Top Startups of 2015 | Generated by AI

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Hottest Startups in the World in 2015

In 2015, the startup ecosystem was buzzing with innovation, particularly in on-demand services, fintech, health tech, and enterprise software. Funding poured in—global VC investments hit record highs—and lists from Forbes, CNBC, Business Insider, and TechCrunch highlighted companies driving rapid growth through massive valuations, user adoption, and disruption. Forbes’ annual “Hottest Startups” list, based on valuation growth between funding rounds, crowned Uptake as #1 for its industrial IoT analytics, beating out giants like Uber and Slack. Other trends included the rise of delivery apps (e.g., DoorDash, Postmates) and e-commerce challengers to Amazon.

Below, I’ll highlight 15 standout startups from 2015, drawn from major lists. I’ve included brief descriptions, key metrics from that year (e.g., funding raised, valuation where available), and their current status as of late 2025 for context. These were selected for their buzz, funding velocity, and impact—many became unicorns or went public.

Startup Category 2015 Highlights Current Status (2025)
Uptake Industrial IoT/Analytics #1 on Forbes Hottest Startups; raised $45M at ~$1B valuation; founded by Groupon co-founder Brad Keywell; analytics for heavy industries like aviation. Acquired by Koch Industries in 2021; continues as a private B2B data platform serving Fortune 500 clients.
Slack Enterprise Communication #2 on Forbes; raised $160M at $2.8B valuation; exploded to 500K+ daily users; positioned as “email killer.” Went public in 2019 (NYSE: WORK); acquired by Salesforce in 2021 for $27B; now powers 10M+ daily active users.
DoorDash Food Delivery #1 on Forbes on-demand list; raised $112M; expanded to 20+ cities; rivaled Uber Eats early on. Public (NASDAQ: DASH) since 2020; market cap ~$50B; delivers in 7,000+ cities globally.
Postmates On-Demand Delivery #2 on Forbes; raised $138M; served 40 U.S. cities; partnerships with Walmart and others. Acquired by Uber in 2020 for $2.65B; integrated into Uber Eats, reaching 6,000+ cities.
Zenefits HR/Payroll Software #10 on Forbes; raised $500M+ at $4.5B peak valuation; free tool for SMBs, monetized via insurance commissions. Scaled back ambitions post-2015; now private with ~$1B valuation; serves 100K+ businesses.
Airbnb Travel/Sharing Economy Frequent top-10 mentions; raised $1.5B at $25B valuation; global expansion to 190 countries. Public (NASDAQ: ABNB) since 2020; market cap ~$100B; hosts 7M+ listings worldwide.
Uber Ride-Hailing #16 on Forbes despite maturity; raised $2.1B at $62.5B valuation; entered food delivery and global markets. Public (NYSE: UBER) since 2019; market cap ~$150B; operates in 10,000+ cities across 70 countries.
WeWork Co-Working Spaces #31 on Forbes; raised $433M; valued at $10B+; rapid U.S./global expansion. Public via SPAC in 2021 (NYSE: WE); restructured post-2019 scandal; now valued at ~$10B with 800+ locations.
Tanium Cybersecurity #21 on Forbes; raised $120M at $9B valuation; endpoint security for enterprises like Visa and Amazon. Private; raised $250M more since; valued at $9B+; serves 40% of Fortune 100.
Porch Home Services Marketplace Top e-commerce on Forbes; raised $65M at $500M valuation; connects homeowners with pros like plumbers. Public (NASDAQ: PRCH) since 2020; partners with 200+ insurers; serves 4M+ homeowners.
TransferWise (now Wise) Fintech/Remittances Raised $58M; 1M+ users; low-fee international transfers; valued at $3.5B. Public (LSE: WISE) since 2021; market cap ~$3B; processes $100B+ annually for 12M+ customers.
Periscope Live Streaming Acquired by Twitter pre-launch for ~$100M; 300K+ users in months; mobile-first video. Integrated into X (formerly Twitter); powers live features with millions of broadcasters.
Yik Yak Anonymous Social Raised $73.5M; 2M+ college users; local gossip app, but faced bullying controversies. Shut down in 2017; assets acquired by Square; brief 2021 relaunch failed.
Jet.com E-Commerce Raised $700M+ to challenge Amazon; beta launch with 10-15% lower prices via membership model. Acquired by Walmart in 2016 for $3.3B; rebranded as Walmart+; influences Walmart’s online strategy.
Meerkat Live Streaming 300K+ users post-SXSW launch; Twitter-integrated; sparked streaming wars. Pivoted and shut down in 2016; team joined Facebook Live; influenced modern platforms like TikTok Live.

These startups captured the 2015 zeitgeist: mobile-first, on-demand convenience, and data-driven disruption. Many (like DoorDash and Slack) not only survived but thrived into massive enterprises, while others (e.g., Yik Yak) highlight the risks. Globally, non-U.S. players like TransferWise (UK) and Deliveroo (UK, raised $195M) showed the scene’s internationalization. If you’re interested in a specific category or region, I can dive deeper!

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