They say technology moves fast. When you read through this list, you may very well agree!
Many of these technologies (or companies) did not exist fifteen years ago (or were just getting off the ground). Today, many of us rely or are dependent on them on a daily basis. See if you agree.
1. Uber and Lyft – ride-sharing services that connect riders with drivers and provide a range of transportation options including cars, motorcycles, and scooters. They are available in over 700 cities worldwide and are used by millions of people every day.
2. Airbnb – a global online marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world. It was founded in 2008 and offers travelers the opportunity to stay in unique homes, apartments, and other properties in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries. Airbnb also provides services such as experiences and tours.
3. Instagram – a social media platform and mobile app that allows users to share photos and videos. Originally launched in October 2010, Instagram has since grown to become one of the most popular social media networks, with over 1 billion active users as of 2020. The app focuses on visual content, providing users with a variety of tools and filters to edit their photos and videos. Additionally, users can follow friends and family, as well as influencers and celebrities, to stay up-to-date on their content.
4. Slack – Slack is a cloud-based collaboration tool that allows teams to stay connected and organized. It was founded in August 2013 and launched to the public in February 2014. Slack enables users to send messages, share files, and collaborate on projects through its platform. It offers a variety of features such as channels, search, and integration with other apps and services. Slack is used by millions of users, including companies such as IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft.
5. Tesla – Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded in 2003 (yes, this is longer than 15 years ago, but the only vehicle Tesla sold in the early days was it’s Roadster and they were not widely available). Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. It designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, solar energy systems, and energy storage products. Tesla also provides vehicle service centers, charging infrastructure, and energy storage services. It is one of the world’s most valuable companies and its stock has soared in recent years. Tesla is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and is led by CEO Elon Musk.
6. Amazon Echo and Google Home – both are smart home products that allow users to control their home using voice commands. The Amazon Echo was released in 2014 and the Google Home in 2016. Both products can be used to control compatible devices, stream music, set timers, answer questions, and provide news, weather, and traffic updates. Additionally, both devices offer access to a variety of third-party services and apps.
7. Postmates, DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats and other food delivery apps – these apps allow customers to order food from restaurants and have it delivered to their door. These apps have become increasingly popular over the past few years and are a great way to save time and energy by avoiding long waits for food at restaurants. Postmates was founded in 2011 and DoorDash and Grubhub were founded in 2013. UberEats was founded in 2014 and has since become one of the most popular food delivery apps on the market. All of these apps allow customers to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered to their door.
8. Robinhood – a commission-free stock and cryptocurrency trading app founded in 2013 by Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. The app allows users to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies quickly and easily. Robinhood also provides users with real-time market data, news, and analytics. The company has since expanded to include Robinhood Cash Management, which offers FDIC-insured accounts with a 2.05% APR, and Robinhood Crypto, which allows users to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies.
9. Zoom – a cloud-based video conferencing service founded in 2011 by Eric Yuan. It provides video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, and telephones. Zoom’s easy-to-use platform provides audio and video clarity to connect users across the globe. It is used by millions of people around the world for business, education, and personal use.
10. TikTok – a video-sharing social media app developed by ByteDance, a Chinese internet technology company, and released in September 2016. It allows users to create short videos with special effects and share them with their friends or the wider world. Its user interface has a unique design that is based on swiping, allowing users to quickly navigate through various videos and explore the content. It is one of the fastest growing social media platforms in the world, with over 800 million monthly active users worldwide.