While Manhattan may be a business mecca, Brooklyn, New York, is quickly becoming a hotspot for startups to launch and scale their innovative ideas. From clean energy products to disruptive beverage brands taking on major coffee chains, Brooklyn is a place to look for the latest in startup culture.
Whether you’re looking to find startup jobs, invest in a Brooklyn startup, or gain inspiration to launch a business of your own, these are the top Brooklyn startups to watch this year.
Best Brooklyn Startups to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation, tech, and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the best Brooklyn, New York startups of 2024 that startup lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting startups launching and growing, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. BlocPower
- Industry: Greentech, Clean Energy
- Founders: Keith Kinch, Morris Cox
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Grant, $266.6 Million
- Investors Include: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Goldman Sachs, New York Ventures
The concept of smart, sustainable cities has reached the masses, with startups like BlocPower developing clean technologies to create healthier, greener, and more intelligent buildings for the future. Connecting government agencies, utility companies, building owners, and advanced technology, BlocPower is able to provide eco-friendly heating and cooling infrastructure for urban communities.
2. Teamshares
- Industry: Fintech, Financial Services
- Founders: Alex Eu, Kevin Shiiba, Michael Brown
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series D, $126.7 Million
- Investors Include: Khosla Ventures, Unique Square Ventures, QED Investors
Teamshares is a Brooklyn-based fintech startup rooted in the belief that employee ownership is the future of small business. The startup buys small businesses from owners seeking to retire, granting 10% ownership of the business’s stock to employees and, over time, placing 80% of the business ownership into the hands of employees.
3. Revel
- Industry: Mobility, Electric Vehicles
- Founders: Frank Reig, Paul Suhey
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Debt Financing, $214 Million
- Investors Include: Blackrock, Goodyear Ventures, Shell Ventures
The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and more sustainable transportation options has been increasing in recent years. Revel is one startup making waves in the sector with its innovative all-electric rideshare service and superhubs of chargers, providing not only electric mobility solutions but also electric infrastructure.
4. Nowsta
- Industry: Enterprise Software
- Founders: Armand Patella, Nicholas Lillios
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series C, $89.6 Million
- Investors Include: GreatPoint Ventures, VMG Partners, Builders VC
Nowsta is empowering the hourly and event-based workforce with its innovative software-as-a-service (SaaS) product. Built to support these workers by providing management with scheduling, time tracking, hiring, and fintech solutions, Nowsta is an all-in-one platform for the flex workforce across hospitality, catering, colleges, and more sectors.
5. ElevenLabs
- Industry: Artificial Intelligence
- Founders: Mati Staniszewski, Piotr Dabkowski
- Founded In: 2022
- Funding: Series A, $21 Million
- Investors Include: TheSoul Publishing, Nat Friedman, SVA
ElevenLabs is a fast-growing tech startup researching and developing voice AI methods. On a mission to make content enjoyable and accessible in any language or voice, the startup has created a generative voice AI tool that creates natural AI voices instantly in any language.
6. Blank Street
- Industry: Coffee, Foodtech
- Founders: Issam Freiha, Vinay Menda
- Founded In: 2020
- Funding: Series B, $113.8 Million
- Investors Include: General Catalyst, Tiger Global Management, Left Lane Capital
Blank Street is taking the coffee industry by storm. A coffee company driven by technology, Blank Street has incorporated automated espresso machines, promoting better customer relationships and cutting costs across the board. Notably, the startup is backed by several top-tier venture capital firms – uncommon in the coffee sector.
7. CookUnity
- Industry: Food & Beverage
- Founders: Lucia Cisilotto, Mateo Marietti, Matias Serebrinsky
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series Unknown, $121.9 Million
- Investors Include: Fuel Venture Capital, Insight Partners, Endeavor Catalyst
CookUnity is a meal subscription startup connecting consumers with private chefs. On the platform, users are able to order personalized weekly meal deliveries with health in mind. Using the highest quality ingredients, sustainability programs, and advanced technology, CookUnity is an elevated take on meal delivery services for the conscious consumer.
