Startups are known for their fast-paced nature, changing rapidly as they navigate a challenging economic landscape, fluctuating loan rates, and varying levels of venture capital funding. Despite these obstacles, some new enterprises are experiencing rapid growth in various fields, from technology to retail. In the year 2025, these are the fastest-growing companies leading the charge in innovation and success.
1. AI Perplexity
AI Perplexity is a company that has seen a search growth of 7,200% in just five years. With monthly website visits totaling 123.6 million, they are based in San Francisco, California, and were founded in 2022. Specializing in generative AI-powered conversational search engines, AI Perplexity provides users with accurate and contextually aware information. They have received Series C funding totaling $915 million, with recent investments bringing their total worth to $9 billion.
2. ZeroTier
ZeroTier, founded in 2015 in LA, California, has seen a search growth of 456% over five years. They offer secure peer-to-peer networking solutions and have received Series A funding of $15.9 million. With over 2 million monthly active devices in 220 countries and territories, ZeroTier aims to expand into new markets and develop innovative products with recent fundraising efforts.
3. Deepgram
Based in San Francisco, California, Deepgram has seen an impressive search growth of 2,800% over five years. Specializing in speech recognition and voice AI, they offer products such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI models. With Series B funding of $85.9 million, Deepgram launched their latest real-time text-to-speech API, Aura, in March 2024, catering to conversational AI agents and voice bots.
4. Scale AI
Scale AI, a San Francisco-based company founded in 2016, has seen a search growth of 579% over five years. They supply AI applications with high-quality training data and digital infrastructure. With a Series F funding round of $3.5 billion, Scale AI has raised a total of $13.8 billion, focusing on annotating and labeling large datasets to train AI models effectively.
5. Cradlewise
Cradlewise, a startup founded in 2019 in San Francisco, California, has experienced a search growth of 9,500% over five years. They offer smart bassinets equipped with baby monitors that track sleep depth and soothe infants when they wake up. With seed funding of $7 million and $8 million in revenue in 2023, Cradlewise aims to continue its growth in the baby care industry.
6. PhotoRoom
Founded in 2019 in Paris, France, PhotoRoom offers AI-powered picture and video editing solutions. With 150 million app downloads and 30 million active users, they have experienced a search growth of 99x+ over five years. With Series B funding of $64 million, PhotoRoom provides users with tools to remove backgrounds, edit photos, and select from a variety of new backgrounds and themes.
7. Preply
Preply, founded in 2012 in Brookline, Massachusetts, offers one-on-one language tutoring through a marketplace model. With over 1 million active students and 50,000 tutors, Preply aims to connect students with teachers from 180 countries to learn languages like Chinese or English. With Series C funding of $171 million, Preply continues to grow in the online language learning industry.
8. Airalo
Airalo, founded in 2019 in Singapore, offers eSIM services to travelers in over 200 countries. With a search growth of 3,650% over five years and Series B funding of $67.3 million, Airalo enables users to activate eSIM data subscriptions for varying lengths and data plans. With over 10 million users globally, Airalo aims to provide convenient connectivity solutions for travelers worldwide.
9. Oura
Oura is a company founded in 2013 in Oulu, Finland, offering elegant rings that track heart rate, sleeping habits, and body temperature. With a search growth of 1,129% over five years and Series D funding of $421 million, Oura has sold over 1 million rings worldwide, praised for its precise data and lightweight design. With users having slept 2.3 billion hours and walked 3.4 trillion steps with Oura rings, the brand continues to grow in the wearable technology market.
10. Tailwind
Tailwind, founded in 2012 in Oklahoma City, provides a visual production platform for companies and influencers looking to create engaging content for platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. With a search growth of 467% over five years and Series B funding of $10.7 million, Tailwind automates tasks like hashtagging, color palettes, and scheduling to help brands stand out in a competitive online landscape.
In conclusion, these startups are reshaping industries and pushing the boundaries of innovation with their rapid growth and innovative solutions. Despite the challenges posed by the current economic climate, these companies are thriving and paving the way for a brighter future in the business world. As we look ahead to the next wave of startups and emerging technologies, these firms will continue to lead the charge in transforming the way we live, work, and connect with the world around us.