From: betaboston.com

While visiting TripAdvisor’s new headquarters last month, I started to put together a mental list: consumer-focused Internet and software companies in the Boston area that have strong momentum, good buzz, and at least 50 employees.

The criteria: these are not branch offices (that eliminated companies like Kayak, GSN Games, and Sonos, which have engineering teams in Boston but are headquartered elsewhere); their main business is building and marketing something directly to consumers; and they can legitimately be called technology-driven companies.

Companies are listed roughly in order of how many employees they have. I ran my list past a handful of angel investors and venture capitalists to make sure I wasn’t missing anyone, but feel free to post a comment about other companies you think belong here.

• TripAdvisor: Network of travel-related web sites.

• Wayfair: Operator of e-commerce sites focused on home furnishings and decor.

• Care.com: Marketplace for childcare providers, pet-sitters, and house cleaners.

• Rue La La: Time-limited sales of high-end merchandise and experiences.

• Carbonite: Online data backup for consumers and small businesses.

• Harmonix Music Systems: Maker of videogames like “Rock Band,” “Dance Central,” and “Disney Fantasia.”

• DraftKings: Play fantasy sports with real money.

• PillPack: Online pharmacy with elegant packaging.

• CarGurus: Information for car shoppers.

• peerTransfer: Making tuition payments simpler and cheaper for international students.

• Drizly: Mobile app for getting booze delivered.

• SimpliSafe: Modular home security system with no subscription fees.

• Circle Internet Financial: Bitcoin-based money transfer.

• Foodler: Online food delivery in cities including Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

• BookBub: Sends out daily e-mails about free and discounted e-books.

Update: One unintentional omission from this list was Invaluable, which hosts live auctions of art, antiques, and collectibles for real-world auction houses. They’ve got 127 employees; I wrote about them last June.