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How Deep checks works
Founders apply on our site. We vet them for (1) being deeptech and (2) appearing venture backable. We vet using their deck and LinkedIn profiles. We don't conduct interviews with founders; we haven't met the founders beforehand. We filter startups with a light touch, preferring to share more deals than fewer so we don't inject our own bias too much. Every three weeks, we then email the best decks to you. You then login into the page you're viewing now, browse the startups below, and click "Click to copy email" next to one to reach out to the founders directly. In short, we are not Y Combinator; we're a deck filtering program for the benefit of hardware founders. We work really hard to be efficient and respect everyone's time.
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Lux Foods
Agriculture
Crop production using tissue culture and bioreactors

Lux Foods grows fruit directly from plant cells in bioreactors without relying on photosynthesis, requiring 90% less light energy and almost no land. This approach allows for the rapid, year-round production of fresh, pesticide-free produce anywhere in the world while bypassing the massive energy and labor costs of traditional and vertical farming.

  • Instead of growing the whole plant, the company grows just the fruit from plant tissue, cutting the time from seed to harvest down to just three weeks.
  • By removing the need for sunlight or expensive LED lighting, the system avoids the massive energy bills that have bankrupted many vertical farming companies.
  • They are starting with specialty small tomatoes and are already building a waitlist of high-end chefs for their first active production facility in Los Angeles.
  • The technology is backed by over $5 million in research funding from organizations like NASA and the Gates Foundation, and their tomatoes have even been grown on the International Space Station.
  • The long-term plan is to scale up production to drastically lower costs and eventually franchise the technology, allowing local operators to grow fresh food anywhere.
founder's note about traction
First production facility live in LA — first batch completed, second in production. Building fine dining waitlist: Chef Manos (The Penthouse) and Chef Jordan Kahn (Vespertine/Destroyer). $5M+ non-dilutive R&D deployed (Gates, NASA, FFAR). Closed commitments from Jeremy Wertheimer (fmr VP Eng Google, MIT Engine Board) and Hustle Fund. KV food/ag partner in active diligence.
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VSC systems
Batteries

VSC Systems builds advanced supercapacitor systems using proprietary graphene electrodes that provide both massive energy storage and rapid power delivery in a single device. This technology replaces bulky and hazardous battery setups to efficiently manage the massive power surges required by modern AI data centers and defense platforms.

  • The company created a new type of graphene electrode that unlocks extra internal storage space during its first use, resulting in the highest energy density ever recorded for a supercapacitor.
  • These systems hold five times more energy than traditional supercapacitors while still delivering power instantly, meaning users no longer have to choose between long-lasting energy and quick bursts.
  • The technology helps AI data centers handle massive power spikes, which cuts energy use by 40 percent and removes the need for dangerous lithium-ion backup batteries.
  • The compact design is perfect for defense tools like radar and directed energy weapons, providing extreme bursts of power in a package that is 75 percent smaller than current options.
  • The manufacturing process is ready for prototypes and uses standard equipment at lower temperatures to keep costs down, drawing early interest from major companies like Schneider and ABB.
founder's note about traction
No LOI, as the startup is just being formed. But had informal discussions with Schneider, ABB etc and they showed interest in having a CESS system for AIDCs, and also had discussions with CALSTART where they are introducing us to a defense platform.
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American Supercritical
Energy
Waste-heat recovery systems powering behind-the-meter data centers

American Supercritical builds modular power systems that capture waste heat from gas turbines to generate 50 percent more electricity without using extra fuel. This technology helps AI data centers maximize their onsite power generation and bypass long grid delays and equipment shortages.

  • AI data centers increasingly rely on onsite gas turbines for power, but these machines currently lose more than half of their energy as exhaust heat.
  • The company uses a supercritical CO2 system to capture this waste heat and turn it into extra electricity, increasing power output by 50 percent without adding emissions or water use.
  • Their 10-megawatt power units are modular and take up only one-tenth of the space of traditional steam systems, making them easy to add to existing sites.
  • Because new gas turbines have wait times of five to seven years, extracting more power from existing equipment helps data centers meet their massive energy needs much faster.
  • The founders are experienced engineers from top aerospace and energy companies who hold multiple patents in this specific power technology.
founder's note about traction
Through my time at Exowatt I have had hundreds of conversations with data center customers, independent power producers, developers, and utilities. Data centers are increasingly focused on time-to-power, with behind-the-meter natural gas serving as the dominant bridge solution. American Supercritical provides 50% more power from every gas turbine, without additional emissions or water use.
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Obsidia Semi
Hardware

OBSIDIA uses ultra-precise radio frequency scanning and silicon watermarking to instantly detect counterfeit or tampered microchips. This technology protects the global semiconductor supply chain from a $100 billion annual fraud problem, ensuring that critical electronics remain safe and reliable.

