The Signal

One of the most challenging aspects of growing up is figuring out how and where to spend your time. The world of “career advice” is incredibly noisy. Professors, friends, parents, irrelevant medium authors — everyone is telling you what you should and should not be doing with your life.

The good news → it is your life! You get to decide how and where to spend your time. The other goods news is that the world is increasingly massive…and there are so many exciting things you could do…infinite places you could go and learn…

But why do we graduate from college and settle for conventional jobs that do not unlock our real potential? — Kevin Hartzbody[data-twttr-rendered="true"] {background-color: transparent;}.twitter-tweet {margin: auto !important;}

there are so so many talented and driven people out there i hope they do not all end up working on advertising

 — @jrdngonen

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I put together this list of what I think to be high-potential opportunities for people (of all ages!) who are interested in leveraging technology as a vehicle for high-velocity change and impact.

The list spans companies of all sizes tackling all sorts of problems (Finance, Healthcare, Social, Construction, etc.).

Hopefully this list can be helpful as you make your next move!

A few notes/disclaimers:

• Be sure to make your own judgements with any of the opportunities presented here and recognize that this list is not “an official ranking” of any sorts. It is not “backed by data” or any hard metrics whatsoever. This list is by no means de facto or comprehensive. Feel free to disagree with and question everything :)
• This is just one of many resources — be sure to also check out StartupSift & Breakout List.
• You will notice that many of these companies may or may not be hiring for your “specific role.” Others have thousands and thousands of hungry applicants. That is okay! You may have to cold email, create a position, or find other unique ways to stand out. You can do it!

have thoughts? need help? i'd love to chat :)

message me on twitter or here - jordan gonen 🌊

And without further ado…here is…

The Signal: 50+ High Growth Companies to Launch Your Career With

🚀 (late 2018)

Finance

Blend (disclaimer: I interned at Blend)Blend’s technology empowers top mortgage lenders to be more efficient, compliant, and borrower-friendly.BrexCorporate cards for startups. Online application, no personal guarantee, no security deposit required, and built for modern businesses. Powered by the Visa network.CartaCarta helps private companies, public companies, investors, and employees manage their cap tables, valuations, portfolio investments, and equity plans.CashSquare is a merchant services aggregator and mobile payment company that aims to simplify commerce through technology. Square Cash is their mobile app (a Venmo competitor)…“the easiest way to send and receive money on the fly.”CoinbaseCoinbase is an online platform that allows merchants, consumers, and traders to transact with digital currency. It allows its users to create their own bitcoin wallets and start buying or selling bitcoins by connecting with their bank accounts.Even“How busy people master their money.” We partner with employers to offer Even as a benefit so that employees can get paid on demand.PaystackModern online and offline payments for Africa.ShogunShogun Enterprises is a financial technology platform for home improvement.StripeStripe is the best software platform for running an internet business. They handle billions of dollars every year for forward-thinking businesses around the world.TitanThe modern investment firm committed to exceptional returns and advisory through actively managed portfolios.Life is not a dress rehearsal — this is probably it. Make it count. Time is extremely limited and goes by fast. Do what makes you happy and fulfilled — few people get remembered hundreds of years after they die anyway.— Sam Altman

Insurance / Legal

AtriumAtrium builds products and services to help automate legal workflows, innovate new processes, and help firms identify new clients.ClearCoverClearcover is the smarter car insurance choice, offering better coverage for less money.DoNotPayDoNotPay is an online robot lawyer that allows anyone to automatically claim asylum in the U.S, U.K, and Canada for free.LemonadeLemonade offers homeowners and renters insurance powered by artificial intelligence and behavioral economics.NewfrontNewfront is the modern commercial insurance brokerage. No 20-page applications, confusing policy terms, or painful renewal cycles. Newfront’s experienced brokers and technology remove the headache from business insurance.RootRoot is a mobile-first insurance carrier that uses an app to rate drivers based primarily on how they actually drive — not who they are.“It is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. It’s also a very clear path to happiness.”— Sheryl Sandberg

HR

GustoGusto provides a cloud-based payroll, benefits, and human resource management solution for businesses.HumuHumu is a human resource company that makes work better through science and machine learning.RipplingRippling provides cloud-based employee management solutions, from HR (payroll, benefits, compliance) to IT (computers, software, security).TrueworkTruework is an HR tool that automatically responds to lenders, landlords, and others who need to verify employment.Seize any opportunity, or anything that looks like opportunity. They are rare, much rarer than you think.— Taleb

