Top 10 Mobile Startups of 2011

Top 10 Mobile Startups of 2011

Even in these challenging economic  times,  technology entrepreneurs continue to  dream big. Maybe it’s the allure of hitting the  jackpot like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg  or the thrill of dreaming up a hot new mobile hit  à la Groupon. Whatever their reasons,  business hopefuls continue to boldly found  technology companies and aggressively ply  their wares to consumers and venture capitalists alike. In fact, according to Dow Jones VentureSource, venture capital firms invested $25.1 billion in 2010 (year ending in September). That’s up 10 percent from the same period in 2009. While that’s a modest gain compared to previous boom years, its a sign that the Great Recession could be thawing.

Given that there are dozens of mobile tech companies hoping to get noticed in 2011, we wanted to recognize those that have the most potential. From space-based 4G cellular networks to shoes that track your location, these are the startups we’re most excited about.

• Introduction
• LightSquared: 4G From Space
• TripTrace: Travel Meets Social
• Badgeville: The Foursquare of the Web
• Qwiki: Research Reinvented
• Innovalley: Smart Clothing is Here
• Dynamics, Inc.: One Card for Every Account
• SeePort: Always-On Video Chat
• Particle Code: Write Once, Run Everywhere
• Word Lens: Instant Translations
• Snapstick: From Phone to TV