Weekly Roundups: 4 Austin Startups to Watch
Want to stay up to date on the latest startup fundings, launches, and expansions in Austin? Startup Over Coffee’s weekly roundup of Austin startups to watch will keep you in the...
Want to stay up to date on the latest startup fundings, launches, and expansions in Austin? Startup Over Coffee’s weekly roundup of Austin startups to watch will keep you in the loop on the latest Austin tech news. Catch up on previous weekly roundups here.
Testlio, an Austin-based company, is changing the game when it comes to software testing. The startup uses its software testing management platform, a global network of expert testers, and robust client services to power burstable testing to help clients, including major players such as Microsoft and Netflix, to produce faster products through on-demand testing on any device. According to Built in Austin, Testlio recently raised a $12 million Series B funding round, making the company’s total funding reach roughly $20 million.
Currently, the company plans on adding 79 employees in 2022 and is actively hiring over 30 full-time employees. As the demand for software testing continues to soar, Testlio’s new funding will assist the company in growing its client services, expanding platform capabilities and brand awareness, and branching out its sales footprint.
With the pandemic affecting millions of lives in the U.S., health insurance has become more critical than ever. Unfortunately, lack of health insurance and expensive hospital bills have affected low-income and deprived families, making it difficult to pay off health costs. Sana, an Austin-based insurtech startup, is implementing ways to provide small and medium-sized businesses with health insurance plans 20 percent cheaper than average plans. Announced in Built in Austin, it has prolonged its Series A funding round, doubling the funds to $40.8 million.
Although some of its funding will increase its customer base to different states, Sana’s goal is to open an Austin primary care clinic. CEO Will Young hopes to have the clinic open by the end of the year. Currently, Sana employs 130 people, with two-third working remotely. As services continue to expand in Austin and other states, Sana is actively hiring and aims to reach a headcount of 150 by the end of this year.
Just before the stay-at-home mandate was ordered throughout the nation, San Francisco-based startup Airtable was newly settling into Austin. From the time the company moved to Austin, Airtable has raised its employee count from five to 105 employees, all working remotely. As more offices are opening back up, Airtable is slowly opening its new office space at 501 Congress Ave., previously occupied by Austin’s Dropbox team. According to Austin Inno, up to 50% of Airtable employees are allowed in the office.
Although the company requires all in-person employees to be vaccinated and continues social distance around office spaces and conference rooms, Airtable has found ways of building stronger employee relationships, such as hosting employee workout sessions at Zilker Park. In addition, the pandemic has affected many people’s mental health and mindset while working, causing Airtable to adapt to these changes. For example, the company offers four “recharge days” per year for non-essential employees. These rechargeable days allow employees to have extra vacation days throughout the year, which is implemented to help avoid burnout.
According to Built in Austin, Everly Health has recently acquired Natalist. Founded in 2019, Natalist is a women’s health company that provides eco-friendly pregnancy, conception, and other reproductive products. With Natalist being Everly Health’s third acquisition this year, Every Health has grown to four subsidiaries: Everlywell, EverlyDX, Everly Health Solution, and Natalist. Earlier this year, Everly Health raised a Series D $250 million funding round. Amidst its new funding, Natalist will help expand the company’s at-home women health tests.
About Michelle Vernaza: Michelle is a Business Development Associate Intern for Swyft, which is a tech PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing and PR agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft also has a small satellite office where it offers tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft has been listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas for two years running by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.