Screenshot: Joel Cunningham
Tech innovations are coming so fast and furious these days, it can be hard to stay on top of it all (even when the PR firms promoting it all have your email address). You can try keeping up to date by staying glued to Twitter, but by the time something trends on social media, it’s usually already old news among cutting-edge tech heads.
The U.S. founds 20 technology companies that reach $100 million in revenue every year. At that rate, you have to find these startups in their early stages if you hope to keep up. Here are some of the best sites that will help you do just that.
Screenshot: Joel Cunningham
Fundraising sites are among the best places to find emerging tech, and Kickstarter remains the leading crowdfunding platform. Users on the site have funded more than 213,000 projects, some of which have gone from mere idea to massive market success.
Browse through the site’s Technology page to find trending Kickstarter tech projects. You can sort by “Newest” to see the latest projects or by “Popularity” to see what’s gaining traction.
Some of Kickstarter’s biggest tech projects include the Coolest Cooler, the Pono music player, and the ZeTouch smartwatch—which has both moving hands and a touchscreen.
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Screenshot: Joel Cunningham
Indiegogo is smaller than Kickstarter but still launches thousands of campaigns every week. More so than Kickstarter, it is heavily focused on tech projects, so there’s enough here to compete, even given that site’s higher profile.
Indiegogo’s categories are more specific than Kickstarter’s, so you can sort through different kinds of tech to find gadgets that pique your interest. The site also publishes roundups of emerging tech trends you can look through, making it easier to track the latest up-and-coming projects.
Product Hunt is not a crowdfunding platform. The site highlights the best new products, giving creators a platform to share their vision and tech enthusiasts a place to follow these growing companies. Think of it as a social media site for startups. How cool is that?
You can browse through popular projects and follow those that seem interesting to get updates on their development. Product Hunt also gives out “Golden Kitty Awards” to highlight users’ favorite products of the year.
Screenshot: Joel Cunningham
You may also consider Wefunder, another crowdfunder focused on helping startups get through their initial funding rounds. The platform has funded thousands of founders who have gone on to raise billions of dollars.
Wefunder makes a point to say the platform is different from the stock market because it is less risky to invest in, with VIP perks and discounts for dedicated fans. Once you invest, Wefunder provides an escrow account in the Boston Private Bank, and if the fundraiser succeeds, your money will go straight to the startup. If it fails, your investment will be returned to you.
As it is a smaller site, there aren’t as many Wefunder projects as Kickstarter tech campaigns, but you can find some impressive talent here. Browse through the Technology section to see up-and-coming tech companies that could change the world.
Screenshot: Joel Cunningham
The Gadget Flow is a hybrid crowdfunding platform and an e-commerce site. It features 23,000 products across 250 categories and is still growing.
This product discovery platform lets you browse through and buy tech you may not find anywhere else. You can also follow creators, explore products in virtual reality (VR), and get notifications about product launches and sales.
Filter your options by trending products, most popular products, or staff picks, or just browse to your heart’s content. The unique part about this platform is its community of dedicated followers and Gadget Flow’s endless amount of tech to choose from. You can trust that your purchase is going to a verified seller with a passion for their product.
