9 New Startups That Are Making Waves in 2025

Worldwide, there are currently over 150 million young startup ventures operating, and approximately 50 million new startups launch each year, but only a few are able to make their mark in the industry, bringing value to the business. Here are 9 new startups that are making waves in 2025.

The startup ecosystem is growing quickly, with new companies emerging every week, each bringing fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and the latest technologies to the market. One of the key players in this space is Wefunder, a leading equity crowdfunding platform in the United States. Launched in 2012 under the JOBS Act, Wefunder has since become a hub for over 3 million investors and has facilitated nearly $1 billion in funding across more than 580,000 investments. 

Wefunder introduced nine new companies to their campaigns, showcasing a wide range of industries and impactful missions. Among the most notable are Wild Rye, a women’s outdoor apparel brand, BackerKit, which is transforming the crowdfunding experience for creators, The Block Distilling Co. and Culprit Underwear, both of which are already showing impressive growth.

These new companies represent solutions for pressing issues such as climate change, energy resilience, and accessible healthcare, while also empowering underrepresented founders and offering consumers real ownership models. As these startups continue to innovate and scale, they present valuable investment opportunities for those looking to support the next big success.

The current state of global startups

According to CB Insights, global venture funding reached USD 159 billion in Q2 2025, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous quarter. This growth reflects renewed investor confidence, especially in sectors like AI, cleantech, biotech, and consumer goods.

Early-stage and community-led investing is also gaining momentum. According to recent market reports, the global equity crowdfunding market was valued at approximately USD 2.65 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 2.71 billion in 2025. While this might seem like modest growth, it’s part of a longer trend—by 2033, the market is expected to reach USD 3.25 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.3% from 2025 onward.

Platforms like Wefunder, Seedrs, and StartEngine have made it easier for people from all backgrounds to become investors. Instead of relying solely on large venture capital firms, today’s startups are raising money directly from their fans, customers, and communities. 

Beyond funding, the support network for founders is expanding. Accelerators, angel syndicates, and creator-led venture funds are empowering a more diverse group of entrepreneurs. Whether you’re building a food brand, an AI tool, or a clean energy device, there are now more ways than ever to get the resources and visibility needed to succeed.

Top startup launches this week

Let’s take a closer look at these promising startups and their unique offerings.

Wild Rye – Empowering Women in the Outdoors

Wild Rye is a startup on a mission to design beautifully crafted technical apparel that empowers women to explore the outdoors confidently. From jackets to base layers, Wild Rye offers stylish yet high-performance clothing for women who enjoy outdoor adventures. The company’s products are now sold in every REI, Evo, and Title Nine store, along with 75+ speciality retailers across 300 doors.

What makes them stand out: Wild Rye stands apart by focusing not just on performance, but also on aesthetics. They’ve managed to break into major retail chains, positioning themselves as a leading choice for women in the outdoor space.

Key Achievements:

• Sold in top retailers such as REI and Evo
• 300 retail locations
• Empowering women through performance-driven apparel

Mark's Snacks – Real Ingredients, Real Flavor

Mark’s Snacks is a new venture in the snack food industry, focusing on real ingredients and authentic flavours. Built by an experienced entrepreneur with over 20 years of brand-building expertise, Mark’s Snacks is bringing a fresh approach to the snack food market by offering products that are both delicious and wholesome.

What makes them stand out: Unlike many mass-market snack companies, Mark’s Snacks prioritises high-quality ingredients with an emphasis on flavour without artificial additives. This approach is designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking snacks that are both tasty and nutritious.

Key Achievements:

• 20 years of entrepreneurial experience
• Focus on real, high-quality ingredients
• Popularising healthy snack options

Mavrek – AI-Supported Business Transfer Platform

Mavrek is an AI-supported platform designed to assist business owners in selling, transferring, or buying businesses. With an estimated 33 million business owners in the United States alone, many are unprepared for their eventual exit. Mavrek addresses this gap by offering a seamless platform that uses AI to support business transactions.

What makes them stand out: Mavrek taps into a critical gap in the business world by helping owners plan their exit strategy and ensure that they can transfer their businesses smoothly. The AI-driven platform offers tailored solutions to business owners, ensuring a higher rate of success in business sales.

