Kevin Gelfand and Martin Reiman, both 28, met when they pledged the same fraternity in college, and back then, they didn’t expect to start a company together. But they saw a need for affordable, quick, and healthy foods on college campuses and in 2011, during their junior year, they launched Shake Smart at their school, San Diego State University. "The gym is definitely one of the most popular areas on campus, but the food options never really matched that," Reiman says. "We would exist off [pre-made] protein drinks for most of our time there and most of them are awful--that was never really a great experience." Their San Diego-based startup makes and sells protein shakes, sandwiches, wraps, acai bowls, and cold brew coffee, all for between $3 and $7. Customers use the company’s proprietary self-order system, which keeps hiring costs low and ensures that menu prices fit within the budget of most college students. Last year, the company saw more than $3.6 million in revenue, expanded to 10 restaurants on campuses in California, Texas, and Florida, and employed more than 150 people. The co-founders raised nearly $1.5 million in total funding from friends and family, personal savings, and loans. --Emily Canal

Solace Technologies' first year of business was about what you'd expect from a startup--funds were tight and the company's founders, who didn't take a salary for 12 months, worked from a basement in an office building in downtown Los Angeles. But they stuck with it. The nicotine liquid manufacturer has grown mightily since then, reaching $3.7 million in 2017 revenue. And soon it will move into a 40,000-square-foot facility north of the city.

Amid stiff competition, in 2016, the company began producing a different formula of nicotine liquid, which is used inside vaporizers and e-cigarettes. Its new product, made with nicotine salt, is considered more satisfying for people addicted to nicotine, as it mimics the buzz of a cigarette. More and more distributors began carrying their products and Solace started making nicotine salt liquid for a couple of big tobacco companies. With the recent acquisition of its contract manufacturer, Solace estimates it will bring in $18.1 million in annual revenue by the end of 2018. --Will Yakowicz

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