35 startups named to the 2023 Austin Inno Fire Awards list
By Brent Wistrom – Editor, Austin Inno
Looking back, 2023 has been a bit of a rollercoaster for startups.
While funding rounds shrank and slowed their pace, dozens of local companies were able to secure the backing they need to innovate, iterate and, of course, go to market. Austin Inno’s annual Fire Awards seek to highlight these companies that broke through to achieve big gains.
The standout startups on this list were sourced through nominations, Inno’s reporting throughout the year and the Austin Business Journal staff. Many of them raised large sums of money from venture capital firms, while others made their mark by launching new products, landing big name partners or merging with other companies.
The list also aims to spotlight the broad range of innovations being developed in Austin. That includes companies building AI-powered robots, particle accelerators and rocket ships, in addition to cybersecurity, fintech and biotech. Inno is once again also highlighting the supporting cast of accelerators, venture firms and nonprofits that help tie our tech community together and fuel its future.
On Dec. 13, we’ll all get together to celebrate these successful startups at the Inno Fire Awards at the Texas Bankers Association, which has delightful views of the Texas Capitol and downtown. During the party, we’ll spotlight all 35 companies on this list and name a Blazer winner for each category. Pick up a ticket here.
Now, let’s check out this year’s Fire Award winners…
CPG – Hardware
Firefly Aerospace – Firefly has been wowing us for a few years, and it’s back on the 2023 fire list because it’s secured a bevy of new launch contracts to deploy satellites and explore the moon. Meanwhile, in February, the company raised the eight-figure first tranche of what could be a massive $300 million funding round.
EnergyX – In April, EnergyX landed a $50 million series B funding round from GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors Co. to commercialize its technology and refinery processes at locations in North and South America. The company, founded in 2018, has developed a new way of extracting lithium from brine. It frames that process, called direct lithium extraction or DLE, as a more efficient and sustainable way to obtain lithium metal.
Infinitum – This startup, which makes smaller and more efficient motors for industrial processes, HVAC systems, data centers and materials handling, has been booming for a couple years. But it really made waves in 2023 when it announced it had raised $185 million in series E funding. With that, it announced it will open a new, 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Saltillo, Mexico, that will be capable of producing 200,000 motors per year.
Apptronik – This year, Apptronik drew nationwide attention when it announced the launch of Apollo, a humanoid robot developed through a decade of iterations by the startup. It’s 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. It can lift up to 55 pounds, and its primary function so far is moving boxes around in warehouses. But more is on the way as the company unlocks new applications to give it new functions.
TAU Systems – This University of Texas spinoff this year announced it has secured a location in California where researchers around the world can come and conduct high-level research with its small-scale particle accelerator. Only two other accelerators in the U.S. can boast as much power from their electron beams, and they’re both about three kilometers long, compared to TAU’s 20 meter device.
Software/AI
Cybersecurity/Fintech
Social impact/edtech/Healthtech
Investors/community support
M&A
You can check out last year’s Fire Award winners here.
