Turns out, San Francisco doesn’t just bleed tech. While the tech industry might dominate headlines, it doesn’t dominate the majority of the paychecks. So if you’re not savvy in SaaS, fear not. There’s still hope for you yet.
When we started our search for high-earning Bay Area companies that weren’t tech focused, it didn’t take much time to find some recognizable names. Sure, Chevron and PG&E are well known for their profitability, but if you’re on the hunt for the NEXT BIG THING, then we’re giving you a head start: below is our list of the nine hottest non-tech start-ups in the Bay Area (in no specific order).
6 Pack Fitness
A fitness design company that saw a 3,733% three-year growth and $11.5 million in revenue, 6 Pack Fitness crafts backpacks, duffles and accessories for the fit life. The travel gear is targeting an elite group of super-athletes. With just 26 employees and four years in the business, the company could easily continue climbing.
KRAVE Pure Foods, Inc.
If you have yet to sink your teeth into one of the handful of creative jerky flavors that Sonoma-based KRAVE has created, you’re missing out. In the top 25 of Forbes’s Most Promising Companies, it was acquired by HERSHEY’S in January but still operates out of its Bay Area headquarters.
AltSchool
This experimental-learning facility, with schools in San Francisco, Palo Alto and New York City, raised $133 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz and the Founders Fund in May. So what, you might ask, is so appealing about a school in a sea of SF-based start-ups? The AltSchool employs a team of product, engineer and design experts who help craft the innovative learning model that makes it so unique. And guess what? They’re hiring.
Plum Organics
Named among Forbes’s Most Promising Companies in 2013, Plum Organics was one of only a handful of non-tech companies in the list of 100 that year. The Emeryville-based company has disrupted the baby-food industry with their organic on-the-go snacks and treats for little ones. In May 2013, Campbell’s Soup acquired the company.
LocoL
California chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson (of Coi) successfully saw their fast-food idea launch in March 2015 after reaching their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign goal. The Los Angeles and San Francisco chefs are challenging the fast-food industry by creating healthy, nourishing and wholesome fast food with prices that compete with those of the big chains. Expect the first location to open in the Tenderloin soon.
Alite Designs
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, chances are you’ve been wooed by the colorful designs and friendly prices of Alite Designs. Founded by the North Face’s former equipment-design director Tae Kim, the five-year-old company has grown by over 25% each year and boasts a nationwide retailer list. With its first outpost in the Mission and catchy product names like the S.H. Sleeping Bag (“S.H.” stands for Sexy Hotness), Millennials are going nuts for this easygoing and accessible outdoor brand.
Everlane
While there’s an abundance of retail start-ups gaining traction in the city (for example, Cuyana, Taylor Stitch and Gustin), Everlane is in line to become the next J.Crew. The e-commerce retailer, which produces simple, basic designs, is starting to expand and grabbed the Gap’s former creative director in August. Just four years ago, they raised $1.1 million from investors and now boast waitlists for their popular shoes and pants created for men and women.
Tartine / Blue Bottle
Though they decided to call off their merger, these two Bay Area cult classics are still delicious complements. With a 2015 venture capital round of $70 million dollars, Blue Bottle is poised to open even more cafés worldwide. Tartine is also rapidly growing, having opened more bakeries in Los Angeles and New York City, and is releasing additional (delicious!) cookbooks.
Back to the Roots
From a Berkeley classroom to nationwide distribution, two youngsters fresh out of college are transforming the way we consume food. With their innovative idea to grow a mushroom in a box, the small Oakland-based company is now producing “ready to grow” gardens and healthy breakfast cereals for retail partners like Whole Foods. Recently, they raised $2 million to expand their ready-to-eat products.
