Millions out of thin air: how people made a fortune on crazy ideas

The fastest-growing US companies have successfully chosen a niche industry or have come up with a new way to earn money - from extreme races to underwear - and succeeded: the total revenue in the 2016 year is more than $ 136 million. But their founders believe that money is not the main thing.

In our list of 10 successful companies that came up with the most unusual 2017 business of the year.

1. Earn at the Burning Man Festival

Orion Melehan, co-founder and CEO of Californian beverage producer LIFEAID Beverage Company, travels a lot to music festivals to promote their products. He was recently at a concert in honor of a solar eclipse in Bend, Oregon. LIFEAID produces sports and energy drinks that are popular among millenials, especially among the audience. Burning Man. The company takes the 227 line in the list Inc. Xnumx for 2017 year, and its revenue last year was $ 12,8 million

2. The hipsters' sanctuary

Site creators Reverb.com It is true that music lovers will benefit from a specialized platform for buying and selling vintage audio equipment. Now a Chicago-based company (18 ranks among the fastest-growing US private enterprises) offers copper chrome drums and tube amplifiers. Troubadour at competitive prices. Over the past year, the company received almost $ 16 million in revenue.

3. Wine tasting with jay lo

Online auction Omaze headquartered in Los Angeles offers customers a “unique chance” to meet celebrities - from Ben Stiller to Jennifer Lawrence and Idris Elba - for a small donation to various charities. Customers from more than 170 countries donate money through the site; The funds raised are distributed to approximately 150 to charities, and a small portion amounts to revenue. Omaze. In the list Inc. Xnumx The company takes the 112-place.

4. First of all - airplanes

Florida company MzeroA.com offers online flight training courses. On the site, you can also buy e-books and aviation equipment - according to the company's founders, "a good pilot always learns." MzeroA.com takes 230 line in the list Inc. Xnumx last year earned $ 2,1 million

5. Fan theories on the "Game of Thrones"

The forces of the White Walkers marching on Västerås are built by the emblem of House Stark - a lyopovolka, so the Night King - in fact, Brandon Stark - such a fan theory about the “Game of Thrones” recently appeared on the website Fan fest. The company's portal is focused on the audience of comics, science fiction and horror and receives income mainly from advertising. Fan fest on 232 place in the ranking Inc. Xnumx, and its revenue for the last year - $ 11,1 million

6. How bones will lie

Casino Cash Trac develops software for gambling establishments to manage games and accounting operations. The company's revenue last year amounted to $ 3,5 million, which gave her a place in the 247 list.

7. Time for a beer

Greg Avola and Tim Mather created Untappd - social network and mobile application for brewers and their clients. The company (Wilmington, North Carolina) offers beer suppliers a complete set of marketing tools, which last year earned it $ 3 million. In the list Inc. Xnumx it takes the 259 place.

8. Eco-friendly panties

Furniture is made from beech wood (a genus of deciduous trees) in Europe and North America, but soft wood can also be produced from its wood. MeUndies produces underwear from this material and distributes it by monthly subscription. A startup from Culver City, California, last year received $ 32,6 million in revenue and ranked 276 line in the list Inc. Xnumx.

9. Road rage

If your dream is to rush into the sunset Lamborghinibut no money will help you Xtreme Xperience. The company rents luxury cars for testing on professional race tracks - for only $ 99 (not including insurance). Last year, a Chicago-based company rescued $ 5,8 million and ranked 2985 in the list. Inc. 5000.

10. 80's Entertainment

Fun is not a hindrance, says Robert Thompson, founder and CEO Punch bowl social (a network of restaurants across the country). In each of its institutions there are arcade games, fluorescent lighting and karaoke machines, you can reserve a place for private events. Denver’s revenue last year was $ 36 million; on the list Inc. Xnumx she is on the 1195 location.

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