8 TVL Portfolio Companies Make Austin Chamber's Startup "A List"
Eight TVL portfolio companies made the Austin Chamber of Commerce's "A List" of startups including: eCampus Tutors, Gazzang, InfoChimps, Hurricane Party, Ordoro, Ortho Kinematics, Mass Relevance, and Loku. Additional University of Texas/McCombs Alumni founded companies include: QCue, Famigo, Karmaback, and Clearbrook Imaging.
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AUSTIN CHAMBER DEBUTS 'A LIST' OF STARTUPS WITH STRONG GROWTH POTENTIAL
Austin startups in search of funding are getting a boost from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber had area investors put together the first "Austin A List," which features more than 30 Central Texas firms they believe have strong growth potential.
"Austin has a great reputation in regards to entrepreneurism, with enormous potential to both recruit new startups to our area, as well as grow and expand those currently here," said Susan Davenport, the chamber's senior vice president for global technology strategies.
"In that vein, the chamber's Tech Partnership is working on numerous initiatives to better publicize Austin's potential and tell this story better."
The A List is one of those initiatives.
Chamber figures show the region has 3,800 tech companies, big and small, with a combined 100,000 employees, Davenport said.
The A List includes startups that, among other things, offer online daily deals, allow bar patrons to close out their tabs using their cellphones, help people find nearby shops and restaurants, and create and sell products to help stabilize the human spine.
For Spredfast, an Austin social media firm that made the list, "2011 was a year of tremendous growth for our company and product," said Jim Rudden, the company's chief marketing officer.
"With $14 million in growth capital raised this past year, we are excited to continue the expansion of our product offerings and team in 2012, and deliver a social business platform that helps the largest brands and agencies better manage their increasingly complex social media programs."
SpareFoot was also named to the A List. It helps consumers locate storage space.
"SpareFoot truly embraces Austin startup life, so it's an honor to be recognized in the chamber's A List," said spokeswoman Rachel Greenfield.
"Our Web marketing products for self-storage facilities are gaining popularity in the industry, and exciting developments are under way. 2012 will be an amazing year for SpareFoot."
Funding groups identified these Austin-area startups as having strong growth potential:
• Loku (formerly Borrowed Sugar)
Source: Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