Healthcare / Biology

BasisBasis is an app that allows people to deal and cope with mental health issues and offers same-day access to trained specialists.CoFactor GenomicsThe Leaders in RNA. Harness the power of multidimensional gene expression models to treat cancer more effectively.ForwardForward provides you with personalized primary care, combining world-class doctors with advanced medical technology including genetics, cancer screening & wellness tracking.GyroscopeGyroscope is a new OS for the human body, with an app and website for people to view their health analytics.HimsHims is an e-commerce wellness brand made for men with products for skin care, erectile dysfunction, and hair loss. They work with doctors to prescribe Finasteride and Sildenafil (active ingredient in Viagra) through the app or website.Karuna HealthKaruna makes high-touch care coordination possible for every patient.MDAcneMDacne is a mobile platform that uses AI and computer vision to help people with acne.RoRo is a mission-driven healthcare technology company that handles everything from online diagnosis to the delivery of medication.SynthegoFounded by former SpaceX engineers, Synthego is a leading provider of genome engineering solutions. Their flagship product, CRISPRevolution, is a portfolio of synthetic RNA designed for CRISPR genome editing and research.ZiplineZipline builds products that improve access to healthcare and saves lives.I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough. — Marissa Meyer

Food

Cloud KitchensPowering the on-demand food economy. They provide infrastructure and software that enables food operators to open delivery-only locations with minimal capital expenditure and time.Full HarvestFull Harvest helps growers get the most out of a harvest and food companies save money by bringing farm excess to market. They are a B2B platform connecting large farms to food businesses to sell significantly discounted, yet perfectly good surplus and imperfectly shaped produce that would have otherwise gone to waste.ImpossibleImpossible Foods develops a new generation of meats and cheeses made entirely from plants. They select specific proteins and nutrients from greens, seeds, and grains to recreate the experience of meats and dairy products.Uber Eats (disclaimer: I interned at Uber)Uber Eats is a food delivery platform that makes getting great food from a favorite local restaurants as easy as requesting a ride.SenseiSENSEI is here to guide you towards greater wellbeing. Their ecosystem of products and experiences is designed with one intention: to empower you to grow well.“Two ways to be successful in life: do something worth writing about or write something worth reading.” —Ben Franklin

Government

AndurilAnduril commits top technical talent to solving the most complex national security challenges. They’re building the next generation of technology that will aid and protect those who serve on the front lines defending the nation and its interests.CitizenThe need has never been greater for technology that informs and protects the public. The Citizen app empowers people with information to help keep their families, communities, and cities safe. Users receive instant notifications every time a crime or other major incident is reported near them.CoordCoord is a mobility company that creates seamless mobility and self-driving experiences today through deep integrations. They offer bike-share API, Curbs API, Tolls API, Routing API and etc.Sidewalk LabsSidewalk Labs is a new type of company that works with cities to build products addressing big urban problems. They’re building a platform and a set of urban applications to accelerate innovation in cities around the world.Whenever you find a barrel, you should hire them instantly, regardless of whether you have money for them or whether you have a role for them. Just close them. — Keith Rabois

Logistics

ConvoyConvoy is a network of tech-enabled trucking companies transforming the $800B trucking industry and logistics ecosystem for truck drivers and shippers. Using technology, Convoy matches reliable trucks (“carriers”) with companies that need to ship freight.FlexportAt Flexport, they believe that a world that does business together is a better one. It’s called global trade. And freight forwarding is the $1 trillion industry that functions as the circulatory system of global trade — without freight forwarding, global trade simply wouldn’t exist.NabisNabis delivers the most reliable, consistent, and secure logistics solution for cannabis businesses. Whether you are a brand, cultivator, intermediary processor, or final good manufacturer, Nabis provides you with access to an enterprise-scale distribution network.NuroNURO is a technology company which aims to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life. They are a team of entrepreneurs and engineers, designers, and scientists who believe the advancements they are making in robotics and machine learning today will dramatically improve the way they live tomorrow.RubiconRubicon Global is a technology company that provides waste, recycling, and smart city solutions to businesses and governments worldwide. They develop and deploys a full suite of cloud-based solutions to help its customers and network of independent waste haulers work towards more sustainable waste and recycling practices, uncover cost savings, and improve operations through data analytics.Uber for Business (disclaimer: I interned at Uber)Get an all-in-one solution that simplifies how businesses gets around. It’s a digital “headquarters” for all your company’s ground transportation. Get a clear view into all your trip activity and automate billing, expensing, and reporting. Easily provide rides — even multiple rides at the same time — to anyone important to your business.Uber Freight (disclaimer: I interned at Uber)Uber Freight is an app that matches carriers with shippers. Carriers can just tap a button and instantly book a load, and the price you see is the price you get — no more back-and-forth negotiations.Make friends over the internet with people who are great at things you’re interested in. The internet is one of the biggest advantages you have over prior generations. Leverage it. — Patrick Collison

