Gen Z Companies & Founders Who Are Crushing It

Generation Z, known for its entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of digital platforms, has been reshaping the business landscape. With the rise of social media, sustainability, and tech innovation, many young Gen Z founders have built thriving companies by leveraging unique business tactics and growth strategies. Below are 10 standout Gen Z-founded companies that are making waves across industries:

August

Co-founded by Nadya Okamoto and Nick Jain, August specializes in sustainable, plastic-free period care products. The company has used a hyperactive social media strategy, posting up to 100 times a day, to build a community-focused brand that emphasizes transparency and environmental consciousness. Their approach to marketing through engaging content has helped them surpass $1 million in revenue within their first year​.

Darmo Art

Founded by Alexis de Bernede and Marius Jacob, Darmo Art is a contemporary art gallery that blends traditional gallery spaces with curated pop-up exhibitions in luxury locations. By creating an exclusive atmosphere for collectors, they’ve attracted high-end buyers and secured six-figure revenues from their initial shows. Their strategy focuses on experiential marketing and high-profile partnerships​.

SoundMind

SoundMind, developed by Travis Chen and Brian Femminella, is a mental health app designed to help users cope with anxiety and depression. Their mission-driven business model aligns with Gen Z’s focus on mental health awareness, and they have raised significant pre-seed funding. The app’s success stems from its accessibility and the founders’ understanding of the increasing need for mental health solutions.

Showtime

Founded by Alex Masmej, Showtime is an NFT-focused art gallery that aims to become the "Instagram for NFTs." Masmej successfully raised $7.6 million in venture capital and leverages the growing trend of digital art collecting to build a platform that democratizes access to NFTs. His focus on building a user-friendly digital platform with strong social integration has been key to his success​.

Hogoè Kpessou

Luxury designer Hogoè Kpessou launched her eponymous handbag brand, which is known for its iconic gold bumblebee logo. Starting with just weekend shifts at a restaurant and food delivery gigs, she now runs a business that is expected to hit seven figures. Kpessou’s growth strategy involved leveraging social media to connect with influencers and build her brand's visibility among luxury consumers.

Culted

Pavel Dler founded Culted, a Gen Z-focused media platform that has grown into a prominent arts and culture news outlet. With a core target audience in mind, Dler's strategy revolves around engaging short-form content, distributed through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. His ability to adapt to Gen Z’s content consumption habits has helped the company achieve significant revenue milestones​.

August Collective

Nick Jain and Nadya Okamoto also co-founded August Collective, a sustainable, period-care startup that emphasizes eco-friendliness and social responsibility. By utilizing a strong online presence and creating educational content that resonates with younger audiences, they have scaled their operations to hit $1 million in sales within a year​.

GlassPass

Riley McDonnell founded GlassPass, a marketplace for high-end bongs and pipes that aims to make glassware as collectible as fine art. With an app that has attracted 20,000 users and over $500,000 in transactions in its first year, McDonnell’s success lies in targeting a niche market with innovative tech integration​.

Stack World

Founded by Sharmadean Reid, The Stack World is a female-centric financial publication aiming to bridge the gap between mainstream lifestyle content and financial education for women. The platform's focus on community-building and empowering female entrepreneurs has led to rapid growth, with a subscriber base projected to reach 10,000​(THE ORG).

Heroes

Heroes, co-founded by Tristan Petit, Adrien Dewulf, and Cyriac Lefort, is a job platform designed for Gen Z, where users apply via short-form video content. The platform works with large companies like Panda Express and H&M and raised $6 million in seed funding. Their growth strategy capitalizes on Gen Z’s preference for video-first platforms, turning job searching into an interactive experience​(Motioncue).

These companies demonstrate how Gen Z entrepreneurs are not only reshaping industries but also rewriting the rules for business growth. By leveraging digital platforms, focusing on community engagement, and embracing values like sustainability and mental health, these founders have positioned their brands for long-term success.