allows medical professionals to browse jobs, book shifts and get paid quickly. It even allows nurses to search for per diem and travel assignments.
Industry: Healthtech, Cloud, Mobile
TigerConnect is a communication and collaboration platform for everyone involved in the healthcare process, from patients to nurses and even hospital executives. The platform is an all-in-one communication app that allows for secure and compliant voice, video and text chat. The messaging systems can be used by a doctor to communicate directly with a patient, by care teams in a hospital and even by entire health systems for mass communication.
Industry: Digital Media, Agency
For businesses that don't have the bandwidth or expertise to effectively market their company, there are a ton of options to outsource their marketing efforts. Hawke Media is one of them. The startup offers a host of services designed to help businesses get things going in the right direction and realize their full potential.
Industry: E-Commerce, Fashion, Healthtech
FIGS is a fashion-forward medical apparel company helping healthcare professionals to change the way they shop and dress. The company boasts an impressive lineup of fashionable scrubs in vibrant colors and styles, so medical professionals can look and feel their best on the job.
Industry: E-Commerce
Tradesy is a marketplace where users can buy and sell designer goods. In May 2016, the startup raised $30 million.
Industry: Edtech, HR Tech
Everyone knows how stressful it is to enter the working world upon graduation. 12Twenty wants to change that. The startup's platform is designed to help universities better help their students to prepare for their professional careers. Career centers on campus can utilize the software to manage students' employment processes while helping them develop a better idea of what it's like to be recruited by a company.
Industry: Mobile, Gaming
PlayQ is a creative studio developing games for use across PCs, tablets and mobile devices. Founded in 2007, their game titles have over 60 million downloads across the world and millions of active users. Popular games include “Taste Buds” and “Charm King.”
Industry: AdTech
MomentFeed is a marketing platform that allows global brands to launch massive mobile marketing. Their mobile customer experience management software helps businesses with multiple locations more effectively leverage their consumers via mobile channels.
Industry: Healthtech
Headspace is a mental fitness application that helps users to balance their busy lives through meditation. Founded in 2010, the startup harnesses 3,000 years of meditation research in order to help clear minds.
Industry: Software
ZipRecruiter empowers businesses by helping them hire through mobile and email channels. The startup has developed rapidly since being founded in 2010 and has become one of the premier job marketplaces today.
Industry: Digital Media
Leaf Group is a media company that operates a number of well-known websites, including Society6, Saatchi Art, Livestrong.com and eHow. Formerly known as Demand Media, the startup rebranded in 2016. Back in 2011, they went public.
Industry: Gaming
Naughty Dog is one of the most well-known game developers in the world. With classic game series like Crash Bandicoot, The Last of Us and Uncharted under their belt, it’s no wonder that Naughty Dog has been played by millions of gamers over the last thirty years.
Industry: E-commerce, Logistics
Postmates is changing the way we order our favorite products. Through the company’s app, users can find just about anything they’re looking for from hundreds of local restaurants and convenience stores. With Postmates, you can get everything from burgers to batteries delivered to your door in under an hour.
Industry: Software, Drones
With a wave of drone startups taking off in LA, AirMap is one you should definitely keep an eye on. The startup provides powerful airspace analytics to help commercial companies safely track their drones' flights. In February 2017, the startup raised $26 million to help develop its platform.
Industry: AI, Big Data, Software
PatSnap connects the international community to the most up-to-date Intellectual Property results. Companies looking to invent new products or look into burgeoning industries can refer to Patsnap’s massive IP database to help streamline the innovation process. In addition to an office in Santa Monica, PatSnap boasts offices in China, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Industry: Digital Media, E-Commerce
The digital branch of Hallmark Cards Inc., Hallmark Labs brings their signature style to a 21st century audience. Hallmark Labs runs video subscription, eCard and print-on-demand services.
Industry: Professional Services
Founded in 2008, TaskUs helps companies manage their customer care and back office support efforts to help scale support systems and increase its clients' bottom lines. In 2016, the company raised an additional $14 million to continue its rapid global expansion.
Industry: Media
Some businesses have grown so big that it's easy to forget where they originally came from, but that's not the case for content streaming provider Hulu. Founded in LA back in 2007, the company has become one of the premier streaming sites on the internet, responsible for both awesome TV shows and thousands of hours of lost (but enjoyed) productivity.
Industry: Beauty, E-Commerce
Beautycounter is one of the most successful e-commerce brands in Southern California and the Santa Monica-based startup has only been around since 2013. Founded by prolific entrepreneur Gregg Renfrew, the company develops and sells skincare, body and hair products that are as safe as they are effective.
Industry: HR Tech, Cloud
Cornerstone OnDemand is one of the true pillars of the Santa Monica startup scene. With its powerful SaaS platform, the company helps businesses manage their talent in the best ways possible. Having gone public in 2011, the company is regularly cited as one of the best places to work in LA.
Industry: Digital Media
mitú is a media company that develops content for a millennial Latino audience. The company utilizes a number of channels to distribute its edgy, humorous brand of content. In early-2015, the startup raised $27 million.
Industry: Digital Media, Food
Startups don't get tastier than Santa Monica's Tastemade. The food-centric media company makes content dedicated to how delicious your diet can be by enabling users to show the type of food and drinks they care about.
Industry: Software
BuildOps makes software tools that commercial contractors rely on to simplify financial management and improve operational efficiency. Its offerings cover everything from service scheduling and resource planning to creating quotes and tracking sales performance. The team at BuildOps includes software and product experts as well as sales, marketing and administrative employees.
