Choosing the 2023 First 50: Human vs. AI

We’re entering the challenge phase of the 2023 Big50 Hot Startup competition. Each year, the first step tends to be the hardest. That’s when I must wade through hundreds of entries, whittling them down to a manageable batch of startups that are well positioned to earn their way into the final Hot Startup Report.

The startups below have not yet earned a slot in the final report, but they are the ones judged by me and a companion judge (more on that in a second) to be the most promising ones. These startups will be invited to participate in a series of short challenges that will not only help us get to know them better, but that will also help those startups tell their stories in a chaotic media landscape.

Narrowing the field is never an easy task, so this year, I asked for help and enlisted ChatGPT to join me in judging the competition. When a startup is positioned in a sector that I know well, such as AI, cybersecurity, or enterprise networking, I’ve built up a tried-and-true methodology to zero in on high-upside startups. I look for things like the founding team’s track record, funding levels, and market traction. Many of those criteria are horizontal, applying across sectors, but other criteria work less well the further away the startup is positioned from market sectors I know inside and out. Factors such as product-market fit, market-growth potential, and the barriers to entry in your niche are harder to judge in market sectors I don’t follow.

So, I asked ChatGPT to cover my flanks and select its own First 50, or the startups AI “thinks” are in the best position to make it into the final report.

If your startup appears on either of the two lists below, you have survived to tackle the next set of challenges.

If your startup does not appear on either list, or if you have yet to enter your startup in the competition, sit tight. There will be another opportunity or two to reenter the competition. For now, though, the challenges are only open to the following startups:

Note: Startups are listed alphabetically, not by rank.

*The startups in bold were selected by both me and ChatGPT. They are leading the pack at this point in the competition.

If your startup appears on either list, you will get an email invitation on Monday, March 27, 2023 to participate in the first challenge of the 2023 Big50 Hot Startup Competition. Congratulations to the startups that made the cut! And get ready for the first challenge, which will focus on how to navigate the chaos swirling around startup markets in 2023. Stay tuned. . .