Inc.: Connecticut Start-ups to Watch for in 2024

Here’s the good news:  “Connecticut has experienced a bit of a startup renaissance in the past few years.”  That’s the opening sentence of a feature published by Inc. highlighting “Start-Ups to Watch in 2024” in the Land of Steady Habits, which goes on to explain that “Connecticut has historically had a tough time keeping companies and talent from heading to nearby New York and Boston. But the pandemic changed that.”

The “12 Connecticut startups positioned to make waves in 2024” are spread geographically across the state – including 5 in Fairfield County, 2 in New Haven, 2 in Avon, 2 in Canton, 1 in Middletown - stepping into an array of industries, led, of course by tech.  Connecticut saw 712 startups founded since 2018 the Inc. article points out; with 167 of them tech related, with healthcare, fintech, and defense tech startups most prevalent.

The dozen Connecticut start-ups to watch were identified for Inc. by  Matt DeCoursey, CEO and Founder of Full Scale, a tech-enabled services platform that helps technology companies build teams of remote software developers, testers, and leaders. DeCoursey, based in Kansas City, is also the host of Startup Hustle, a podcast, web series and community for entrepreneurs.

The featured start-ups include:

Bento Engine – Westport – An integrated content and technology solution that helps client-centric Financial Advisors deepen existing client relationships and convert more prospects faster by systematically leading with proactive advice during key Life Events and Age-Based Milestones.

CoreChain Technologies – New Haven – Described as the only network built for scale and security on enterprise Blockchain to streamline B2B Payments.  On a mission to make paperless payments effortless, and help business partners reach their full potential.

Goodroot – Canton - Launched in 2020, Goodroot is an interconnected community of companies, reinventing healthcare to make every interaction between human and health affordable, accessible and seamless. (Among them:  Sola Health)

iCleanse – Avon – Their Swift UV disinfection solution for mobile phones is a win-win for business looking to align with green initiatives and while simultaneously cutting down on expenses associated with traditional disinfection methods.

Nuwae Health – Canton – Working to lower the cost of prescription drugs for patients and payers. Ultimately, to solve the issues that drive drug prices to astronomical levels – lowering out of pocket costs and providing equitable access and outcomes for stakeholders.

Populi – Avon - Populi is on a mission to bridge the gap and deliver critical insights for provider, patient and population intelligence — all while maintaining privacy and compliance.

Primordial Labs – New Haven - Primordial Labs is developing Anura, a Tactical AI Assistant that drastically reduces operator cognitive burden. This is done by empowering users to task robots the same way they coordinate with their human teammates — via conversational, mission-type orders.

PursueCare – Middletown – Pursuecare’s vision is to make comprehensive addiction treatment and mental health services accessible to everyone, everywhere. They aim to remove the traditional obstacles to treatment that patients frequently encounter.

Qonsent – Westport - Qonsent enables a business to easily turn any customer or marketing touchpoint into a compelling user experience, focus on value exchange and deliver a consistent and sustainable view of identity and customer relationships; give people more control over the personal data that companies collect about them and how it is used.

Rellevate – Stamford - focused on developing new and flexible technologies that can turbocharge existing legacy systems in how and when recipients get paid. From new, innovative card payment solutions (instant enrollment/activation, cardless ATM, etc.) to the latest digital programs all ensuring the fastest, most secure, and most reliable money movements focused on reducing costs and execution timetables.

Sola Health – Stamford - Described as “healthcare the way it should be,” Sola Health is on a mission to deliver human-centered health plans and superior care at a lower cost - breaking the mold, freeing employers and employees from unaffordable healthcare and raising the bar for benefits in the workplace.

UncommonGood – Greenwich - With software to streamline operations, communications, marketing, financial tracking, custom website, fundraising, and so much more, for small businesses, solopreneurs, freelancers and nonprofits, all in one place.