8. Paperspace
- Industry: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
- Founders: Daniel Kobran, Dillon Erb
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series Unknown, $35 Million
- Investors Include: Intel Capital, SineWave Ventures, DCVC
Combining cloud computing and machine learning (ML), Paperspace allows users to develop, train, and deploy machine learning models. Used by single consumers, startups, and large corporations, the platform makes it easier, faster, and more collaborative to build and scale AI models.
9. Getaway
- Industry: Travel, Hospitality
- Founders: Jon Staff
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series C, $81.5 Million
- Investors Include: Certares, Starwood Capital Group, Alumni Ventures
Getaway is a startup that lives at the crossroads of travel and wellness. The platform provides cabin rentals in serene, natural landscapes that promote a technology-free, digital detox vacation experience for customers.
10. Minerva
- Industry: Software
- Founders: Craig T. Wood, Joaquin Roca, Rafael Gonzaque
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Seed, $5.1 Million
- Investors Include: Craft Ventures, Max Ventures, Tribe Capital
Minerva makes it simple to build the perfect interactive demo in every language in only a few steps. Users can easily capture their flow using the software with Minerva building corresponding demos quickly. Then, simply customize and share demos using a variety of sharing features included with the software.
11. United Sodas of America
- Industry: Ecommerce, Food & Beverage
- Founders: Marisa Zupan
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Seed, $4.3 Million
- Investors Include: Undisclosed
United Sodas of America is an innovative beverage company selling non-alcoholic sodas online and in stores across the US. With bright, minimalist branding and innovative flavors powered by organic sweeteners, United Sodas of America is an alternative to traditional sodas and alcoholic beverages in a better-for-you package.
12. Finaloop
- Industry: Fintech, Ecommerce
- Founders: Eliran Azulai, Lioran Pinchevski, Omri Haim, Yaron Revah
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Seed, $17 Million
- Investors Include: Accel, Axon Ventures, Aleph
Finaloop is an accounting software for ecommerce businesses from direct-to-consumer (DTC) to wholesalers. The Finaloop platform connects all accounts from credit cards to loans then the team gets to work building your personalized books — for free. Beyond this initial service, the startup offers full-service bookkeeping to manage business finances and streamline tax filings.
13. MikMak
- Industry: Ecommerce, Marketing
- Founders: Rachel Tipograph
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series A, $14 Million
- Investors Include: Wavecrest Growth Partners, Lunch Partners, Brave Ventures
MikMak is an ecommerce enablement and analytics platform. Built to help multi-channel brands grow their global presence, MikMak is used by major companies from Kellogg’s to Heineken to Hershey’s to grow their brands and deliver impactful data from a variety of sources.
14. Kelvin
- Industry: Sustainability
- Founders: Marshall Cox
- Founded In: 2013
- Funding: Convertible Note, $35.9 Million
- Investors Include: 2150, Third Sphere, National Science Foundation
Kelvin provides energy management solutions for radiator-heated buildings, bringing new technologies to old structures. With Kelvin’s thermostatic radiator enclosures or ‘Cozys,’ building owners have the potential for higher earnings while tenants gain streamlined temperature control and improved safety.
15. Propel
- Industry: Apps, Fintech
- Founders: Jeff Kaiser, Jimmy Chen, Ram Mehta, Shelly Ni
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series B, $68.2 Million
- Investors Include: Andreessen Horowitz, Jared Leto, Salesforce Ventures
Propel is a fintech startup dedicated to developing powerful software for low-income Americans. With their free mobile application, Propel users are able to more easily manage benefits, contribute to their savings accounts, and generate income.
Final Thoughts
With Manhattan a short subway ride away, it is no surprise that the startup culture of the Big Apple has made its way to Brooklyn. Startups innovating in every category, from better-for-you food products to fintech software for lower-income individuals, have created a startup ecosystem worth paying attention to in Brooklyn, New York.
While these are the top Brooklyn startups to watch now, this area is continuously growing with new, exciting companies to follow. Check back for more Brooklyn, New York startups you should be watching this year.