Key Achievements:

• AI-powered platform for business transfers
• Tailored solutions for business owners
• Helping owners navigate the exit process

TMA Precision Health – AI-Enabled Precision Medicine

TMA Precision Health is revolutionising the healthcare sector with AI-enabled precision medicine. By providing highly tailored healthcare solutions, the company is able to optimise treatment plans for individuals based on their specific needs, offering a more personalised approach to medicine.

What makes them stand out:  With proven success through hundreds of families already served, TMA Precision Health boasts a 90% opt-in rate from patients. Their AI-driven platform works alongside major US health plans to deliver cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

Key Achievements:

• $2.3M revenue for 2025
• Proven track record with 100s of families
• Active partnerships with major US health plans

The Elysian – A New Way to Own a Book Project

The Elysian is an innovative book project that allows readers to become part-owners in a literary endeavour. With over 150,000 monthly views and 20,000 newsletter subscribers, this platform is changing the way readers engage with literature by giving them a stake in the content they love.

What makes them stand out: The Elysian blends literary creativity with business acumen by offering readers the chance to own part of the project. This new model of engagement helps strengthen the relationship between creators and their audiences.

Key Achievements:

• Reaching 150,000+ monthly views
• Over 20,000 newsletter subscribers
• Creating a new ownership model for readers

Culprit Underwear – From Bootstrapped to $30M

Culprit Underwear is a viral brand that has grown from a bootstrapped operation to a $30 million revenue business. Their success story highlights the potential of direct-to-consumer brands that focus on quality, comfort, and sustainability in their products.

What makes them stand out: Culprit’s unique selling point lies in its dedication to quality underwear made from sustainable materials, all while maintaining a fun and relatable brand voice. Their journey from $500 to $30M in revenue is a testament to the power of smart business strategy.

Key Achievements:

• $30M in revenue
• 1.5M pairs sold
• 600,000 customers

THE ABSENCE OF VIOLET – The Movie

THE ABSENCE OF VIOLET is a unique adventure mystery film that tackles social disconnection in the modern world. With a fan-first model, the film has the potential to recoup 125% of principal investment, along with a pro-rata share of 50% of the backend profits.

What makes them stand out: By adopting a fan-first model, the filmmakers are engaging directly with their audience to build excitement and support for the project. This innovative funding model allows fans to become stakeholders in the success of the movie.

Key Achievements:

• Fan-first funding model
• Potential for significant backend profits
• Tackling important societal themes

The Block Distilling Co. – Crafting Every Drop in House

The Block Distilling Co. is a Denver-based distillery that prides itself on making every drop of its product in-house. With $3.4 million raised from angel investors, the company has grown significantly, achieving double-digit growth for five out of six years.

What makes them stand out:  By focusing on local production and high-quality ingredients, The Block Distilling Co. is carving out a niche in the competitive craft spirits market. Their dedication to quality craftsmanship is evident in their consistent growth.

Key Achievements:

• $3.4 million raised from angel investors
• Double-digit growth in 5 out of 6 years
• Committed to in-house production

Ovanova – Portable Energy Trailer

Ovanova offers a groundbreaking solution for energy security and sustainability. Their portable energy trailer provides instant power when the grid goes down and integrates seamlessly with homes and buildings to offer long-term energy solutions.

What makes them stand out: Ovanova’s technology provides both immediate and long-term energy independence, making it an essential product for both residential and commercial users looking to protect themselves from grid failures.

Key Achievements:

• Instant power during grid failures
• Seamless integration with homes/buildings
• Focused on energy security and savings

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What are the top new startups this week?

This week’s top startups include Wild Rye, Culprit Underwear, TMA Precision Health, Mavrek, and more. They span industries like AI, health, fashion, energy, and entertainment.

Q2: How do I invest in startups like these?

Many of these startups raise funds through venture capital, angel investors, or platforms like WeFunder and Kickstarter. Check each startup’s website or funding page for details.

Q3: What makes these startups successful?

Strong leadership, product-market fit, early traction, and investor interest. Some are repeat founders or VC-backed, while others are profitable, bootstrapped businesses.

Q4: Are these startups based only in the US?

Most listed here are US-based, but their impact and customer reach are global, especially those in digital health, energy, and publishing.

Q5: What’s the best startup to watch right now?

That depends on your interest. If you’re into clean energy, Ovanova is exciting. In fashion, Culprit Underwear is a proven success. For tech-driven business services, Mavrek is solving a big market need.