NUGGET

HEADQUARTERS: Butner, North Carolina FOUNDERS: David Baron (CEO), Ryan Cocca, Hannah Fussell EMPLOYEES: 80

Three University of North Carolina buddies founded Nugget in 2015 to make a better futon— but only a year in, the startup had ditched that utilitarian college standby in favor of fun furniture for kids featuring removable parts that can be used to build ramps, crash pads and stairs. That shift has proven even more lucrative during the pandemic as parents look for ways to entertain their children at home. “It’s like upgraded fort building,” says Cocca, Nugget’s chief marketing officer. Revenue is expected to nearly triple this year, to $50 million, from last year’s $17 million.