Santa Barbara Startup List
Curtesey of David PriccoSanta Barbara Startups & Tech Companies
“The list makes special reference to companies originated from UCSB. The list is not exhaustive, but covers the big, interesting, and important startup and tech companies in town to the extent that I am aware of them, and most of the more interesting smaller ones as well. If I’m missing anything please let me know.” – David Pricco (www.davidpricco.com)
QAD
Software > Enterprise Resource Management
Public Company, based in Santa Barbara
1,500+ Employees
Founded: 1979
QAD develops enterprise resource planning software for auto, high-tech, food, consumer products, life sciences, and industrial manufacturing companies globally. This software gives companies a platform for managing their materials, supply chain, manufacturing process, customer relationships, etc.
100 Innovation Place. Santa Barbara (Summerland)
qad.com
Citrix Online
Software > SaaS > Productivity
SB based subsidiary of a Public Company
Founded: 1997
Originally founded as ExpertCity by UCSB Computer Science professor Klaus Schauser to create an online market for computer support. ExpertCity took in $34mil in venture capital but could never quite get their support marketplace business model to work. To enable their service they had developed remote desktop sharing software, which eventually evolved into GoToAssist (remote support tool) and GoToMyPC (remote computer access).
In 2003 ExpertCity was acquired by by Citrix Systems, a big public software company specialized remote access infrastructure, for $225mil, and rebranded it as Citrix Online, retaining most key developers . Citrix Online has since fully developed GoToMeeting (online meeting software) and GoToWebinar (web conference software) products as well.
7408 Hollister Ave. Goleta
Conversant (formerly: ValueClick / Commission Junction)
Online Marketing > Advertising Network
SB based subsidiary of a Public Company
Founded: 1998
Commission Junction is the largest online affiliate advertising network. Enabling website publishers to earn a commission on sales generated from website traffic sent by them to online merchants. Commission Junction was acquired by ValueClick in 2003 for $58mil. ValueClick also runs other types online advertising campaigns through their various divisions out of their Santa Barbara office.
530 East Montecito Street. Santa Barbara
valueclick.com
Raytheon
Military Contractor
SB facilities, part of a Big Public Company
Raytheon is a large government military contractor, building all manner of missiles, surveillance, and other high tech military systems. 1n 1998 Raytheon purchased the Santa Barbara Research Center and has folded it into their Raytheon Vision Systems division, primarily to develop infrared detector products. Also in Santa Barbara is Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems, and Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing.
6380 Hollister Avenue. Goleta
Network Hardware Resale
Communications > Equipment
Santa Barbara based company, 250+ employees
Founded 1996
With offices in New Jersey, Dallas, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore, Network Hardware Resale sells used and refurbished networking equipment. Network Hardware Resale has raised over $50mil in Venture Capital from Allied Capital.
26 Castilian Dr. Santa Barbara
Inogen
Medical Device
Startup
UCSB Technology Management Program originated company
Founded: 2001
Founded by TMP students Ali Perry, Byron Meyers, and Brenton Taylor, Inogen is a developer of portable oxygen compressor devices, an alternative to large oxygen tanks for people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Inogen has raised over $66 million dollars from Accuitive Medical Ventures, Arboretum Ventures, Avalon Ventures, Novo A/S and Versant Ventures.
326 Bollay Dr. Goleta
Sonos
Electronics > Home Audio Equipment
Medium Sized Company, 150-200 employees.
Founded: 2002
Sonos designs, manufactures and sells high end multi-room music systems that connect to the Internet, wirelessly stream music to different rooms in a users home, and are controllable via computer, iphone, ipad, and android devices. Sonos has taken in over $40mil in Venture Capital funding from Index Ventures and BV Capital.
223 E De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara
RightScale
Software > SaaS > Cloud Computing
Startup
Founded: 2006
RightScale provides a Cloud Computing Management Platform that makes it much easier for websites, SaaS providers, and online apps to manage and automate their cloud based servers and processes. RightScale has taken in over $40mil in Venture Capital funding from Tenaya Capital, DAG Ventures, Benchmark Capital, Index Ventures, and Presidio Ventures.
