Charlotte-based startup Vishion is a new mobile tool that lets users search for products from a variety of popular brands by color and hue. The app went live earlier this week, and is already positioning itself as a critical tool for interior designers and homeowners alike. We recently spoke with Samantha Smith, Vishion’s Founder and CEO, to learn more about the mobile tool, Charlotte’s startup ecosystem, and local diversity and inclusion initiatives to increase the voices of overlooked entrepreneurs.

Blerp, a Salt Lake City-based search platform, was started by three college friends as a side project while attending the University of Utah. Today, the audio sharing service is integrated with a number of large-scale social media and streaming platforms—including iOS, Android, Twitch, and Discord—and provides users with the opportunity to create and share audio clips with their friends and other online users. We recently had the chance to speak with Derek Omori, Blerp’s co-founder and Director of Operations, to learn more about the app, the Salt Lake City startup ecosystem, and how the company is working to moderate and share audio content in a fun and family-friendly manner.

Located in the rapidly growing Charlotte region, BAM Concepts is working to evaluate consumer products, such as razors, and then use technology to improve their benefits for consumers. We recently spoke with Attila Madarasz—one of BAM Concept’s three founders and the firm’s managing director—to learn more about the startup’s mission, the Charlotte ecosystem, and the company’s goals moving forward.

Located in the Sacramento region, OpenGrants is a new startup that’s working to provide equitable access to public funding through the use of software and data products. We recently spoke with Sedale Turbovsky—OpenGrants’ Founder and CEO—to learn more about his startup’s work, his concerns about public funding transparency, and what federal agencies can do to further promote entrepreneurial engagement.

Located in The Queen City, software startup 10XTS is using blockchain and distributed ledger technologies to help drive the next generation of regulatory compliant financial services data management. We recently spoke with Michael Hiles, 10XTS’s CEO, to learn more about his startup’s work, the Cincinnati startup ecosystem, and his work on behalf of the Token Taxonomy Act to support the development of the U.S. blockchain industry. 

Braid Theory, a strategic advisory firm for entrepreneurs, is proving collaboration works by helping startups enter the marketplace and gain access to their customers. Based in San Pedro, the globally-focused firm is helping to establish an entrepreneurial ecosystem close to the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. We recently spoke with Ann Carpenter, the CEO of Braid Theory, to learn more about the firm’s work supporting startups and entrepreneurs.

MyTaask, a new Alabama-based project management platform, is using machine learning to help workers of all ages plan and fulfill their projects. We recently spoke with Thkisha Sanogo, the Founder and CEO of MyTaask, to learn a little more about her company and the Alabama startup ecosystem.

All too often, startups and other companies across the country fail to take advantage of local, state, and federal business incentive programs that could help them grow. IncentiLock, a St. Louis-based startup, is working to ease the incentive headache for startups and governments alike by offering software to automatically calculate tax credits and incentive benefits. We recently spoke with Jane Vancil, IncentiLock’s founder and CEO, to learn more about the company and Missouri’s startup ecosystem.

New Haven, the home of Yale University, is quickly emerging as a hub of entrepreneurial activity in Connecticut. One of the organizations spurring early-stage startup development in The Elm City is Collab, a community-led accelerator that works to build up the confidence, skills, and resources available to emerging founders. We recently spoke with Caroline Smith and Margaret Lee—the co-founders and co-directors of Collab—to learn more about the accelerator’s work, the Connecticut startup ecosystem, and the work they’re doing to empower future entrepreneurs. 

Salt Lake City is the original home of Mobius Audio, a music-focused startup that is using the latest technology to create a multidimensional sound platform for recording artists while teaching them to function as their own businesses. Carter Pochynok, the founder of Mobius, is using his background in music to guide the emerging company through its seed funding stage as it looks to establish itself on an international scale. We recently caught up with Carter to discuss his policy concerns, Mobius’ work and future, and what lawmakers can do to better support U.S. entrepreneurs. 

Chicago has the highest concentration of female-led startups in the United States, with more than one-third of the city’s startups run by women. One of these successful women-run businesses is Cloche Invest, a recently launched investment platform focused on helping millennial women grow their wealth. Ari Carter, the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Cloche Invest, saw that current investment platforms were not adequately catering to the needs of young women. Together with her Co-Founder, Peyton Pritikin, Ari is focused on creating a new generation of financially independent women.

Pittsburgh may be nicknamed the Steel City, but a new and exciting startup is highlighting the growing entrepreneurial community emerging in western Pennsylvania. Shimira Williams, the co-founder of C.C. Busy and a former child care provider, is using voice assistant devices to help providers do their jobs better -- an approach that has already garnered early interest from the state of Pennsylvania, nonprofits, and child care providers.