Boston's startup scene is thriving.
With talent constantly pouring out of universities like Harvard and MIT, and programs like TechStars Boston, Mass Challenge, and Startup Institute Boston mentoring entrepreneurs, it's no wonder why Boston has produced big-name companies like Carbonite, Zipcar, and Trip Advisor.
We hit up VCs, and spoke with entrepreneurs to learn more about what's hot in Boston tech right now.
Some of these startups are more established, while others are just getting their footing.
There are undoubtedly a number of innovative startups in Boston. So please let us know in the comments if you think we missed any.
Rethink Robotics is creating a safe, intelligent robot for manufacturing
Startup:Rethink Robotics
Founded: 2008
Founder: Rodney Brooks
Concept: Affordable, industrial robots that can perform a variety of simple tasks and work safely alongside human workers. Its first robot, Baxter, can handle materials, load and unload items on/off from conveyor belts, inspect and test parts, lightly operate machines, and pack and unpack boxes.
Why you should care: Rethink Robotics is aiming to make America more competitive by creating low cost manufacturing techniques and processes. If all goes according to plan, Baxter should be able to work alongside human coworkers and help America better compete against low-wage offshore labor.
The ultimate goal for Baxter is to accomplish more difficult tasks, like fitting together parts on an electronics assembly line. It's also working on software to let Baxter communicate with a conveyor belt, and other machines.
Funding: $62 million from Bezos Expeditions, Charles River Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, Sigma Partners, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson.
Spindle aims to help you discover the very best of what's around you
Startup: Spindle
Founded: 2010 (launched 2012)
Founders: Pat Kinsel, Simon Yun, Alex Lambert
Concept: Location discovery app that pulls in real-time information from businesses. That way, you can search for places only offering deals at the time, or ones with special events.
Why you should care: Spindle is looking to totally reinvent the way we search for things around us in real time. It recently updated the app with Google-Now like technology to push you notifications about places you might like as you walk by them.
Funding: $2.3 million from Polaris Partners, Greylock Partners, Lerer Ventures, SV Angel, Atlas Venture, and Project 11 Ventures.
Plastiq wants to make it easier for merchants to accept credit card payments online
Startup: Plastiq
Founded: 2010
Founders: Eliot Buchanan, Daniel Choi
Concept: Credit card processing tools for government entities, universities, property owners, and other types of merchants.
Why you should care: The payments space is getting increasingly crowded, so it's no wonder why Plastiq is targeting industries that have traditionally shyed away from accepting credit cards. Plastiq aims to bring credit card payments to things like paying tuition, taxes, and rent online,
"Primarily, the reason is that the landlords, the schools, and the government don't want to eat the cost [associated with credit card payments]," Plastiq co-founder Eliot Buchanan told TechCrunch in an interview earlier this year. "They don't want to set up the infrastructure to accept the payments."
Already, Plastiq has partnered with the University of Alberta and Mount Royal University, as well as H&R Block Canada for paying income taxes.
Funding: $8.35 million from Atlas Venture, Flybridge Capital Partners, NextView Ventures, Greenoaks Capital Management, and angel investor Harvey Golub.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider