YC W21 Demo Day: Standout Companies (Second Half)

The extensive Y Combinator Demo Day has concluded, featuring presentations from over 300 companies throughout an eight-hour period.

Previously, we showcased several companies that garnered attention during the initial portion of the event. We now present our selections from the latter half of the day’s pitches.

Diverse Innovations on Display

The showcased startups represent a broad spectrum of ideas. This includes a platform facilitating the resale of formal attire, and a company developing autonomous street cleaning vehicles.

The range of innovation was truly remarkable, demonstrating the breadth of talent within the YC program.

Accessing the Full YC W21 Catalog

For those interested in exploring the complete roster of companies from this cohort, Y Combinator provides a comprehensive catalog of publicly-launched W21 companies.

• You can find the full list here.

This resource allows for a detailed review of all participants and their respective ventures.

Terra

During a recent demo day, my attention was particularly drawn to startups concentrating on service delivery through APIs, rather than fully managed software solutions. Several companies fit this description, including Pitbit.ai, Bimaplan, Enode, and Terra.

Terra particularly resonated with me as it addresses a challenge I find significant: the fragmentation of fitness data. My running metrics are confined to one application, cycling data to another, and strength training information remains unrecorded, though an API for the latter seems unlikely at this stage.

Essentially, Terra facilitates improved connectivity between fitness applications, enabling seamless data exchange. The company’s representatives compared their venture to Plaid, a common analogy in recent times.

They propose to replicate Plaid’s success in the financial sector, but within the realm of fitness and health data.

Attracting developer adoption will likely present obstacles, as many existing apps aim to be the central hub for user workouts. However, I desire a more integrated approach, and I am hopeful that Terra will achieve its objectives.

— Alex

AgendaPro

An image depicting AgendaPro is included for visual reference.

Positioning itself as the “Shopify for beauty and wellness” within the Latin American market, AgendaPro aims to empower small businesses by facilitating online appointment scheduling and payment processing.

Key Metrics and Growth

While the concept isn’t groundbreaking compared to some of today’s innovations – such as carbon capture or accelerated drug discovery – AgendaPro presented compelling data. The company has achieved a Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of $152,000, translating to an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) exceeding $1.8 million.

Notably, AgendaPro boasts gross margins of 89%, which is exceptionally high for a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider.

Market Opportunity

Currently, over 3,000 merchants utilize AgendaPro’s platform. The company estimates a potential serviceable market of over four million businesses.

Capturing even a small percentage of revenue from this extensive base could result in substantial growth for AgendaPro, highlighting the appeal of a focused, vertical SaaS approach.

— Alex

Atom Bioworks

The development of a programmable DNA machine represents a significant ambition within the field of biochemistry. These innovative tools enable the precise “coding” of molecules. This allows for reliable binding to specific targets, such as particular substances or cell types.

Such capability unlocks a range of subsequent actions. For example, a DNA machine could identify and attach to COVID-19 viruses.

Following attachment, it could then emit a chemical signal to denote infection, and subsequently neutralize the viral threat. A similar approach could be applied to target cancer cells or bacteria. Atom Bioworks appears to have made substantial progress in this area.

The company’s findings have been published in Nature Chemistry, a highly respected scientific journal. They are now focused on translating this research into commercially viable products.

Currently, Atom Bioworks is developing a COVID-19 test with a projected cost of just 27 cents. Furthermore, they are working on methods for both detecting and eliminating other viruses and cancerous cells.

Atom Bioworks anticipates receiving Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA in June. Following authorization, the company forecasts revenue of $110 million.

Previous attempts to create similar all-encompassing solutions have not yet yielded the desired results. However, Atom’s demonstrated efficacy against COVID-19 is particularly noteworthy.

Any additional applications of this technology would represent further significant advancements.

— Devin

Forcyte

Forcyte represents a distinctive approach within the biotechnology sector. Unlike many firms focused on traditional chemistry or molecular biology, Forcyte concentrates on the tangible physical processes occurring within cells.

Systematic observation of these phenomena presents a significant challenge, and previous attempts utilizing specialized hardware have not always succeeded, as evidenced by the case of Venneos.

Core Technology

Forcyte’s innovative system employs a micropatterned surface. This allows for the observation of individual cells, with a particular focus on cellular contraction and alterations in shape.

The physical constriction and relaxation of cells are fundamentally linked to the progression and treatment of numerous critical diseases. Consequently, the ability to monitor and analyze these changes is invaluable to researchers.

Applications and Validation

The company is strategically positioned to facilitate large-scale drug testing, specifically targeting compounds that influence these physical properties.

Forcyte reports identifying potential therapeutic candidates for lung fibrosis. Furthermore, a publication in Nature and a $2.5 million SBIR award from the National Institutes of Health demonstrate substantial credibility.

These achievements indicate a strong level of confidence in Forcyte’s technology and its potential impact.

— Devin

Pickle

Pickle is a platform designed to generate key insights and actionable notes from both phone conversations and video conferences.

Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, this company focuses on identifying valuable information that can empower businesses to enhance their customer interactions.

Currently, Pickle’s natural language processing capabilities offer integrations with popular tools like Zoom, Zapier, and HubSpot.

The Core Value Proposition

The primary benefit offered by Pickle lies in its potential to elevate the performance of sales teams.

By providing more comprehensive customer data, sales representatives can be better equipped to tailor their approach and improve outcomes.

As of now, Pickle serves a customer base of 26 businesses, generating $12,000 in monthly recurring revenue.

A Natural Progression in Meeting Tools

This development represents a crucial advancement in the realm of live transcription services.

Consider the potential for a company such as Otter.ai – a tool frequently used for daily transcription – to significantly benefit from the addition of automated meeting summaries.

Another startup, Spot, is exploring similar functionality for one-on-one walking meetings between managers and their teams.

However, Pickle differentiates itself through its current focus on a specific customer segment.

— Natasha

PingPong

The year 2020 witnessed a surge in the utilization of enterprise video conferencing, with Zoom being a prominent example.

However, the expansion of remote work and geographically dispersed teams introduced new hurdles in maintaining effective synchronization.

Addressing the Challenges of Remote Collaboration

PingPong is designed to capitalize on the evolving trends in social video, particularly those favored by Generation Z.

It focuses on developing an enterprise-level solution centered around concise video communications.

Key Features and Functionality

This application functions as an asynchronous video platform.

It is specifically tailored for product teams operating in a remote-first environment.

• The platform integrates brief video and audio chat functionalities.
• Screen sharing capabilities are also included.

These features work together to facilitate team connectivity while minimizing the overwhelming influx of direct messages.

Pricing and Integration

The service is offered at a rate of $100 per user annually.

Integration with Slack is available, ensuring a streamlined and organized message management system.

— Lucas

Hermes Robotics

For some time now, the widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles has consistently been predicted to occur within two to three years, a timeframe that has persisted for roughly a decade. Despite this, the reality remains that such vehicles are still two to three years away from becoming commonplace.

However, technologies that may not yet be prepared for high-speed highway driving could prove highly effective in specific, limited applications.

A Niche Application: Street Cleaning

Hermes Robotics has identified one such application within the realm of street-cleaning vehicles. Interestingly, the viability of this approach appears remarkably clear in hindsight.

Street-cleaning trucks operate at relatively low speeds, following pre-defined routes and schedules. Their operational scenarios and potential failure points are generally quite predictable.

Furthermore, the task of operating these vehicles is likely to be monotonous for human drivers!

Retrofitting Existing Fleets

This presents an ideal opportunity for automation. Hermes Robotics is currently providing retrofitting services, a strategy that appears more pragmatic.

Cities and waste-management organizations have already made substantial investments in existing vehicle fleets. Adapting these fleets with autonomous technology is a more efficient path than wholesale replacement.

Hermes Robotics has already secured initial customers. Establishing a presence in this market now will likely provide a significant advantage, making it difficult for competitors to gain traction later.

— Devin

Clay

The description "Figma for 3D design" has been circulating.

Typically, I find such “X for Y” comparisons uninspiring, but in this instance, the analogy is remarkably apt.

