While startup activity has really been booming in the US, this industry is rapidly evolving in all corners of the world. Today, we would like to take a look at overseas startups that really make a difference and that have managed to pull ahead of their competitors. Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 5 international startups in 2014. Curious to learn more about international startups that are making waves? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 5: Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a Chinese startup launched back in 2010 that aims to become one of Samsung’s big rivals on the Chinese smartphone and consumer electronics market. Judging by how it has done so far, this ambition might just be a real possibility. With just 4 years under its belt, Xiaomi has already been valued at over $10 billion after its latest fundraising series back in August 2013.
No. 4: Supercell
Supercell is a Finland-based startup focused on mobile game development. Founded back in 2010, the startup has released three games to date, two of them becoming big hits amongst smartphone users: Hay Day and Clash of Clans. With investors such as London Ventures and Accel Partners backing it up, Supercell managed to raise $130 million in private equity funding back in 2013.
No. 3: Huddle
Huddle is a cloud-based and content management launched in 2006 in the UK. However, since then it has also penetrated the US market, opening headquarters in San Francisco and New York s well. By 2012, since its latest Series funding, Huddle had already gathered $40 million, from investors such as Matrix Partners, Eden Ventures, Jafco Ventures, as well as angel investors. By this hot startup isn’t all about making money, without giving anything back. Founders Andy Mcloughlin and Alastair Mitchell have also opened their own foundation, which aims to provide free software packages to charities worldwide, such as the Red Cross or Unicef.
No. 2: BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar is the ultimate car-pooling startup up out there. The concept behind it is to link drivers that have available seats with passengers that are heading in the same direction and are willing to pay for the ride. The website offers a series of functions that increase the security and safety of its members, whether they’re drivers or passengers. Since its inception, back in 2004, BlaBlaCar has steadily expanded its reach, by opening versions of its platform for drivers in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
No. 1: Waze
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s most recent impressive purchase was bound to make our countdown. Waze, arguably the biggest GPS-based navigation app and community for drivers, was developed by an Israeli startup called Waze Mobile, which was purchased by Google at the end of 2013, for no less than $1.1 billion. The neatest thing about Waze is that users don’t really have to do anything in order to contribute to the community. They simply have to drive around with the app open, and they’ll be passively uploading traffic and road data.
