Throughout the top April 2017 start-up ideas, one of the major themes that can be seen is centered around play. This can be seen in everything from virtual reality cafes and craft beer hotels to cinema spaces decorated with playground equipment. Appealing to people of all ages, these entertaining spaces offer a fresh way to experience familiar activities.
Many new start-ups are also being launched to simplify food delivery services. For instance, JoyRun lets users pick up food orders from restaurants for others, while Door Dash and Jack in the Box recently teamed up to offer a late-night meal delivery service. Finally, Martha & Marley Spoon teamed up with AmazonFresh to offer same-day delivery of its flavorful meal kits.
Project by Equinox and Lay's Poppables are examples of how some established companies are adopting the ingenuity of a start-up with new ventures and products.
Top 30 Start-Up Concepts in April
29
Feminist Activism Apparel
The 'Tory's Angry Uterus Tee' Supports Women's Health Funding
28
Creative Fitness Studios
'Project by Equinox' Empowers Trainers to Create the Future of Fitness
27
Non-Tying Shoelace Packs
HICKIES Laces Packaging Was Designed to Prominently Feature Its Products
26
Nitro Coffee Carts
Warbler Coffee Roasting's Mobile Drinks Cart Sells Nitro Beverages
25
Interactive LED Lounges
Melbourne's Spice Market Has Artificial Snow and Flying Scenery Nightly
24
Vegan Deli Restaurants
Montreal's Gusta Foods is a New Gourmet, Plant-Based Restaurant
23
Farm Fresh Food Delivery
Paalak.in Provides Fresh Produce Delivery Straight From Delhi Farmers
22
Late-Night Meal Deliveries
With Door Dash, Jack in the Box is Offering Night Meal Delivery
21
Spy-Themed Bars
The Bletchley Requires Patrons to Crack Tricky Codes to Get Drinks
20
Playroom-Inspired Cinemas
Cinépolis' Movie Theater for Kids Boasts Playground Equipment
19
Caribbean-Inspired Boomer Resorts
The First Latitude Margaritaville Will Be in Daytona Beach
18
At-Home Espresso Subscriptions
This Service Helps to Perfect the Art of Making Espresso at Home
17
Simplified Nut Spreads
Abby's Better Nut Butter Spreads Boast Just Five Ingredients or Less
16
Service-Aggregating Mobile Wallets
Puut Wallet Provides Mobile Financial Service Aggregation
15
Sacred Feminine Spaces
'WMN Space' is a LA Destination for Women Only
14
Social Cycling Tours
Cycle City Tours Allows Participants to Learn About Areas in a Unique Way
13
Popped Potato Bites
Lay's 'Poppables' Introduce a New Way to Enjoy Potatoes as a Snack
12
Trackable Designer Fashion Trucks
Kat's Closet Offers an App to Let Loyal Consumers Stay in Touch
11
Bespoke Spirit Festivals
The Gin & Vodka Festival Features Handcrafted Alcohol from All Over
10
Craft Brewery Hotels
BrewDog is Crowdfunding for the World's First Craft Beer Hotel
9
Same-Day Meal Delivery Services
Martha & Marley Spoon is Offering Quick Delivery Through Amazon
8
Digitized Milk Delivery Startups
Supr Daily is Changing How the Delivery of Milk Works in Mumbai
7
Virtual Reality Cafes
'Vrei' is a Hub for Trying Out Virtual Reality Technology and Games
6
Analytical Social Subscriptions
Twitter is Developing a Premium 'TweetDeck' for Professionals
5
Crowdsourced Food Delivery Apps
JoyRun Lets Users Pick Up Food from Restaurants for Others
4
Vending Machine Apps
'Acure Pass' Allows One to Pre-Purchase Drinks from a Smartphone
3
Navigational Fitness Apparel
Startup Sygnal Offers a Fitness-Tracking Tee Equipped with GPS
2
Galactic Fantasy Bars
The CNE Opened a Star Trek Bar with Trivia Games to Appeal to Franchise Fans
1
AI Sales Messaging Apps
Deepchat Uses Artificial Intelligence and Live Chat to Convert Prospects
Related Ideas
Customizable Away-From-Home Beverage Platforms
Pepsi Debuts House of Treats Activation in the UK