402 East Gutierrez st. Santa Barbara
Transphorm
Engineering / Clean Tech > Power Conversion
Founded: 2007
Founded by UCSB researcher Primit Parikh Ph.D and UCSB professor Umesh Mishra Ph.D., Transphorm manufactures ultra-efficient power conversion modules built using proprietary Gallium Nitride based technology.
115 Castilian Dr. Goleta
D2 Technologies
Communications > VOIP
Founded: 1993
D2 technologies develops software for online IP communication, including digital signal processing, voice and video communication and instant messaging for smart phones.
104 West Anapamu Street. Santa Barbara
Lynda.com
Education > Online > Graphic Design
Medium Sized Company, 150-200 employees
Founded: 1995
Lynda.com is a subscription based online training library of videos that instruct users how to use leading image, photo, website and video editing software and office software. It was founded by, and is still run by, Lynda Weinman, who literally wrote the book on webdesign back in the 90s. Lynda.com received $100mil in funding from Accel Partners, Spectrum Equity and Meritech Capital Partners in 2013.
6410 Via Real, Carpinteria
AppFolio
Software > SaaS > Property Management
Startup
Founded: 2006
Founded by Klaus Schauser (of Expertcity) Appfolio makes a SaaS based program that property management companies use run their business. Appfolio also has plans to make business management SaaS for other kinds of businesses in the future. AppFolio has taken in $30mil in Venture Capital funding from BV Capital, Cisco, and the Investment Group of Santa Barbara (IGSB).
55 Castillian Dr. Goleta
Eucalyptus Systems
Software > Cloud Computing
Startup
UCSB originated company
Founded: 2009
Eucalyptus Systems develops and supports open-source software that allows firms to use their own computers and private datacenters as a private or hybrid cloud computing resource. Eucalyptus has taken over $25mil in funding from New Enterprise Associates, Benchmark Capital, and BV Capital.
130 Castilian Dr. Goleta
Yardi Systems
Software > SaaS > Property Management
Founded: 1984
Yardi Systems, Inc. develops real estate management software. Over the years they have a acquired many related companies and folded them into their own products.
430 South Fairview Ave. Santa Barbara
Invoca
(formerly: Ring Revenue)
Online Marketing > Advertising Network
Startup
Found: 2007
Founded by a local group of three former CallWave guys, RingRevenue is a technology company that provides a complete cloud-based solution for call marketing automation. Their platform provides detailed attribution and analytics, complete campaign management and mobile optimization tools to give marketers insight and control on the quality of inbound phone calls, plus the ability to optimize spend. RingRevenue’s pay-per-call features enable ad publishers to be paid by advertisers based on the quantity and quality of phone calls they drive to an advertiser’s call center. RingRevenue has partnerships with Fortune 1000 and Inc 500 brands, premier agencies and media publishers, and is also integrated into the major performance marketing networks, such as local company Commission Junction, and Rakuten Linkshare. RingRevenue has raised $10mil of Venture Capital from GRP Partners, Rincon Venture Partners, and Great Pacific Capital.
125 E. De La Guerra St. Santa Barbara
Impact Radius
Online Marketing > Attribution Technology
Startup
Impact Radius develops online advertising technology that aids in advertiser/publisher relationship management, multi-channel tracking, analytics and sale attribution. Impact Radius has raised over $6mil in Venture Capital from Redpoint Ventures.
10 E Figueroa St # 2, Santa Barbara
ProCore
Software > SaaS > Construction Management
Founded: 2003
ProCore develops project management software for construction companies. ProCore’s software works mostly though normal email for most members involved, and only admins/managers need to regularly log into their online dashboard. Procore has raised over $5mil in Venture Capital from Great Pacific Capital, and O’Connor Ventures.
