Dallas is turning out some of the hottest new startups the South has seen in a long time. Varying from hospitality to clothing, Dallas has it all. In the end, though, they’re all looking to fix a pre-existing problem or make something better that already exists – not building Snapchat’s competition. I wonder if that comes from the down-home style of the South or just the practicality that most of the founders I know around these parts have.
With Dallas Startup Week in full swing, I compiled a list of the top 10 startups I think are just killing it in their own ways and asked them to tell me about the best part of building a company in Dallas. Here they are (in no particular order), the top 10 Dallas startups on fire right now:
PICKUP
PICKUP is an on-demand delivery service that allows you to request the services of pick-up drivers and their vehicles. Basically Uber, except the drivers help you move things with their pick-ups.
According to PICKUP CEO Brenda Stoner:
The best part of Dallas: Great city, great people, and talent, great hospitality.
Mend
Mend provides on-demand urgent care to your doorstep at the touch of a button.
According to Mend cofounder Lauren Clarke:
The best part of Dallas: There is a tremendous amount of support in the Dallas-Fort Worth community for starting a business. The innovation and entrepreneurial soil here is very rich!
Glass-Media, Inc.
Glass-Media is a digital, projection-based POP platform, transforming both in-store and storefront place-based communication for brick-and-mortar brands. Print media becomes a dynamic, engaging interaction that captivates customers while software simultaneously performs real-time data analytics.
According to Glass-Media CEO Daniel Black:
Best part of Dallas: Standard of Living; Southern hospitality; Texas dominates the Fortune 500 list; and it’s centrally-located
Veux
Veux is an online women’s apparel and accessories retailer that gives back 5 percent percent to charity on every purchase. They rotate those charities out monthly.
According to Veux CEO Erin Ballard:
The best part of Dallas: This is the best city for startups. Everyone in Dallas is extremely supportive of new companies. The avenues of support are everywhere.
Sew Chill
Sew Chill offers children’s boutique clothing sizes 6-12 months through 10 years with a focus/emphasis on style, price and most importantly comfort. The company offers affordable fashions that suit a variety of styles!
The best part of Dallas: The diversity of cultures and trends which makes designing fun and inspiring.
PediaQ
PediaQ disrupts the $16 billion urgent care market by introducing the first mobile technology platform for pediatric urgent care House Calls and TeleConsults.
According to PediaQ CEO Jon O’Sullivan:
Best part of Dallas: Dallas has a great economy for launching new products; there’s large market potential; access to funding; and a great startup community/ecosystem.
NMSA Consulting
A technology consulting firm focusing on product design, enterprise system implementations, and managed services.
According to NMSA Consulting cofounder Kelly Cullum:
The best part of Dallas: With large companies popping up almost every day, the talent being brought here (and their significant others) is impeccable. Pair that with cheaper cost of living and you have a winning combination.
5Miles
5Miles is a hyper-local mobile marketplace (think Craigslist-meets-Pinterest), one of the fastest-growing online shopping ventures after only a year of operation. It’s the first app of its kind to include services, housing, and jobs, in addition to second-hand trading between buyers and sellers.
According to 5Miles communications director Mark Brinkerhoff:
The best part of Dallas: Dallas is an ideal place to start a company. With a diverse workforce, dynamic economy, pro-business community, central location, enviable cost of living, and excellent quality of life, the fundamentals are well in place. And the economic and population growth trends are in our favor.
Mizzen+Main
Mizzen+Main has transformed traditional menswear. The company specializes in high-end classic men’s attire that utilizes advanced performance fabrics bringing men moisture wicking, wrinkle free, four-way stretch dress shirts, chinos, and a range of other garments that are all proudly American made.
According to Mizzen+Main CEO Kevin Lavell:
The best part of Dallas: The best parts of working in Dallas are the booming economy, strong investor and corporate network, cost of living and tax rates, and of course American Airlines at DFW offering a 2.5-hour flight to pretty much anywhere in the country.
Open Key
OpenKey offers a universal hotel key from the fingertips of your phone. The company is redefining the way a hotel guest accesses their room by providing keyless entry via smartphones.
According to Open Key senior director of product Jon Alsup:
The best part of Dallas: The pool of talent and low expenses to live & operate a business.
This article is part of a Startup Week content series brought to you by Chase for Business. Startup Week is celebration of entrepreneurs in cities around the globe. Chase for Business is everything a business needs in one place, from expert advice to valuable products and services. The Startup Week tour is almost over, but stay tuned as it winds down with news from Columbus and Detroit.
