The 15 Start-Ups to Watch in 2024: Our Top Picks

Here is our selection of the 15 promising start-ups to follow in 2024. These companies have caught our attention with their unique approaches, rapid growth, and potential to disrupt their respective sectors, from AI to healthcare and sustainability. 

The innovation landscape is buzzing with promising start-ups across various industries. From cutting-edge technology and sustainable solutions to groundbreaking healthcare and transformative consumer products, these emerging companies are set to make waves in the coming year.

Whether you’re an investor, industry professional, or simply curious about the next big thing, these are the start-ups you won’t want to miss.

Green Tech

1/ Neolithe

This French startup has come up with a novel idea to dispose of industrial non-recyclable waste that’s more sustainable than traditional waste management: turning it into stone. Exactly as nature would over thousands of years, just way quicker.

The company recently secured €60 million to accelerate the industrial and commercial expansion of its Fossilizer. Their goal is to deliver enough machines by 2026 to process up to 2.5 million tons of waste, saving about 1 million tons of CO2 annually. 

2/ Byssus

This other French company Byssal has found a way to recycle byssal filaments into technical textiles. These threads which, look like flax, are very resistant as they allow bivalve mollusks such as mussels to attach themselves to a surface. Usually discarded by mussel producers, they have the potential to offer an ecological alternative to synthetic textiles.

3/ BioSEA

This Singapore-based company specializes in developing innovative building materials inspired by nature to combat climate change. One of their key products is a series of textured tiles designed to mimic the cracked skin of elephants, offering a unique approach to managing heat and fostering local ecosystems. These tiles retain moisture and create shaded areas, helping to reduce the impact of direct sunlight on building facades.

4/ Triple Helix

This Belgian startup aims to close the loop by recycling end-of-life chemical molecules found in foams and mattresses for various forms of reuse. They came up with a recycling process that they say is energy efficient, generates nearly no waste, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to traditional methods. They are gearing up to build their first factory in Antwerp 

5/ Limatech

This French deep-tech industrial startup, founded in October 2016, specializes in the production of lithium batteries for starting thermal engines in aviation. The company’s mission is to decarbonize aviation by replacing traditional batteries, such as those made with lead or nickel-cadmium, which are toxic and contain carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances.

Limatech’s lithium-based batteries use safer chemistries like lithium iron phosphate (LFP), offering significant advantages over traditional batteries. Lithium batteries require half the maintenance and have a longer lifespan, lasting approximately 10 years. They are also much lighter, reducing the overall weight of aircraft by 120 kg for an Airbus A320 and 25 kg for a helicopter, contributing to fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

The company is now seeking to raise 20 million euros to further its program and bring to market its 24-volt, 15 Amp-hour lithium battery.

6/ Lyras

This Danish company has revolutionized liquid pasteurization with its innovative Raslysation technology. Unlike traditional methods that rely on heat, Raslysation employs UV light to neutralize unwanted microorganisms in liquid foods such as whey, fruit juices, and herbal beverages. This approach significantly reduces energy consumption (up to 90%) and minimizes water usage.

7/ Nitricity

This American startup produces nitrogen fertilizer by mimicking the power of lightning, using only air, water, and electricity. Founded in 2018 by Stanford University graduates, the company uses its non-thermal plasma reactor to create artificial lightning to convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-soluble nitrates, replicating a natural process. This climate-smart technology can address up to 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions by reducing nitrous oxide formation.

Healthcare

8/ Brenus Pharma

The startup’s core innovation lies in its therapeutic vaccines designed to stimulate the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. The company’s approach involves reactivating the patient’s immune response, enabling it to detect and destroy tumor cells that have developed resistance to other treatments.

Brenus Pharmas was recently recognized as the biotech company of the year. It is now finalizing a fundraising round to support its first clinical trial, set to take place in France, Belgium, and the United States. The trial will focus on patients with colorectal cancer, marking a significant step forward in the development of these therapeutic vaccines.

9/ Enchanted Tools

This France-based company has designed the Mirokaï robot to work in healthcare settings, where it will interact with both patients and medical staff. The company aims to produce around 100,000 humanoid robots within the next decade.

In hospitals, Mirokaï robots can carry equipment, allowing nurses and medical staff to focus on providing better care to patients. This approach represents a significant shift in healthcare logistics, where robots can play a supportive role while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical teams.

AI

10/ Videtics

This French start-up provides a comprehensive software suite designed to enhance surveillance in protected areas. Using AI, their system can handle over 1,200,000 full images and annotate more than 4 million objects using both visible and thermal cameras.

The company pledges to conduct ethical artificial intelligence-based video surveillance analysis. They secured a contract related to algorithmic video surveillance during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

Electronics

11/ Silmach

This French deep tech company is a pioneer in silicon-based MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems). The company designs, manufactures, and integrates high-performance MEMS micromotors for mobile and connected systems. Their innovations include ultra-compact and highly precise electrostatic micromotors They also create energy-efficient micromechanical sensors for health monitoring of structures.

SilMach gained international recognition for its breakthroughs. They developed a silicon heart for quartz watches, which has been used in watches for several years. At CES 2024, they won the prestigious Best of CES® 2024 Innovation Award in the “Embedded Technologies” category for their silicon-based micromotor, the smallest of its kind.

Robotics

12/ Figure01

Figure is a California-based robotics firm that developed Figure01, an autonomous robot that combines human dexterity with cutting-edge AI. The robot is designed for employment in various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail. Its versatility makes it suitable for tasks that require both precision and adaptability.

The company has partnered with BMW to test the humanoid robot at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the United States. If the trials are successful, the long-term vision is to seamlessly integrate humanoid robots like Figure01 into BMW’s production lines.

Figure also recently secured a substantial investment of $675 million (€624 million) at a valuation of $2.6 billion. Tech giants such as Microsoft OpenAI, NVIDIA, Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and Jeff Bezos contributed to this funding.

13/ Agility robotics

This US-based company has developed Digit, a bipedal robot designed for logistics work. It is capable of moving, grasping, and handling items in warehouses in innovative ways. The robot is 1.7 meters tall, weighs about 63.5 kg, and can lift almost 16 kg, offering flexibility for various warehouse tasks through software updates.

Digit’s initial applications focus on bulk material handling within warehouses and distribution centers. Although there could be applications in medical settings in the future, for now, Digit is intended for industries with extensive logistics and warehouse operations, such as third-party logistics, automotive manufacturers, and e-commerce providers. Amazon is collaborating with Agility Robotics to test Digit, in its operations.

14/ MS Innov

MS-Innov specializes in modular cobots, and they’re making quite an entrance into the manufacturing sector. These cobots come in 4-axis, 5-axis, and 6-axis configurations. They are like customizable building blocks, allowing scalability and adaptation to varying payload requirements and reach. Customers can reconfigure it for different scenarios, making them truly flexible with their equipment.

Unlike traditional systems, MS-Innov’s cobots can rotate infinitely. They use pins to transmit both information and power, eliminating the need for repositioning. This innovation streamlines production processes and saves valuable time.

Exoskeleton

15/ ExoIQ

Founded in Hamburg in 2017, this German start-up launched its flagship product, the S700 active shoulder exoskeleton, in the autumn of 2023. The S700 is the first active exoskeleton designed for industrial use, aimed at reducing physical strain and enhancing performance in various industrial tasks. It offers substantial relief for the arm, neck, and shoulder muscles, with up to 5 kg of force support per arm.

The S700 is powered by electro-pneumatics. A battery-operated compressor provides additional power to the arms through compressed air, significantly reducing muscular strain. Its integrated sensor system ensures precise movement detection for optimal support.