Real Estate / Construction

BuildzoomBuildZoom has a simple purpose: to help you find the perfect contractor for any job — commercial or residential. Using BuildZoom is just like asking a neighbor for a recommendation — except instead of just asking one, you are polling every neighbor in your community, analyzing their feedback, exhaustively researching work histories and credentials and only then, making a final decision.BungalowBungalow is a residential real estate platform that provides renters with a more convenient, flexible, and communal living solution. It utilizes existing housing supply by signing long-term leases with homeowners, and offers multi-bedroom homes in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in cities throughout the United States.OpendoorOpendoor makes it possible to receive an offer on a home in just a few clicks, and sell in a matter of days, removing all of the headaches, uncertainties, and risks from the transaction. They are headquartered in San Francisco, California and has received a total of $645 million in venture funding from Khosla Ventures, GGV Capital, and Access…QualiaQualia is a cloud-based closing platform that provides seamless and secure coordination between everyone involved in the real estate closing process.WanderjauntWanderJaunt offers technology-enabled property management solutions for travelers, homeowners, and accommodations from around the world.And then the last piece is actually the hardest, which is specific knowledge. Specific knowledge is knowledge that you have that lets you do something that other people do not know how to do and cannot be trained to do. — Naval Ravikant

Education / Life / Talent

HollowayWith hundreds of hours of research, writing, and editing, their comprehensive Guides help you make better decisions.Hatch BabyTheir mission is to bring parents a series of smart products that use technology and user-centric design to help make caring for a baby a little easier.Lambda SchoolLambda School trains people to be software engineers for free in exchange for a share of future income.PioneerA home for the ambitious outsiders of the world. They’re building a community of creative young people working on interesting projects around the globe.TripleByteTriplebyte believes the current technical hiring process doesn’t do enough to help engineers show their strengths. They’re dedicated to building a better process. You can read more about their views on hiring in their manifesto.70MillionJobs70MillionJobs is the first for-profit employment job board for people with criminal records.“Everyone starts out with very, very humble beginnings” — Daniel Gross

Social / Consumer

BrandlessBrandless is an e-commerce company providing unbranded and essential products.JumpropeCreate and share recipe how-to’s. Export to Instagram Stories, IGTV, YouTube, your personal website and more.MasterclassMasterClass is a premier online education platform redefining the digital learning experience by bringing world-class experts and renowned instructors to students globally through a cutting-edge technology platform meant to distill knowledge and create meaningful experiences through online video.Sandbox VRSandbox VR combines the latest VR hardware, movie quality real-time motion capture and AAA-quality content experiences to create the best VR experiences on the planet. Period. It’s the perfect event for team building, corporate events, and parties.People always say you should live your life as if it were your last day. I think you should live your life as though it will go on for ever; that every day is so good that you don’t want it to end. — Peter Thiel

Dev

AugurAugur is built on Ethereum, a decentralized blockchain network similar to the Bitcoin network. Utilizing this technology, their markets can effectively eliminate counterparty risk and centralized servers while creating a global market by employing cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.ClearbitClearbit develops business Intelligence APIs. Clearbit is on a mission to set the new standard in business data. Simply put — Clearbit is changing how modern businesses source and operationalize data as part of their sales, marketing, and product workflows.DeepgramDeepgram saves businesses time and money by building tailored speech recognition models that increase revenue and maximize productivity.HandshakeDecentralized certificate authority and naming.VectorDashVectordash lets you use insanely fast cloud GPUs at incredibly low costs. You can start a powerful GPU instance within seconds.The world is an incredibly complex place and everything is changing all the time. You can’t plan your career because you have no idea what’s going to happen in the future. You have no idea what industries you’ll enter, what companies you’ll work for, what roles you’ll have, where you’ll live, or what you will ultimately contribute to the world. You’ll change, industries will change, the world will change, and you can’t possibly predict any of it.— Marc Andreessen

SaaS Tools

DensityDensity is a modern infrastructure for anonymously counting people.FinFin Can Save You 10+ Hours Per Week. High quality executive and personal assistance, available as a cloud service.FrontFront redefines work communication with the first shared inbox for teams. By unifying your email, customer communication channels, and apps in one platform, Front helps teams collaborate efficiently and have more context and visibility into every conversation, to work faster and better together.FullstoryFullStory takes a fundamentally different approach to understanding your customer experience. One tiny script unlocks pixel-perfect playback, automatic insights, funnel analytics, and robust search and segmentation — all without the need to manually tag your site’s code.OpenphoneOpenPhone adds a second phone number on top of one’s existing mobile device with powerful features to help business stand out.MixmaxMixmax offers software that enables its users to boost their productivity. It enables its users to track emails accurately, set up meetings in an instant, save time with email templates, and schedule emails to be sent later.NotionAll-in-one workspace. Write, plan, collaborate, and get organized. Notion is all you need — in one tool.SuperhumanSuperhuman is not just another email client. They are rebuilding the inbox from the ground up to make you brilliant at what you do. They specifically designed it for those of you who want the best.

Miscellaneous

100 Thieves368AeroAngel ListApple HealthAtomsb8taCuldesacDeosHousepartyNeonPandaSaildroneSocial ConstructSubstackTransmissionTtylUrbit

have thoughts? need help? i'd love to chat :)

message me on twitter or here - jordan gonen 🌊

Hope this was valuable!If you enjoyed, please share and hit recommend 💙

Company descriptions are from Crunchbase.com.

Thanks Jonathan Z. White & David Lee for feedback/edits.

The Signal was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.