Music Competition Cafes
Hard Rock and Coca-Cola launch a global artist competition
Grocery-Inspired Beauty Pop-Ups
The Markup Marché by The Ordinary Challenges Industry Buzzwords
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Entertainment-Driven Distilleries
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw create immersive brewery venues
Layered Coffee Beverages
Peet’s Coffee Introduces Layered Coffee Beverages
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
Connected Beverage Platforms
Coca-Cola Uses Freestyle Data to Create New Drinks Faster
Conversational Shopping Experiences
Ask Pinterest Debuts on the Ask Pinterest App
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Themed Snack Collectibles
Kinder Joy Evolves its Treat-And-Toy Format with Themed Collections
Faux Food Pop-Ups
MoMA Design Store Unveils an Immersive 'MoMA Mart' Pop-Up for NYC
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
No-Code AI Builders
Lovable Lets Users Spin Up Apps From Simple Prompts
Autonomous Smart Store Installations
VenHub Global and Circa Introduced the VenHub Smart Store
Dynamic Scent-Inspired Fashion Presentations
Startup Fashion Week 2026 Concluded Its Program
Interactive Toy Experiences
Spin Master Highlights Opportunities in the Toy Sector in 2026
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Marathon Running Brand Pop-Ups
Bandit Running is Launching Its Boston Marathon Pop-Up
Tea Experience Bars
HeyTea's Teabar Expands Tea into Desserts, Tastings, and Social Experiences
AI Merchant Onboarding Tools
DoorDash Launches Its AI Merchant Tools
Pop Culture Chocolate Products
These New Kinder Products Embrace Collaborations
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Pop-Up Streaming Service Experiences
EE and Netflix Partnered for an Immersive Experience
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
Grocery-Inspired SPF Pop-Ups
Beauty of Joseon's Morning Moisturizer SPF Grocery is Experiential
AI Startup Resources
AI Startup Offers 400+ Curated Tools and Guides for Founders
Business Idea Generators
Crazy Business Idea Generator Lets Users Vote and Share Ideas Socially
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Gaming Lifestyle Collections
Toca Boca and MINISO Blend Retail with Digital Rewards
Paris Running Pop-Ups
New Balance Paris Marathon Weekend Activates Run House Cultural Space
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Experimental Beverage Pop-Ups
Nespresso's The Recipe Remix Shares Unusual Flavor Combos
Girl Dinner Experiences
Waverly Kitchen + Bar Curates Shareable Comfort Food Plates
Mobile Luxury Boutiques
Mytheresa Tours the Hamptons with a Curated Mobile Boutique
Meal Kit Installations
HelloFresh's Giant Delivery Box Features a Real Family Sharing Dinner
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
CPG-Focused Innovation Launchpads
Albertsons Companies is Running Its Innovation Launchpad
Extra-Vibrant Soda Packs
Poppi's VIBES Party Pack Gives Favorite Flavors a Limited-Edition Look
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
AI-Driven Sports Startups
IBM Launches Its Sports Tech Startup Challenge
Themed Beverage Universes
Dutch Bros Launches Planet Dutch with Cosmic Drink Creations
Cocktail-Themed Oversized Vending Machines
The BuzzBallz Capsule Toy Vending Machine is Immersive
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
Anti-Algorithm Social Platforms
Buzzfeed’s Branch Office Creates Interactive AI-Powered Apps
Entrepreneurship Adventure Platforms
Lemonade Lab Lets Kid-Run Businesses Accept Tap Payments
Next-Gen Consumer Goods Technologies
Unilever and Google Cloud Partner to Produce Strong Products
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Basketball Film-Inspired Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut Debuts Space Jam-Inspired Menu Bundle & Recipes