  • The semiconductor industry loses over $100 billion every year to fake, recycled, or tampered chips that can cause critical systems to fail.
  • Their first product is a scanner that reads the unique radio frequency signature of chips in less than a second to verify they are authentic before they are built into circuit boards.
  • They can also embed a permanent, uncrackable watermark directly into the silicon of every chip without adding any extra manufacturing time or cost.
  • Current testing methods are slow and expensive, but this system cuts verification costs by 90 percent and prevents bad parts from entering the supply chain.
  • The company is preparing to launch beta tests with major partners like ParPro and SparkFun, and is in the running for a $34 million government award to speed up their commercial release.
founder's note about traction
OBSIDIA has advanced to the second round of evaluation for a $34M NIST CRDO award, and is preparing beta REELScan deployments with ParPro and SparkFun as we move toward first commercial units by year-end. LOI - tate of Colorado, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane, SMT Corp, Kostas Research institute for Homeland Security.
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Prop5G
Other

Prop5G builds secure, private 5G networks powered by artificial intelligence to support the heavy data needs of edge computing in commercial buildings. This infrastructure provides the reliable, high-speed connectivity required for modern applications like autonomous robots and smart sensors that easily overwhelm traditional WiFi networks.

  • Industry experts predict AI data traffic will grow a billion times over, prompting 75% of medium and large businesses to plan a switch from WiFi to private 5G.
  • The company partners with Nokia to provide commercial cellular technology that operates independently of traditional telecom carriers, and they already have a proof of concept agreement with JLL.
  • The network uses specialized software agents that automatically adjust bandwidth and security settings to support specific tools like warehouse robots, security cameras, and medical monitors.
  • They charge a monthly subscription fee of about ten cents per square foot, allowing them to recover their initial equipment costs in just over a year.
  • The leadership team brings over 150 years of combined telecom experience and has previously created over $12 billion in value across multiple successful companies.
founder's note about traction
Experienced management team with deep knowledge of the space.  Demo/POC agreement with JLL.  Extensive technology exchanges with vendor, Nokia.  Spoken with 40 robotic companies validating connectivity challenges/plans for 5G.  AI Agents framed out and under development. Day 1 of model starts with close of seed Round.
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Inflection Space Systems
Space
Satellite platform manufacturing for LEO constellations

Inflection Space Systems builds affordable satellites at a massive scale to solve the problem of expensive space hardware. By relying on automation and standard supply chains instead of slow legacy processes, they make it cheaper to build the infrastructure needed for Earth orbit and beyond.

  • While launch costs have dropped, the satellites themselves are now the most expensive part of going to space, which this company fixes through high-volume manufacturing.
  • They already have strong customer interest, with signed letters of intent for over 40 spacecraft that represent more than $50 million in potential revenue.
  • Instead of relying on the slow aerospace supply chain, they build their satellites using standard, Earth-based manufacturing and automation to keep costs low.
  • The team has already built and tested early hardware prototypes and software, staying on track for a first launch in 2027.
  • The founders have deep experience in the space industry, having previously led satellite production and software design at major companies like Rocket Lab and Millennium Space Systems.
founder's note about traction
LOIs signed for over 40 spacecraft, representing >$50M in potential revenue. Protoflight hardware developed for reaction wheels, torque rods, IMUs, magnetometers, and core avionics. Flight and ground software developed and running.
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Swyft Cities
Transportation (Hardware)

Swyft Cities builds AI-controlled autonomous electric vehicles that travel on fixed cables to bypass ground traffic. This system offers a transit alternative that is cheaper and faster than traditional buses, helping cities and private developments solve major congestion problems.

  • The system features autonomous vehicles moving on stationary cables, guided by an artificial intelligence platform that can also manage traffic across roads, rail, and air.
  • Compared to standard city buses, these smart gondolas cost half as much to build, are six times cheaper to run, and complete trips twice as fast.
  • The business model focuses on software and vehicle resale rather than heavy manufacturing, creating high profit margins and thirty-year contracts with almost no customer cancellation.
  • Even before the first demo system opens, the company has already generated $1.5 million in revenue and built a qualified pipeline of over $500 million.
  • Customer growth is driven by referrals and partners in construction and architecture, targeting fast-moving private sites like ski resorts, airports, and large real estate developments.
founder's note about traction
Traffic congestion is a $4T market. Our modular infrastructure and AI-controlled “smart gondolas” deliver 20X better transit. Software-first, hardware-light model similar to Waymo’s. Even before our first demo system opens in July 2026, we have already generated $1.5M in revenue from customers designing our system directly into their active projects, and our qualified pipeline now exceeds $500M.  Customer acquisition has been driven primarily through referrals and partners in architecture, engineering, construction, and project finance, which have already sourced roughly half of our customers. Our near-term wedge is fast-moving private and semi-private sector sites including ski resorts, airports, and large real estate developments, all reachable with a very narrow focus.
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GENOMA LABS
Transportation (Hardware)

Genoma Labs builds autonomy software that allows heavy hydraulic machinery, like cranes, to operate without human drivers. This technology brings self-driving capabilities to the industrial sector, eliminating the need for expensive manual labor in hazardous environments.

