New York City’s tech community has produced some incredible startups, often filling large market gaps that beg the question: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Here’s a look at seven New York companies who are turning smart ideas into a reality.
Zola is a digital wedding-gift registry aiming to take on traditional registry outfits like Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma and Amazon. The company’s online platform lets couples build personalized pages and includes features such as group gifting and virtually exchanged gifts. While couples have the option to register for traditional wedding presents like blenders, china and linens, they can also request more unique items such as Blue Apron subscriptions, artwork and wine tastings.
Abacus is aiming to eliminate the hassle of expense reporting by using technology to upend reimbursement for the modern workforce. The company’s technology offers an intelligent and predictive solution, using machine learning to pinpoint which expenses financial controllers need to review while approving about 80 percent of expenses that fall within company guidelines immediately.
Traditional insurance companies require people to pay high premiums each year with nothing in return, making money by keeping the money they don’t pay out in claims. Lemonade, a technology-driven insurance platform, is challenging that model by making homeowner and renter insurance more transparent, efficient and affordable. Lemonade charges a 20 percent flat fee from monthly policy payments, removing the bureaucracies that typically pervade the insurance industry. The company also utilizes a chatbot, Maya, to eliminate the hassle, paperwork and time needed to sign up and manage insurance.
Capsule wants to make sure you never wait in line at a pharmacy again. In lieu of physical pharmacies, Capsule provides an on-demand service for prescription medications. Through the company’s fleet of certified couriers, Capsule delivers prescriptions straight to customers’ homes or offices within a two-hour window, all for free. Within the Capsule app, users can also register their recurring prescriptions, insurance information and address to make the process even more seamless.
Harry’s is an e-commerce platform that provides an alternative to expensive drugstore-bought cartridges. The company overhauled the razor design for men, utilizing differently spaced blades for more even cutting, a rear blade for precise trimming and a rubber handle. All shaving products are sold on the company’s online platform, through which it offers customers a subscription model and one-off purchases.
Splash, an event marketing automation platform, set out to disrupt a multi-billion dollar industry. The company’s technology is a one-stop shop for corporate events, allowing companies to easily build event landing pages, sell event tickets, manage communications with guests and track how guests interact with the brand over the course of the event.
Photos provided by companies featured, Shutterstock and Facebook.
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