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Interactive Convention Activations
LEGO SMART Play Transforms Comic-Con into Immersive Experiences
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
Immersive Soccer Tournament Pop-Ups
Lay's Unveils an Immersive Pop-Up Experience
Novel Multi-Brand Retail Experiences
Lightspeed Commerce Debuts Multi-Brand Shopping and Ordering
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
Curated Grocery Platforms Rise
FirstClub Launches Its Curated Grocery Platform
Lightweight Restaurant Apps
Curate Boosts Restaurant Loyalty with No-Download Apple App Clips
Boutique Jewelry Concepts
Rocksbox is Expanding Its Presence in Metropolitan Areas
Branded Café Pop-Ups
The OPPO Enco Air5s Debuted Through a Branded Café Pop-Up in Paris
Experience-Enabled Franchises
Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. Uses Square to Scale Retail Experiences
Radically Transparent Food Models
The Open Food Company Launches a $3M Seed Round
Curated Wine Clubs
Majestic and Saturday Kitchen Pair Exclusive Wines with Chef Recipes
Conversational AI Food Orders
Square Brought Its Food and Beverage Sellers into Google's Ask Maps
Idea Repository Books
Business Ideas Database Curates Proven Business Opportunities At Scale
Early-Stage Global Innovation Competitions
Red Bull Basement 2026 is Accepting Applications
Startup Validation Tools
Product Market Fix Validates Startup Ideas Using Real Ad Tests And AI
Seasonal Cocktail Solution Platforms
Lucas Bols Launches Its Stock Your Home Bar Incentive
Video-First Food Ordering Experiences
CookUnity Acquired flavrs to Enhance Its Meal Service
Real-Time Restaurant Reservation Services
Deliveroo Reservations Lets Users Browse Availability
Nutrition Ecosystem Restaurants
Fork to Fit Kitchen links meals, fitness, and wellness tracking
Multi-Revenue Fashion Platforms
Rent the Runway expands into resale, ads and cleaning services
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
In-Person Creativity Cafe Campaigns
The Made in Starbucks Campaign Spotlights Customer Creativity
Dairy-Focused Startup Accelerator Programs
California Milk Advisory Board & VentureFuel Partner
Retail-Style Hotel Commerce
Aven Hospitality Embeds E-Commerce Features into Hotel Journeys
All-Hours Micro Markets
Healthy Smart Mart is Enticing Entrepreneurs with Its New Model
Soccer-Themed Entertainment Events
Sky Zone Turns Global Soccer Excitement into Active Play
Content-First Shopping Experiences
Gopuff and SpaceXAI Launched Go, a Personal Shopping Genius
Book-Themed Bar Concepts
Book Bar is an Upcoming Destination for Shopping, Eating & Connecting
Restaurant-Supporting Loyalty Platforms
inKind Boasts Its Successes on Its 10-Year Anniversary
Menu Discovery Challenges
Original ChopShop's Feel Good Foodie Challenge Rewards Menu Exploration
AI Founder Platforms
Max My Start Helps Founders Launch Grow And Scale Smarter With AI
Click-And-Collect Pubs
Young’s Pubs Lets Customers Pre-Order Drinks for Bar Pickup
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Micro-SaaS Discovery Platforms
MicroLineup Gives Indie Makers And Small Software Projects A Chance
Creator-Led Beauty Commerce
Amazon India Combines Creator Content and Beauty Shopping
Gaming Startup Accelerator Programmes
iGB L!VE Announces iGB Startups Accelerator and Pitch iGB
Experiential Tabletop Launches
MindWare Brings Immersive Game Demos to Gen Con 2026
Customer Collaboration Hubs
Rise Baking Opens a Commercial and R&D Center in Atlanta
Hybrid Entertainment Venues
Playdium Vaughan Blends Arcade Games, AR Attractions and Event Spaces
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Social Food Delivery Apps