  • The startup has a major distribution partner in CPS Group, a manufacturer with over 20,000 machines deployed across more than 50 countries.
  • The founder is an executive at this partner company and runs its US defense branch, providing guaranteed access to integrate the technology directly into machines as they are built.
  • Human operators cost about $180,000 a year per machine, meaning this autonomous system pays for itself in less than nine months.
  • The team is already building a fully autonomous heavy loader for the US Army that can lift 95 metric tons, while competitors are only showing off basic concepts.
  • The software has been tested on real machines and proven to control complex hydraulic arms with extreme accuracy, hitting targets with sub-decimeter precision.
founder's note about traction
OEM channel locked at founding: CPS Group (€25M sales, 20,000+ machines in 50+ countries) is our distribution seat, founder sits on its NIS2 executive body and runs CPS US (CAGE-code defense sub), so every crane shipped is a FUSE seat. Operators burn ~$180K/yr per machine in manual labor → sub-9-month payback. Army's M-MET concept (AUSA 2025) targets our exact class; fielded version running today.
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Canopii
Agriculture

Canopii builds small, fully robotic greenhouses that grow organic produce directly inside the communities they serve. This approach eliminates the massive labor and transportation costs of traditional farming to make fresh, locally grown food accessible and profitable anywhere.

  • New Seasons, a regional grocery chain with 22 stores, has already committed to buying 40,000 pounds of produce and helping create four custom product lines.
  • The entire farm fits into a 2,500-square-foot space, which is smaller than a basketball court, and relies on robots to handle all the planting, moving, and harvesting.
  • Instead of selling equipment, the company installs and runs the greenhouses on their partners' properties to create a steady stream of income from the food they grow.
  • They spent four years perfecting the manufacturing process with a major agricultural equipment builder, meaning any new competitor is already years behind.
  • Each farm is highly profitable on its own, generating around $388,000 in annual revenue with a 62 percent profit margin.
founder's note about traction
New Seasons, a regional grocer with 22 stores in the Portland, has committed to purchase 40,000 lbs of produce at $8–9 per lb and to co-develop four packaged local organic leafy green SKUs with us. This validates a market that neither regional greenhouses nor large-scale agriculture can address: local, in-house brands. The CTUIR Tribe has also signed an LOI for our second commercial deployment.
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GREENBOX Labs
Agriculture

GREENBOX Labs builds a combined hardware and software system that actively verifies and enforces the exact conditions of physical experiments in real time. This ensures scientific research is reliable and reproducible, creating the certified, tamper-proof data needed to train physical AI models.

  • Current lab tools only record what scientists intend to happen, but this system actively measures and adjusts the environment to guarantee the experiment runs exactly as planned.
  • The technology is already built and proven, running for over 200 autonomous hours with zero human intervention across hundreds of successful plant experiments.
  • Every experiment produces a certified, tamper-proof data record using cryptography, creating the highly reliable physical data that AI models need to improve.
  • There is clear demand with over 25 organizations on a waitlist and inclusion in more than $10 million worth of federal grant submissions.
  • Led by experienced founders from top tech and medical companies, the company is raising $3 million to deploy units that pay for themselves by preventing just one failed experiment.
founder's note about traction
Built, running, validated at TRL-4: 204 autonomous hours, zero human intervention, 145K+ observations, and 486 verified operating points. We’ve proven biological performance across 700+ plant experiments, 60+ species, and 99% survivorship. Demand is validated by 25+ signed MOUs / pilot-waitlist organizations and inclusion in $10M+ of DOE, USDA, and NASA grant submissions. Raising $3M to deploy.
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Biophoundry
Biotech

Biophoundry combines AI and cell-free engineering to rapidly design programmable phage therapies that fight drug-resistant bacteria. This platform transforms a slow, manual discovery process into a scalable engine capable of creating targeted medicines in weeks instead of years.

  • Phages are natural predators of bacteria that are highly effective at treating infections, but traditional methods to find and make them are too slow to help most patients.
  • The company built an AI tool that maps how phages interact with bacteria, allowing them to predict and design new treatments rather than relying on trial and error.
  • They produce these phages using a cell-free system, which removes usual biological roadblocks and lets them build and test new medicines much faster.
  • This combined approach shrinks the time it takes to find a promising new drug candidate from years down to just 14 days.
  • The team has already secured a clinical partnership with Louisiana's largest hospital system, a paid pilot with an agricultural company, and a collaborative research agreement with the USDA.
founder's note about traction
We have initiated a paid pilot with a Agricultural Phage Company to produce their phage in our cell-free systems.  Clinical Parternship: Terms signed with Louisiana's largest hospital system (Ochsner) for a  pilot towards compassionate use trials and platform subscription accesss (MoU in draft) Signed collaborative research agreement with USDA for Aquaculture pathogens.
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Vitroscope
Biotech

Vitroscope builds hardware and software that mimics human blood flow and organ conditions to keep human tissue and organoids alive in the lab for drug testing. This allows researchers to test new medicines on accurate human models instead of relying on flawed animal testing, improving the success rate of drug discovery.