1224 Coast Village Circle. Santa Barbara (Montecito)
LogicMonitor
Software > SaaS > Data Center Management
Founded: 2008
50+ employees
LogicMonitor provides SaaS-based data center monitoring of physical, virtual, and cloud-based IT infrastructures.
12 E. Carrillo St Santa Barbara (Montecito)
Soraa
Semiconductors / Materials > Solid State Lighting
Startup
UCSB originated company
Founded by researches/professors Shuji Nakamura, Steven Denbaars and James Speck of UCSB, Soraa developer of LED and laser-based lighting and projection display technology. The company utilizes unique technology relating to the growth of Gallium Nitride wafers to create high efficiency blue and green lasers and LEDs. Soraa has raised $5mil from Khosla Ventures.
485 Pine Ave. Goleta
BioIQ
Health Products > Testing Kits
Startup
Founded 2004
BioIQ makes simple, high tech, easy to use medical diagnostic kits that test for heart, kidney, liver, and colorectal diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, and prostate cancer. Each kit is sent to a specialized labratory, and requires only a mouth swab or pinprick, while equivalent tests sent to more general labs often require an entire vial of blood. Users then receive results through an intuitive online dashboard. Originally BioIQ targed consumers directly, trying to be the netflix of medical tests. They’ve since changed their strategy towards targeting large employers and health insurance companies, as early detection of these health issues significantly reduces long term healthcare costs. Bio IQ has raised over $3.5mil in Venture Capital from Great Pacific Capital.
1222 State Street #200. Santa Barbara
IntroNetworks
Software > SaaS > Social Networking
Founded: 2003
IntroNetworks makes white-lable private social networks for various companies and groups. IntroNetworks’ networks focus on visualising the proximity of members to one another based on shared skills, interests, and goals. Intro network has raised over $3.5mil in Venture Capital from Adobe Systems and other investors.
1280 Coast Village Circle. Santa Barbara
FindTheBest
Website Publisher > Product Comparison
Startup
Founded: 2010
Founded by Bryant Johnson and Kevin O’Connor, previously co-founder & CEO of DoubleClick (acquired by Google for $3.1bil) FindTheBest.com is a comparison engine which combines publicly available data with content written by FindTheBest employees (especially interns!) comparing different products as well as many general categories. FindTheBest hopes to sell ad inventory against this content, but is focusing on traffic growth in the near term. FindTheBest is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.
QAD campus at 100 Innovation Pl. Santa Barbara (Summerland)
Active Life Scientific
Medical Devices > Diagnostic Instruments
Startup
UCSB Technology Management Program originated company
Founded: 2007
Founded by Davis Brimmer and Alex Proctor originally as a project for the TMP New Venture Competition, Active Life Scientific develops and manufactures a medical device called BioDent which measures bone tissue strength by making a tiny dent on the surface of the bone using a highly sensitive needle, commercializing a technology developed at UCSB by Paul Hansma PhD. Active life has raised over $200k in seed stage funding.
10 East Yanonaoli Street. Santa Barbara
Phone Halo
Communications > Phone Accessory / Proximity Sensor
Startup
UCSB Technology Management Program originated company
Founded: 2008
Founded by Chris Herbert and Christian Smith originally as a project for the TMP New Venture Competition, Phone Halo develops, manufactures, and sells a device that senses the distance between your cell phone, and another object like your keys, and alerts you when you lose them by beeping and activating an app on the phone.
316 State St. Santa Barbara
Tapjoy
Online Marketing
Startup
Founded: 2007
SB office. Head office in San Francicso
Tapjoy provides a platform for internet advertisers to advertise within social games.
32 Anacapa st. Santa Barbara
Ontraport (formerly Office AutoPilot)
B2B SaaS > Online Marketing Software
Founded: 2006
45+ Employees
Ontraport provides a CRM and marketing process platform that focuses on automating recurring business processes.
