Why You Want to Watch These Startups

Earlier Tuesday, we published this year’s edition of The Information 50, our annual list of startups to watch. The list is intended as a guide to companies that haven’t yet broken through, but bear watching as candidates for future public listings or big-ticket acquisitions. Our task was complicated this year by the downturn in startup funding: Venture capitalists completed fewer deals in the third quarter than in any quarter in three years. The total deal value for the period was the lowest in nearly six years. 

We covered the highlights here, but a close examination of the list reveals additional insights. One is entrepreneurs’ tenacity in the face of uncertain markets and tighter funding. Ten of our 50 companies were founded last year or this year, as VCs tightened their belts after the pandemic-era sugar high. It’s no surprise that five of those 10 are artificial intelligence companies, VCs’ favorite children for the moment.