  • The technology is already being used by two Nobel Prize-winning labs, top five global universities, and major research hospitals as paying customers.
  • Two of the top fifteen pharmaceutical companies have confirmed proof-of-concept studies, and the company has over 2.5 million euros in the approval stages.
  • The system keeps human tissue samples, like liver and lymph nodes, up to 90 percent alive and functioning for several days by controlling oxygen, temperature, and pH levels.
  • It pumps fluids through lab-grown blood vessels and brain models to mimic real human blood flow, letting scientists see exactly how drugs move through the body.
  • The platform continuously monitors experiments to collect structured, real-time data, creating a valuable foundation to train artificial intelligence models for future drug development.
founder's note about traction
* 2 of top 15 pharma / life science companies confirmed PoC study * 3 of top 15 PharmaCo + decacorns quoted in addition;  * 2 Nobel prize winning labs as customers * >€ 2.5m in approval stages * global top 5 universities & research hospitals as paying customers
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Litegrav
Biotech

Litegrav builds hardware and software that simulates microgravity on Earth to help researchers discover new medicines and agricultural products. This technology allows scientists to rapidly test hundreds of experiments in space-like conditions, cutting discovery times from years to weeks and saving millions of dollars.

  • Instead of waiting 18 months and paying huge fees to send experiments to the International Space Station, researchers can run hundreds of tests at once in their own labs.
  • The technology helped one client shrink a stem cell research project that normally takes seven years into just a few weeks.
  • Simulating low gravity causes cells to grow in 3D shapes rather than flat layers, which helps scientists study diseases like cancer and aging without needing extra chemicals or gene editing.
  • The company already has paying customers and partnerships with major institutions like NASA, Boston University, and Mass General Hospital, along with international agreements across the US, Europe, and Australia.
  • They make money through three different channels by renting out their testing machines, charging for their software, and licensing the new biological discoveries they make.
founder's note about traction
First revenues in with large industry MOUs and LOIs. From USA, EU and Australia
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iuvantium
Biotech
Immunotherapy engineering using inorganic nanoparticle probes

iuvantium uses engineered inorganic nanoparticles to map and control how the immune system responds to different physical and chemical properties. This approach allows researchers to design safer and more effective immunotherapies by predicting exactly how immune cells will react to specific treatments.

  • Traditional immunology focuses on organic molecules, but immune cells also respond to physical traits like shape and pressure; this startup uses inorganic materials to trigger specific immune reactions.
  • The company has built a dataset from 22 different prototypes to train machine learning models that can predict immune responses based purely on physical and chemical properties.
  • They have already secured a paid pilot with a top-five veterinary pharmaceutical company and are negotiating an exclusive animal health deal that could generate tens of millions in revenue by 2030.
  • Beyond animal health, they are developing a bacterial vaccine with an estimated $4 billion peak sales potential and researching cancer treatments with top universities like Oxford and Karolinska Institute.
  • The leadership team combines experts in materials science, vaccine formulation, and machine learning, including industry veterans from major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions.
founder's note about traction
We have a paid pilot ongoing with a top-5 veterinary pharma and are negotiating with another top-5 veterinary pharma on exclusivity in animal health with low 8 digit ARR potential by 2030. GSK, Sanofi, and others want to see more in vivo data.  Established collabs with Karolinska Institute, Oxford University, Trinity College Dublin for in vivo studies.
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SWAN Genomics
Biotech
Platform enabling multi-modal genomic readouts from cell-free DNA

Swan Genomics is building a DNA sequencing platform that uses nanoantennas to make molecules 1000 times brighter. This allows researchers to read any length of DNA on a single, affordable device, solving major cost and speed bottlenecks in genomic medicine.

  • The platform uses tiny antennas to make molecules 1000 times brighter, making it much easier to see and read genetic information.
  • It can read any length of DNA on just one device, which simplifies the process for scientists and doctors.
  • The technology performs single-molecule sequencing, offering a direct and detailed look at genetic material.
  • It is designed to be highly affordable, solving the high costs that currently limit the widespread use of genomic medicine.
  • By speeding up the sequencing process, the platform makes large-scale clinical and research projects much more practical.
founder's note about traction
Swan Genomics is developing a plasmonic nanoantenna-based single-molecule DNA sequencing platform that addresses a fundamental bottleneck in genomic medicine: the cost, speed, and accessibility of sequencing at clinical and research scale. While the platform is pre-revenue with a product launch hori
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Brain-CA Technologies
Chips

Brain-CA Technologies is building a highly energy-efficient, biology-inspired computer chip that moves artificial intelligence away from power-hungry GPUs. This allows AI to run directly on local devices like cameras and sensors, drastically cutting energy and computing costs so smart technology can be deployed anywhere.

