2017 is almost here and it's once again time to predict which startups will take the tech industry by storm.
Who better to ask than the startup experts, the VCs that watch the industry, guide the startups, hear their pitches, and invest in them?
So we reached out to a handful of top VCs and asked them which young or growth-stage startups will boom in 2017.
We asked them to particularly focus on non-enterprise startups — companies that sell directly to consumers rather than businesses. (For the hottest companies in enterprise, check out our list here).
The VCs we spoke to gave us this list that includes everything from video chat apps, to delivery drones, to companies that help you track your spending or invest your money.
Below are the 33 companies that are poised to boom in 2017.
NOW CHECK OUT: 38 enterprise startups that will boom in 2017, according to VC investors
Hooked: bite-sized stories for your phone
Company name: Hooked
VC: Greylock's Josh Elman
Relationship: VC is an investor.
Funding: $3 million
What it does: Hooked turns stories into bite-sized, chat-style messages, or lets fans write their own.
Why it's hot:"Hooked makes it easier for readers to consume the story in small bites, say when they’re waiting in line or riding the subway. The company is now working with Hollywood producers to help identify new writing talent and promising intellectual property. In fact, Hooked has a number of new investors from the movie and TV world, including Warner Bros. President Greg Silverman," Elman says.
Robinhood: Free stock trading
Company name: Robinhood
VC: Greylock's Josh Elman
Relationship:None. VC just thinks it's cool and buys and sells some public stocks there.
Funding: $66 million
What it does: Robinhood is a free stock-trading app that makes it easy to buy and sell stocks from your phone.
Why it's hot:"The app makes stock trading free, intuitive, and mobile. Robinhood allows people to get into trading, and make decisions to buy or sell stock in companies without the burden of expensive fees. It has a chance to revolutionize stock ownership for millennials," Elman says.
Laurel & Wolf: interior designing online
Company name: Laurel & Wolf
VC: Charles River Ventures' Saar Gur
Relationship: VC is an investor.
Funding: $25 million
What it does: Laurel & Wolf easily connects people with interior designers online, making it easy and affordable to transform a space.
Why it's hot:"Laurel & Wolf will be hot as their service becomes more mainstream. Early customers LOVE the service," Gur says.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider