Maybe your startup just raised a new round of funding. Maybe you've just released a product and the company is gearing up for a hiring spree and a customer acquisition push. Maybe you're simply working with outdated tech, and for productivity's sake your office is in dire need of a hardware and software overhaul. In all of these cases, our monthly Startup Toolkit is for you.
PCMag gets hundreds of new products into our lab every month to review, and much of it is valuable business tech that, in the right situation, can make a significant difference to your startup's efficiency and bottom line. This month's toolkit is packed with powerful marketing automation and business intelligence (BI) software, plus new business smartphones, all-in-one desktops, next-gen mice, and more. Read on to see what fresh tech might be the right fit for your startup.
Software and Services
GetResponse
For an all-in-one email marketing and marketing automation platform that won't break your growing company's bank, GetResponse is a great choice. The company is ramping up US operations for its easy-to-use software with plenty of advanced features and integrations to help your business hit online marketing campaigns from every angle.
Intermedia Cloud PBX
Intermedia Cloud PBX is a mature, smartly designed voice-over-IP (VoIP) service with a deep feature set. Though it's not the cheapest, its features and their implementation and delivery are worth the extra cost when you factor in access to excellent support, cross-service integration, and a host of additional business cloud services.
Microsoft Power BI
On top of garnering one of our Editors' Choice awards for BI thanks to its excellent selection of analytics and data visualization tools, Microsoft Power BI is also free. Compared to other BI tools with steeper price tags and longer learning curves, Power BI integrates with plenty of data connectors and Microsoft services to provide the most comprehensive value for a startup that wants a wealth of analytics packaged into sleek visualizations.
Wave
Free double-entry accounting service Wave is a bargain for small businesses, with plenty of powerful features and a design appealing enough to keep startups happy. It's our top bookkeeping choice for freelancers, sole proprietors, contractors, and very small businesses, and all you need to pay for is standard payments and payroll fees.
Zetta Data Protection
Cloud backup is one of those things you don't need until you REALLY need it. To make sure all your startup's data is securely backed up and ready for quick recovery across all major platforms, try Zetta Data Protection. It's simple to set up, gives you fast and secure cloud backup, plus optional disaster recovery and support for most popular business software and business continuity features.
Hardware
BlackBerry KeyOne
BlackBerry's back with a new business smartphone. For anyone in your office that's still jonesing for the good 'ol BlackBerry days, the BlackBerry KeyOne sports a fantastic physical keyboard with a bunch of smart messaging capabilities, and strong built-in security features around app and device permissions, as well as comprehensive encryption.
Dell OptiPlex 7450 All-in-One
The Dell OptiPlex 7450 All-in-One is a powerful business desktop with a brilliant 4K screen, plenty of power, and excellent connectivity. Packed with plenty of ports and ideal for multi-monitor setups in cramped spaces, it's our new Editors' Choice for business all-in-one (AIO) desktops.
Logitech MX Master 2S
The Logitech MX Master 2S is the ultimate multitasking mouse. With its Logitech Flow software, this comfortable and responsive wireless mouse lets you copy and paste documents, images, and text between three computers, and from Mac to Windows and vice versa. It's comfortable in your hand, with adaptive scrolling and multiple connectivity options on top of a quick-charging, long-lasting battery. This is the Cadillac of mice.
Samsung DeX
The Samsung DeX turns your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ into a multi-window desktop PC. While DeX doesn't quite make the case for buying this, a mouse, and a keyboard over a traditional PC, if your startup has already handed out some S8s to employees and doesn't want to buy a new line of PCs or laptops as well, Dex works well. It's a great way to extend the value of Samsung devices, and it's miles ahead of Microsoft's Continuum.
PCMag Startup Tool of the Month: Zoho Projects
PCMag doesn't give out five-star Editors' Choice ratings all that often, so when we do, it's worth noticing. Zoho Projects continues to lead the project management (PM) pack, sprucing up its look and feel with a new responsive user interface (UI). Plus, it still offers a truly free level of service on top of an excellent array of features and integrations. It's a no-brainer PM choice for startups that want a great product at a reasonable price, especially if you're already invested in other tools within the Zoho ecosystem.