  • The company designed a new type of computer chip inspired by biology that learns and processes information using a fraction of the power required by standard AI hardware.
  • Instead of relying on massive and expensive data centers, this technology allows AI to operate directly on local devices for faster and cheaper decision-making.
  • The core technology is protected by three issued United States patents and recently won a most innovative award at a major industry conference for energy efficiency.
  • The team has successfully moved from software simulations to physical hardware, with their first custom chip currently being manufactured by TSMC.
  • The startup is showing strong early momentum with two signed design partner agreements, backing from the CHIPS Act, and a seed term sheet at a 20 million dollar pre-money valuation.
founder's note about traction
Traction is market pull and expert validation, not revenue. Endpoint AI inference and learning is an open gap: existing accelerators fail on power and cost. 2 signed Design Partner agreements. Validation: Silicon Catalyst, CHIPS Act via Stanford, Most Innovative Paper at ISCA 2025 energy efficiency workshop, 1st chip at TSMC, 3 U.S. patents, seed term sheet at $20M pre-money.
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Lab 91
Chips
2D material devices enabling RF switching and memristors

Lab 91 designs next-generation semiconductor chips using ultra-thin 2D materials like MoS2 to replace traditional silicon. This breakthrough creates faster, more efficient, and radiation-resistant chips that are essential for the future of space communications, 6G networks, and artificial intelligence.

  • Traditional silicon chips have shrunk as much as physically possible, so the company uses a new atomic-scale material called MoS2 to keep improving computing power.
  • Instead of needing brand new, incredibly expensive factories, their low-temperature manufacturing process allows these new materials to be added directly onto existing chip designs.
  • Their communication switch is extremely fast and naturally resists radiation, making it the only viable option for new satellite networks in space where standard chips fail.
  • They are developing a new type of memory chip that can be stacked in 3D, which helps solve the memory shortages currently holding back advanced AI systems.
  • The market is already demanding their technology, highlighted by their pursuit of a 15 million dollar contract to supply radiation-hardened switches for a defense satellite operator.
founder's note about traction
Demand for our MoS₂ RF switch is being pulled by the market, not pushed by us. The clearest signal is a $15M NRE contract we are actively pursuing with a DoD-funded satellite operator who needs radiation-hard, sub-10 fs switching for Ka-band beamforming — a requirement no silicon or GaAs solution can meet.   In parallel, we are closing a DOE Genesis Phase II grant alongside a consortium.
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Gonzalez
Climate (Hardware)
Carbon capture company enabling low-concentration data centers

YAMA develops a fully electric carbon capture system specifically designed to trap low-concentration CO2 emissions from gas-powered data centers. This technology provides a practical way to neutralize the massive carbon footprint of the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure boom that traditional capture methods cannot handle efficiently.

  • The rapid growth of AI data centers is driving a massive increase in gas power plants, which currently release millions of tons of CO2 without any capture systems in place.
  • Traditional carbon capture methods become too expensive and inefficient when CO2 levels drop below 6 percent, leaving a huge gap in the market for gas turbine emissions.
  • The company created a custom, fully electric system that uses a safe liquid chemical to absorb CO2 and an electrical process to release it, avoiding the need for massive amounts of heat.
  • The hardware is built as a modular, plug-and-play system that can easily be added to existing power plants and can adjust its energy use to match grid demands.
  • The team has already proven the technology with a pilot plant in Paris that ran continuously for over 1,500 hours without failing, securing $400,000 in early sales and building a large pipeline with major tech and utility companies.
founder's note about traction
400k$ pre-purchases in 2025/26 on our air capture application via Milkywire (EQT, Klarna) - top 5% of DAC. We are now scaling the same core tech to gas-power and data center net-zero infrastructure, unlocking a $100M pipeline with hyperscalers, turbine OEMs, and utilities across the US, EU, and APAC. EDF collaboration and Temasek Liveability Challenge finalist (8 of 1,500) round out the validation
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Cetos Water
Climate (Hardware)
Desalination company treating hypersaline industrial wastewater for reuse

Cetos Water uses a new solvent-based process to clean and recycle highly salty industrial wastewater that traditional systems cannot handle. This technology helps heavy industries reduce pollution, recover critical minerals, and create fresh water supplies while cutting energy use by 70 percent.

