In 2012, Armon Dadgar and Mitchell Hashimoto founded HashiCorp to build open-source tools and commercial products for software infrastructure management. In layman speak: HashiCorp's DevOps software makes it easier for businesses to build apps. Hashimoto (CEO) and Dadgar (CTO) use the metaphor of the power grid to explain their tools: Think of an app as an electronic device, and HashiCorp services as the transmission lines that carry power to it. Except instead of connecting electronics to electricity, it helps the internet of things stay connected to the cloud servers that keep products and services running. As highly technical and obscure as the company's niche sounds, Dadgar says data-center management is potentially a $100 billion market. What makes it different from other options, say the founders and customer Twitch, is how it offers a general solution that doesn't sacrifice options for modification. That flexibility is one reason big-name customers--Dropbox, Square, Commonwealth Bank of Australia--are drawn to the service.
Note: All data as of 1/31/16

Hometeam is a health care technology startup that pairs older adults with quality, in-home health aides. Using an iPad app, aides can record important patient data and communicate in real time with physicians and family. Unlike traditional competitors, Hometeam trains the aides itself, brings them on as full-time employees and pays them $15 per hour, versus the industry standard of $9.50. What's more, it guarantees them between 30 and 40 hours of work each week, 52 weeks a year. It has raised $38.5 million in venture capital, is operational in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and licenses its software for free to hospitals and nursing homes. Co-founder Josh Bruno says his company's goal is to create "beautiful days for older adults" while simultaneously empowering the work force.
Note: All data as of 1/31/16

InstaBrand works as the middle man that connects brands with social media influencers (essentially, those who have a large Web presence and an outrageously high number of followers) to sell their products. A company looking to promote its line of accessories, for instance, may have Instagram influencers post a picture of themselves wearing one of the brand's necklaces. InstaBrand's primary goal is to bring the human element back into advertising. The company has a network of about 100,000 influencers (defined as users who have more than 10,000 followers per social media platform) and counts major names such as Airbnb and Fossil as brand clients. One of the biggest challenges InstaBrand will face will be to maintain the "organic" feel of its ad campaigns, as social media users are inundated with more and more sponsored posts.
Note: All data as of 1/31/16

The recruiting firm tackles the lack of diversity in the U.S. work force by connecting African American, Native American, and Hispanic job candidates with major companies in industries such as technology, finance, and health care. Co-founders Ryan Williams and Porter Braswell met when they worked together on Wall Street. As African Americans working in finance, both felt frustrated with the industry's troubling diversity problem, and were then inspired to launch Jopwell. For a flat fee, employers can access thousands of profiles for qualified candidates of color. To date, Jopwell has facilitated over 6,000 "connections" (meaning contact made between job seekers and HR reps), and counts Facebook, BuzzFeed, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley among its clients.
Note: All data as of 1/31/16