2040 Alameda Padre Serra #220
riptide io
Software > Device networking and integration
Startup
10 employees
Founded 2011
Riptide IO helps companies integrate and manage large networks of sensors and other smart devices.
315 Meigs Road, Suite:A110. Santa Barbara
Maps.com
Online retailer for maps
Founded: 1991
Provider of mapping products and solutions to business, education and consumer markets.
120 Cremona Dr, Suite H
HG Data
Business Intelligence
Startup
Founded: 2010
HG Data is building a business intelligence database from unstuctured web data across several verticals. Basically they sell leads of businesses that use or need particular enterprise software. HG data has raised about $3m in funding.
15 W. Figueroa. Santa Barbara
ProductPlan
Software > SaaS > Product Management
Startup
Founded: 2013
ProductPlan is web-based software that helps companies develop and communicate their strategic product roadmap.
5385 Hollister Ave. Suite 212
Cogi
Software > Productivity
Startup
Founded: 2007
NovaCoast
IT > Software Development and Deployment
Founded: 1996
Novacoast is a software developer specializing in custom development of identity management software, security and compliance software, Enterprise applications, B2B web applications, and open source software installation.
1505 Chapala St. Santa Barbara
AnsibleWorks
IT > Software Development and Deployment
Founded: 2012
Ansible is an IT orchestration engine that makes applications and systems easier to deploy
1482 East Valley Road, Suite 888. Montecito
AppScale
IT > Cloud
Founded: 2009
Appscale makes Platform-as-a-service software for businesses which allows users to host their google and other apps on their own servers.
UC Santa Barbara
appscale.cs.ucsb.edu
Aurrion
Materials
Founded: 2007
Aurrion produces photonics and silicon based microsystems.
130 Robin Hill Rd, Goleta
Green Hills Software
Software
Founded: 1982
Green Hills makes equipment embedded operating systems
130 Robin Hill Rd, Goleta
Service Objects
Software / Marketing
Founded: 2001
Service Objects keeps a huge database of customer contact info for use in marketing lead validation.
133 East De La Guerra St., Suite 10
Intervals (aka Pelago)
Software – Time Tracking SaaS
Startup
Founded: 2006
Intervals makes Online project managemnent and time tracking software for business.
423 N Milpas st.
Local Market Launch
Marketing – Online Local SEO
Founded: 2012
Founded by Brian Coryat, the founder of ValueClick, Local Market Launch manages local directory listings and SEO for small businesses
118 E Ortega st.
WorldViz
Virtual Reality Software
Santa Barbara based company, 30+ employees
Founded 2002
WorldViz creates interactive visualization and simulation software. They provide Fortune 500 companies and universities with Virtual Reality software & hardware, and unparalleled immersive visualization experiences.
614 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara
Additional Engineering Companies:
Advanced Propulsion Technologies: engines and powertrains for commercial and military
Advanced Scientific concepts: 3D video cameras
Affinity Biosensors: sensors
Agile Materials: materials for wireless devices
Anasys Instruments: thermal analysis instruments
Aurrion: silicon photonics fabrication
Asylum Research: atomic force microscopy
Atone Wirelss: RF front-end for wireless networks
Calient: MEMS photonic switching equipment
Calix (SB office, acquired Occam Networks): Telecommunications & Broadband Equipment
CBrite: polymer semi-conductors
Channel Technologies Group: piezo-electric ceramics & transducers
Cree (SB office): LEDs
Custom Sensors & Technologies, Inc: Sensors
FLIR: thermal imaging, microcircut design
Freedom Photonics: High Performance Photonic Integrated Circuits
Gravity Power: energy storage
IMT Innovative Micro Technology: MEMS (microelectromechanical systems)
Inlustra: Galium Nitride substrate growth for LEDs
Invenios: integrated nano micro systems
Moseley: wireless transmission systems
Reasonant LLC: mobile device radio front ends
South Coast Photonics: thin film electronics
SpectraFluidics: vapor trace chemical detection
Superconductor Technologies (STI): HTS (High Temperature Superconducting) wire (moved to Austin TX)
Toyon Research Corporation: sensor and weapons systems analysis
Uptronics: robotics
Additional Software Companies:
724 solutions: IP network and data services (acquired by Mobixell)
Acroamatics: Computer Data Systems
Agile Business: Business Process Management Cloud Solutions
AgileRF: tunable wireless components
AlwaysOnPC: mobile virtual desktop software
Appscale: cloud computing infrastructure for business apps
AutoVitals: Marketing software for the auto industry
Benifit Software: HR software
Built On Logic: Lifepal personal coaching software
Claveo: Secure mobile platform
Classmob: education lecture interaction software
Current Analytics: building energy management integration
CyberSitter: internet filtering software
DigiFit (formerly iTMP): fitness iphone apps
DigitalRibbon: cloud based computing marketplace
EZ-Assure: security and parking software
FastSpring: ecommerce software
Feedcamp: project management software
Frontier technologies (FTI): business operational/process systems
Groundswell Technologies: real time analysis of environmental data
iStoryTime (Zuuka): software based children’s books
Kidzmet: intellegence and personality tests for children.