  • The system mixes a special, reusable solvent into dirty water to separate clean water from salt without needing any chemical pre-treatments or membranes.
  • By avoiding the need to boil highly corrosive water, the process uses 70 percent less energy and costs nearly half as much to build as current methods.
  • The technology has already been tested and proven to work on difficult waste streams like mine tailings, landfill runoff, and water from oil and gas drilling.
  • Heavy industry produces 1.7 billion tonnes of wastewater daily, and this system offers a way to keep production running in areas where water is scarce and disposal costs are rising.
  • Born out of Columbia University, the company protects its invention with several granted patents, trade secrets, and a growing database of water chemistry.
founder's note about traction
Cetos Water is a Columbia University spinout building the infrastructure layer to turn the world’s most concentrated industrial wastewater into clean water and critical minerals — helping heavy industry reduce disposal, unlock new water supply, and keep production running in water-constrained environments. Our core breakthrough is a membrane-less, non-evaporative extraction process that treats hypersaline brines conventional systems can't handle, including streams far beyond the salinity limits of membrane systems. By avoiding boiling corrosive brines, we deliver a solution that is 70% more energy efficient and 50% more capital efficient than state-of-the-art technologies. Our customer acquisition strategy is focused on production-critical industries where water is becoming a direct operational and permitting constraint, including oil & gas, mining, power generation, and data centers. We are partnering with operators through paid pilots and testing engagements, using early technical validation, rising disposal costs, and tightening regulatory pressure to drive commercial adoption.
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CURA
Climate (Hardware)

CURA uses a patented electrochemical process powered by clean electricity to split limestone into lime and pure CO2, creating a direct replacement for traditional cement. This approach eliminates the massive carbon emissions typically generated by heating limestone, offering a way to clean up an industry responsible for 8% of global emissions at no extra cost.

  • The founding team has deep experience in climate tech and carbon capture, having previously helped build major startups and raised over $200 million in venture funding.
  • Instead of relying on extreme heat, the technology uses a special electrolyte chemistry to process limestone with electricity, cutting energy use by 45% and total carbon emissions by 85%.
  • The system is designed to plug directly into existing cement plants as a modular upgrade, meaning producers can improve their facilities without having to build entirely new supply chains.
  • Unlike other green cement alternatives that rely on expensive carbon capture and storage, this method produces zero-carbon cement at the same cost as traditional production.
  • The company is moving fast, having built a working mini-pilot, signed six agreements with major construction and cement companies, and secured a $50,000 paid pilot contract within six months of launching.
founder's note about traction
Signed 6 MOUs across the build environment supply chain (e.g., construction companies, designers, precast concrete producers, cement producers) including ACCIONA, AECON, Fast+Epp, Titan Cement, Molins Cement, and Grand Forks Concrete.  We have our first revenue: a $50,000 pilot service contract with Grand Forks Concrete, structured as a joint venture to cost-share our 100 TPA and 30,000 TPA FOAK.
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Tikal Industries
Climate (Hardware)

Tikal transforms industrial waste into a low-cost, low-carbon cement substitute using a network of small-scale local factories. This approach helps concrete producers protect their profit margins against rising cement prices while drastically reducing the construction industry's carbon footprint.

  • The company turns industrial waste into a cement alternative that costs less than traditional materials and cuts carbon emissions by 80 percent.
  • Instead of building massive facilities, they use a microfactory model that costs only $4 million to set up compared to the standard $200 million.
  • They get paid to take the raw materials through waste tipping fees, which keeps their production costs low and boosts profit margins.
  • Concrete producers can start using this new material immediately because it works perfectly with their existing equipment and requires no special training.
  • The team is already running paid projects and pilots with major industry players like Ozinga and Heidelberg Materials, and they have secured half of their current $2.25 million funding round.
founder's note about traction
Demand for BlueSCM is outpacing our FOAK development. We have aligned 4 paid projects utilizing our SCM, and are actively building larger 1-ton/day systems to fulfill these projects. We're in phase 2 with anchor pilots w Ozinga & Heidelberg Materials, with ASTM validation of our material targeted mid-May, and in an active, $60k waste offtake pilot with UPM/Montes del Plata. Round 50% secured.
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Athanor
Defense

Athanor is reshoring America's nitrogen supply chain by manufacturing cyanamide, a critical chemical precursor that is currently entirely imported. This secures domestic production for essential industries like defense, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture while eliminating reliance on foreign suppliers.

  • Their new manufacturing process uses about 80 percent less electricity and operates at lower temperatures, making the base materials five times cheaper to produce.
  • Unlike the current industrial standard, their method creates a 99 percent pure, cyanide-free product that can be safely used in pharmaceuticals and high-end consumer goods.
  • The company plans to fund its industrial expansion through consumer sales, starting with creatine production for a waitlist of 40,000 ready buyers in a market growing 20 percent each year.
  • By producing a high-purity product, they can expand into high-value, growing markets like specialty chemicals and energetics, which is currently a 30 billion dollar market.
  • The founding team combines a prominent fitness influencer to drive consumer sales with leading scientists and engineers who specialize in nitrogen research and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
founder's note about traction
Currently we have a subscriber list of 40k who are ready to buy the consumer products our company will produce (creatine monohydrate). That is the most immediate specialty nitrogen product we can make and it will be ready for sale within 12 months. That market is growing at 20% per year. For energetics, the market is currently $30B and growing at 5% per year.
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TiByte
Energy

TiByte builds standardized, factory-made power and compute units that allow AI operators to deploy data centers off the grid in weeks instead of years. This approach bypasses massive grid delays, turning a slow, custom construction process into a fast, repeatable product delivery.

