Over the past several months, I’ve met a number of people who are new to Boston or completing graduate school and are looking to join an exciting startup in the technology or media space.  I’ve found that a couple companies keep coming up, and I thought I’d share 3 that I particularly like.

Because I know VC’s are horrible self-promoters (myself included), I am excluding any company that I have been involved with either as an investor at Spark or as an employee or in any other formal capacity.  I’m also biasing this towards startups that are a little further along than your typical series A company.

These are companies that I am whole heartedly rooting for, because we need more local success stories.  So, in no particular order:

1. Visible Measures: We are big believers in the online video space, and Visible Measures is quickly becoming the standard tool to help publishers and advertisers understand audience behavior.  Very cool company, and I am a big fan of their CEO Brian Shin who is a smart, down to earth, and all-around great guy.

2. Sermo: I must say I was pretty skeptical about this company when I first heard about it.  Is there really a need for a social network for doctors? But I admit I completely missed the value in this one.  Harnessing the insight of physicians about difficult cases, clinical studies, medical technology, and healthcare policy is a big deal.  And from what I hear, adoption has been impressive and is growing.

3. Kiva Systems: This is a non-obvious one.  The summer before business school, I decided to try something completely off-beat. So I joined an organic pet food company that was recently purchased by a PE firm I had done some work for in the past.  What I got was a very quick education to supply chain logistics and a realization of how much could be lost and gained in this area.  Kiva systems uses the best of robotics to optimize the productivity and accuracy of fulfillment in distribution centers.  It’s not sexy, but those robots are pretty darn cool.

I know I’m missing others, but these are the three that come to mind, and also don’t get as much press as some of the other “hot” companies in Boston.  Know any others that should be on this list?