Kollmorgen: manufacturing automation
Lastline: internal network security
Mindflash: online training software (moved to Palo Alto)
Outreah Systems: CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software
Redspin: IT security (Carpinteria)
ServiceOjbects: email / address validation
SmartRecipt (formerly Nutricate): nutritional data on receipts
Self Echo: elearning analytics
SocialStay: mobile social apps for hotels
Solid Oak Software (CyberSitter): internet filtering
TipTrades: online investment alerts
TranDS: marketing data analysis
Truston: credit and identity theft monitoring
VIMA Technologies: image filtering software
Virtual World Computing: secure virtualized browser “Cocoon”
Whitestone Research: facility cost forecasting software
WorldViz: 3d/virtual reality content creation software
ZOS Communications: mobile location app
Additional Web Companies:
Estelea: builds web companies (including savings.com, impact radius)
Givezooks!: Social nonprofit crowdfunding platform
MyNewFinancialAdvisor: online financial retirement planning service
PayJunction: online credit card processing
PicDish: food photo sharing app
RightRental: rental listings site
RightSignature: online digital signatures
Snapwire: Mobile Photography Marketplace
Netplenish: online deal shopping
MemoryGarden: Online community or families of Alzheimer’s patients
Shoptricity: online shopping deals and rewards
Additional Online Advertising Companies:
AdMax Media: online advertising
Audience Science: online advertising
Celebros: search and analytics
Coull (formerly RevUpNet): Online Video Ad Network & Performance Marketing Agency
Connexity: ad tracking and retargeting platform (Ventura)
Likeabilitee: social visualization
Local Market Launch: SEO and web marketing
MediaTrust: online advertising exchange
Oniracom: PR and Marketing for the entertainment industry.
OwnerIQ: online ad targeting
Search Engine Pros: SEM
Social Prize: online contests for brand promotion
ValueLeads: PayPerCall Marketing
Additional Medical Companies:
Sientra: Breast Implants
Acelot: cheminformatics / drug discovery
ACMI: Endoscopes
Advanced Vision Science: ophthalmic medical devices
Celerus Diagnostics: cancer diagnostics
ConMed: Surgical & Patient Monitoring products
Cytomx: antibody generation (moved to SF)
Dako: cancer antibodies, instruments and software
Helix Medical: custom manufacturer for the medical devices
iFluidics: Commercial system for mixing, seperating, and concentrating molecular/biological components for biotech and pharma. (UCSB spinoff)
InTouch Health: remote presence for robotics equipment developer
Medtronics: medical devices
Storz: Endoscapy imaging
Sirigen: fourecent biomarkers (acquired by Becton, Dickinson)
Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP): Medical Software
TrueVision Systems: 3D cameras for surgery
ValenTX: Obesity Treatments