Figma has quickly become the dominant platform in 2D design, streamlining collaboration and facilitating feedback among designers. Its popularity surged during the pandemic, addressing the challenges of remote work.

The ability to collaborate on designs in real-time, without the constant exchange of files, proved invaluable when team members were geographically separated.

It stands to reason that a similar approach would be highly effective in the realm of 3D design. Existing 3D tools are often complex, generate large and unwieldy files, and many artists have adapted to remote workflows over the past year.

Currently, Clay is operating within a private beta program.

— Greg

LightTwist

LightTwist aims to bring the virtual production techniques utilized in productions such as The Mandalorian – where a live actor performs against a dynamically shifting, digitally created environment – within reach for individual content creators.

The system functions by capturing video of the performer using a dedicated iPhone application. This footage is then transmitted to the cloud for processing and subsequent rendering.

A demonstration of the final output can be viewed in the video provided above. While still in its initial stages of development, the technology is remarkably promising.

It represents a concept that could readily be acquired by established companies in the field, like Unreal or Unity. LightTwist was established by Vikas Reddy, a founder of both Occipital – a pioneer in spatial computing and portable 3D room scanning – and RedLaser, an early barcode scanning application later purchased by eBay in 2010.

— Greg

Lead Distribution with Power Router

A new lead enters your Salesforce system. Determining the appropriate salesperson to handle it is crucial for timely follow-up.

Power Router provides a user-friendly, visual interface for creating automated lead assignment rules. This allows for quicker routing of leads to sales representatives based on criteria such as geographic location, potential deal value, time off, and pre-existing client connections.

Should a representative be unavailable due to vacation, leads are automatically redirected to the next available team member. Furthermore, if a representative’s response time is lagging, the lead can be instantly reassigned.

In scenarios where delayed responses can result in lost opportunities, automating the lead distribution process becomes highly beneficial. Power Router empowers users to implement custom rules without requiring any coding expertise or ongoing maintenance.

The company offers subscription pricing ranging from $15 to $35 per user monthly, contingent upon the selected feature set. Currently, they report an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of $200,000 with more than 30 teams utilizing the platform.

— Greg

Gradia Health

The methods by which information is conveyed – encompassing everything from pre-colonoscopy guidelines to sourcing local obstetrician-gynecologists – require modernization in the doctor-patient dynamic. Gradia Health is actively working to spearhead this transformation.

This startup assists medical practices in enhancing patient outcomes through the delivery of tailored information and timely reminders both preceding and following appointments. Currently, Gradia Health has achieved $150,000 in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).

The company’s ambition is to facilitate improved communication strategies for the approximately 230,000 clinics operating across the United States.

A Shift Towards Value-Based Care

Gradia Health represents one of a growing number of startups focused on motivating physicians to prioritize patient results over simply the number of visits. This approach is commonly referred to as value-based care.

By focusing on outcomes, the healthcare system can potentially improve efficiency and patient satisfaction.

This model incentivizes preventative care and proactive management of health conditions.

— Natasha

Queenly

Queenly facilitates the rental and resale of dresses for customers of varying ages and sizes. Though frequently contrasted with Rent the Runway, the company positions itself as more akin to the StockX marketplace.

The startup has already achieved profitability and reported a Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of $97,000 in March.

A Different Approach to Inventory

A key distinction between Queenly and Rent the Runway lies in their inventory management. Unlike Rent the Runway, Queenly does not maintain a physical inventory of dresses.

This strategy allows the company to minimize expenses related to warehousing and shipping. Instead, Queenly operates as a platform connecting customers directly for dress exchanges.

Consequently, Queenly has amassed an inventory exceeding that of both Macy’s and Rent the Runway.

Achieving Product-Market Fit

Notably, Queenly discovered its product-market fit during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when casual wear dominated consumer choices.

In an exclusive interview with TechCrunch, co-founders Trisha Bantigue and Kathy Zhou revealed that the company generated $500,000 in sales during the previous year.

This demonstrates a remarkable ability to thrive even amidst challenging circumstances.

— Natasha