  • The current power grid cannot keep up with the massive energy demands of AI, leaving many companies with computer chips and funding but no electricity to run them.
  • Instead of spending years building custom data centers on-site, the company manufactures combined power and computing modules in a factory and ships them directly to the customer.
  • These units run completely off the grid using fuel cells, which helps companies avoid the long wait times needed to connect to traditional power networks.
  • Customers have the flexibility to rent just the energy and cooling equipment or pay for a complete package that includes the computing power on long-term contracts.
  • The founder is a nuclear engineer with a decade of experience designing complex energy infrastructure, including patented safety systems for floating power plants.
founder's note about traction
We have no revenue or signed TiCore LOIs yet. Customer discovery around off-grid AI factories showed a clear pain: AI operators can get GPUs and capital faster than live power. TiCore turns that demand into a smaller, repeatable power-and-compute unit. Next milestone: first 10 MW design partner / LOI.
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Gryd Energy
Energy

Gryd installs and manages fully funded solar and battery systems on new build homes at no upfront cost to developers or buyers. This approach helps builders meet upcoming mandatory solar regulations without losing money, while giving homeowners immediate savings on their energy bills through a simple subscription.

  • The company covers the upfront hardware costs for developers, allowing them to meet the 2027 Future Homes Standard without spending billions in extra expenses.
  • Homeowners pay a fixed monthly subscription instead of buying the system outright, which covers over 70% of their energy needs and cuts their bills by 20% from day one.
  • The startup already has over £1.25 million in contracted value across 72 homes, a £17 million pipeline, and a 100% repeat project rate with its current developer clients.
  • The UK builds 250,000 homes every year, creating a massive £2 billion annual market as new laws force all new buildings to include solar power.
  • The team is raising a £3 million Seed round to grow their staff and unlock over £30 million in project finance, backed by a £500k government grant.
founder's note about traction
£1.25m+ contracted LTV across 72 homes, with a £17m weighted pipeline. 12 homes operational with further 60 under construction. Progressing legal DD on 230-unit high-rise scheme with Barratts. 100% repeat rate with all developer clients; transitioning to framework agreements. Traction across single family, low-rise & high-rise. B2B2C retrofit segment also progressing with 400-unit opportunity.
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Next Step Fusion
Energy
Fusion diagnostics consolidating across devices via software-driven standardization

Next Step Fusion is building a standardized software and simulation platform that allows off-the-shelf hardware to plug into any of the world's diverse fusion reactors. This creates the first scalable supply chain for the fusion industry, replacing expensive, custom-built components with a unified system.

  • There are over 70 fusion reactors being built worldwide, but each one is completely unique and requires custom-built sensors from scratch.
  • The company uses advanced physics software to let standard hardware work across almost all planned fusion machines.
  • Instead of inventing new hardware, they buy small, specialized academic labs and combine their technology into one commercial platform.
  • The company has already secured seven design customers, acquired five software codes, and raised millions in early funding.
  • The leadership team combines deep physics expertise from major fusion projects with heavy experience in buying and merging companies.
founder's note about traction
Next Step Fusion is building the standardisation layer for the global fusion industry: physics-informed plasma simulation as the connective tissue that lets standard diagnostic, control, heating, and fuelling hardware plug into the 70+ non-standard fusion devices coming online worldwide ($17B+ already deployed, no two machines alike).  Our breakthrough is a single integrated simulation backbone: built on $5.5M bootstrapped R&D plus 5 acquired physics codes, that specifies and validates every piece of hardware against any device, turning a fragmented academic supplier ecosystem into a roll-up-able platform.  On customer acquisition, we lead with the simulation/services business as a paid wedge: already $0.7M revenue in 2025 from 7 design customers (~$2M projected 2026) and 2 LOIs for sensors solution - then convert those engagements into hardware design contracts and acquisition entry points across a pipeline of 20+ niche diagnostic, control, and heating shops sitting inside European university labs. Each acquired workshop or lab becomes both a revenue line against today's fusion R&D market and a building block of the supplier infrastructure commercial fusion will rely on, regardless of which reactor concept wins.
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Permeon
Energy
Oil and gas explorer acquiring, integrating, automating operations

Permeon is a technology-driven oil and gas company that acquires small, inefficient energy producers and upgrades them with artificial intelligence and robotics. This approach drastically lowers operating costs and turns previously unprofitable wells into valuable assets to help meet global energy demands.

