The Next 1000

Forbes surfaces a new class of entrepreneurial hero.

Before the pandemic, small businesses accounted for two-thirds of net new American jobs and generated 44% of GDP. The vast majority are bootstrapped via savings and credit cards. While venture-backed startups skew heavily white and heavily male, these sole proprietorships and seat-of-your-pants enterprises actually look like America. To surface a new class of entrepreneurial hero, all with under $10 million in revenue or funding but infinite drive and hustle, Forbes has launched the Next 1000. The first installment of 250 standouts— and a chance to nominate—is at forbes.com/next1000.

Francisco Aguilar, 37 BOUNCE IMAGING

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

Cops and soldiers would much rather roll in one of Bounce’s ball-like 360-degree cameras than walk blind into a hostage crisis or a firefight. Luckily, “national security wasn’t halted by the pandemic,” says the Costa Rica– born Aguilar. Bounce has raised $8.6 million. 2020 sales: $3.6 million.

Dawn Dickson, 42 POPCOM

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Everyone has seen those oversize vending machines in airports that sell headphones and phone chargers. Dickson makes those—but fancier. Her $20,000 units will soon start appearing in hotels and airports; they apparently rely on AI to goose buying. Projected 2021 sales: $5.2 million.

Rathna Sharad, 46 FLAVORCLOUD

SEATTLE

Shipping across international borders was complicated and costly before Covid. Then it got worse. FlavorCloud is a one-stop shop for affordable cross-border shipping—and it handles customs and tariffs. Sharad’s customer base, mostly midsize retailers, grew 300% last year.

Garry Cooper, 37 RHEAPLY

CHICAGO

“Rheaply is trying to build a Google for physical assets,” says Cooper, whose company helps big organizations (the City of Chicago, say, or the U.S. Air Force) keep track of their stuff—whether that’s computers, desks or lab equipment—a task made harder by remote work. The startup has raised $2.5 million.