The 'Zesty' App from DoorDash Helps Users Find New Restaurants
Discovery-Driven Beverage Programs
Dog Haus Expands Drinks Into a Menu Exploration Platform
AI Startup Builders
TalkToBuild Turns Your Ideas Into Full Startups Through Conversation
AI-Driven Platform Updates
Yelp Spring Product Release 2026 Introduces the Yelp Assistant
Spatial Commerce Platforms
Curie Shop Brings Interactive Product Exploration To Sneaker Shopping
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
City-Focused Influencer Platforms
Storytime Launches Storytime Marketplace in Cities
Food Discovery Apps
SUGGEST EAT Helps Users Discover Their Next Meal Through Short Food Videos
Co-Creation Food Labs
Vibrant Ingredients Expands Rapid Prototyping for Food and Beverage Brands
AI Launch Pad Programs
NYC Economic Development Corporation Partners with Lightspeed
Neuroscience-Informed Creative Wellness Platforms
NoomaLooma Enables Early Access to Its App
Social Learning Experiences
Lectures on Tap Hosts Expert-Led Discussions in Local Bars
IP-Based Kids Games
Netflix Turns Shows into Play Experiences
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Startup Discovery Platforms
Rova Bullpost Rewards Users For Supporting Underrated Startups
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Empathy-First Loyalty Playbooks
SumUp's CEO Highlights Main Street Tactics For Tech Loyalty
Community Hub Convenience Stores
Co-op turns local stores into delivery and service hubs
Product Discovery Communities
MillionShip Turns Product Discovery Into A Playful Experiences
Community-Driven Loyalty Programs
Salad House Turned Guest Spending Into Local Donations
Local Restaurant Activations
Pepsi Hosts Community Events to Drive Restaurant Discovery
Restaurant Profitability SaaS Platforms
Linked Eats is Partnering with Olo to Assist Restaurants
Service-Backed Recommerce Platforms
Commonplace Launches Marketplace With Built-In Delivery
Food Delivery Solutions
'Food Delivery App Development Solutions' Help Businesses Launch Apps
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
AI-Powered Superapps
Grab Introduces AI Features That Simplify Decisions and Automate Daily Tasks
Interactive Fast-Casual Dining
Pepper Lunch Expands Its Sizzling DIY Dining Concept
Data-Led Brand Creation
AS Watson Builds Brands Using Shopper Insights and Loyalty Data
Outdoor Lifestyle Brand Platforms
Merrell Launches the It Starts Outside Campaign
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
Commission-Free Food Marketplaces
Lunchbox & OPA! Deliver Alternative to Third-Party Marketplaces
Streaming-Inspired Toy Lines
Moose Toys Expands Netflix Stories Into Toy Collections
Startup Marketing Resources
The Marketing Playbook For Startups Breaks Down 80+ Growth Tactics
Dual-Format Dining
The Granola Bar Opens Dine-In and Takeaway Concepts in New Yotk
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Mobile App Studios
Developer On Wheels Builds Family And Travel Apps From A Campervan Office
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Meal Delivery Brand Advantages
Clean Eatz Kitchen Signals to Its Advantages in the Market
Food Delivery Platforms
Food Devilery App Development Builds Smart Secure Food Ordering Platforms
Event-Driven Instant Retail
JD Sports Delivers England Shirts Through Uber Eats Before Kick-Off
Idea Validation Platforms
The Idea Hub Transforms Early Concepts Into Actionable Business Insights
Startup Insight Platforms
App Stacks Reveals App Stories, Tech Stacks, And Builder Insights
Victorian Parlour Gaming Booths
Inception Group Launches Mr Fogg’s Games Parlour
Rapid Business Planning
I Have An Idea Delivers Business Plans, Customer Profiles, And Strategies
iPad Vision Self-Checkout Systems
VisioLab Launches Its AI-Powered iPad Checkout Interface