125 startups in this batch
Summer 2017 was defined by the peak of the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) explosion and a pivot toward high-stakes hard tech and climate infrastructure. While the broader market was distracted by the first major ICO craze, this cohort focused on digitizing legacy industries like construction and energy storage, operating in a macro environment of low interest rates and aggressive growth expectations.
This batch validated that vertical integration was the primary lever for disrupting stagnant sectors like commercial construction and recruitment. They proved that industrial buyers were finally ready for nanotechnology and decarbonization if it offered cost-parity, and that niche marketplaces could thrive by aggregating highly specialized, pre-vetted talent pools that LinkedIn ignored.
Many startups in this cohort hit a wall when the operational complexity of physical supply chains and manual coordination outpaced their software margins. The core failure was often an over-reliance on human-heavy operations to bridge the gap between their software and the real world, leading to unsustainable Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC) as the DTC and marketplace sectors became oversaturated.
A solo builder today can use AI-agentic workflows to replace the massive coordination teams these 2017 founders had to hire for project management and recruiting. The 2026 wedge is rebuilding these vertically integrated models where LLMs handle the messy middle—the vetting, scheduling, and procurement—allowing a lean team to achieve the scale that previously required hundreds of employees.
10by10 is a unique marketplace in the recruiting agency industry for…
Advano is a battery technology company that improve the longevity of…
We help dealerships appraise vehicle trade-ins more efficiently…
The online coding school that invests in you.
Caelum Health is replacing drugs with software. We use behavioral…
CCG.ai empowers clinicians to make personalised treatment strategies…
First agentic AI-powered community for 1 billion people with criminal…
#1 Collectibles Marketplace: Authentic Vinyl Toys, Comics, Funko Pop
The Complete Listing Toolkit for the New Era of Real Estate
Fat Llama is the first fully insured peer-to-peer rental marketplace.…
Email-based personal assistant that sends reminders at specified times using simple email syntax.
Digital Co-op Renters Insurance = half the price, better coverage.
Headstart uses Machine Learning to help companies decide on who to…
Customize videos to be more relevant and improve business outcomes.
LTSE is an ecosystem for visionary business.
Transforming cities and rural areas through AV transit and technology
At-home fertility test for women who aren't ready for kids right now…
We help kids stay curious by creating better explanations.
Mystro is an app that makes rideshare drivers up to 30% more money by…
NextDrop is the water marketplace for urban India. We connect water…
Cheese and dairy products from plant-derived dairy proteins
Passerine Aircraft is building the next generation of dronesWe are…
Pop Meals is a restaurant chain without chefs. All recipes are…
Rapid, scalable diagnostic for SARS-CoV-2 and beyond
Code review as a service - combining automation with a network of…
Dating & relationship coaching sessions for individuals and couples
Health enterprise API for data on doctors, insurance, costs, & quality
We save lives by giving police and health workers key info to safely…
Sales software for roofers. Aerial measurements + proposals in seconds
Social Construct designs and assembles large apartment buildings …
Value-based retinal screening in primary care to prevent blindness.
Sunfolding builds next generation infrastructure for solar farms. By…
Platform to help commercial insurance brokers structure complicated deals online using blockchain technology.
AI-powered platform that analyzes unstructured customer feedback from multiple channels to uncover actionable insights and improve customer experience.
Turnkey security & hassle-free cyber insurance from leading insurers
Platform to defeat political extremism through strategic primary…
Platform for unique products produced on-demand at mass-scale