  • The oil and gas industry is severely behind in technology, relying on outdated software from nearly two decades ago and employing very few software engineers.
  • Instead of trying to sell software to slow corporate giants, the company is building its own modern energy business from the ground up to avoid bureaucratic delays.
  • The strategy involves buying small, struggling oil producers at low prices and upgrading their operations with artificial intelligence, robots, and cheap sensors.
  • Adding this technology can cut general costs by 80 percent, making thousands of abandoned or low-producing wells profitable again.
  • The founding team brings a rare mix of Silicon Valley software expertise and decades of hands-on experience in the traditional oil and gas sector.
founder's note about traction
Permeon is building a new autonomous O&G producer in Calgary with a team of industry veterans. We're rolling up small/inefficient producers and automating them with agents and robots. Calgary roll-ups like Spur Petroleum and Saturn Oil unicorned in 4-5 years; vertically-integrated frontier tech/talent can beat that 10x. Venture lets Permeon acquire counter-cyclically to the oil price and buy/automate wells at low multiples from depressed producers, and then harvest the efficiency/price gains to re-invest into the next cycle. The long-term plan is to keep riding macro cycles and automation efficiencies to fold in small/medium E&Ps and consolidate into a big operator.
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Deutelio
Energy
A fusion architecture enabling industrial heat and electricity

Deutelio is building a new type of nuclear fusion reactor called the Polomac that runs without tritium fuel, making fusion power cheaper and much easier to operate. This highly efficient dipole model is designed to provide clean industrial heat first before eventually scaling up to generate electricity.

  • Instead of following traditional fusion models, they are building a dipole reactor that is designed to be significantly more efficient.
  • The technology aims to reach over 50 percent efficiency to run on a deuterium-deuterium reaction, which solves a major industry problem by removing the need for a complex breeding blanket.
  • The reactor design is smaller and produces less neutron radiation, meaning the building materials will last longer and the plant is simpler to construct.
  • The company plans to build a prototype with 6 million CHF in funding, followed by a pilot plant that produces industrial heat before expanding into electricity.
  • The team consists of experienced engineers and scientists who have spent decades working on major global fusion projects like ITER and W7-X.
founder's note about traction
Our technology, the Polomac, enables a cost-efficient fusion solution by eliminating the need for tritium production, significantly reducing operational complexity and cost. Our customer acquisition strategy focuses on forming early partnerships to develop a first pilot plant for industrial heat. From there, we scale toward electricity generation.
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Seawolf
Food
Detection and marine data platform improving tuna locating

Seawolf builds AI-powered computer vision software for commercial drones to help fishing vessels detect marine species from the air. This affordable alternative replaces expensive helicopter contracts while building a unique ocean dataset that can be sold to maritime and insurance markets.

  • Rising fuel costs and a shortage of pilots have made traditional fish-spotting helicopters too expensive, forcing crews to search blindly and waste gas.
  • The company replaces these costly flight contracts, which can reach up to $3 million per boat each year, with battery-powered drones and AI software that spots tuna with over 80 percent accuracy.
  • Captains are actively asking for this technology, with seven already committed to pilot programs and 45 more vessels waiting in the pipeline.
  • Every drone flight captures unique ocean footage in areas with no existing coverage, building a valuable dataset that can be sold to other industries like marine insurance, seafood trading, and maritime defense.
  • The founders combine deep technical backgrounds with years of hands-on experience working on Alaskan fishing boats, giving them the industry trust and relationships needed to get this technology on the water.
founder's note about traction
Seawolf is building edge deployed computer vision for aerial marine species detection, launched from fishing vessels via drone. Every flight captures ocean data across corridors with zero existing coverage, building a proprietary low-altitude marine dataset that can't be replicated without vessel access. We acquire customers directly through commercial and sport fishing fleets, replacing helicopter and spotter plane contracts that cost up to $3M per boat per year. Drone hardware drives adoption, subscription software drives recurring revenue. On the backend, that dataset feeds into markets that already pay for aerial and satellite intelligence.
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Optaric
Hardware
Enterprise visual computing enabling hands-free secure processing

Optaric builds an enterprise software platform and safety-certified smart glasses that act as secure thin clients powered by a worker's smartphone. This architecture removes the security, cost, and deployment barriers that have historically prevented large-scale adoption of wearable technology for frontline workers.

  • Instead of storing data or running apps on the headset, the glasses connect to existing company-managed smartphones to create a highly secure system that IT departments can easily approve.
  • The founding team has deep industry experience, having already built and scaled two leading industrial wearable companies, RealWear and Vuzix.
  • The company has a $39 million sales pipeline with major organizations like the NHS and Siemens preparing to deploy thousands of devices.
  • The smart glasses are safety-certified and designed to fit comfortably over standard prescription eyeglasses, which is a strict requirement for many industrial workers.
  • By working with established manufacturing partners, the company has drastically cut development costs and can start shipping new devices in just four months.
founder's note about traction
Optaric is building the enterprise control plane for frontline computing by combining enterprise-grade smart glasses with a software platform that makes them deployable at scale. Our core breakthrough is a “CarPlay for Smart Glasses” architecture: instead of standalone devices, our glasses act as thin clients, eliminating the security, cost, and deployment barriers that have limited adoption to date.  We leverage deep category experience from founding RealWear and scaling Vuzix to deliver production-ready hardware and target high-ROI workflows (inspection, maintenance, healthcare), scaling through established global channels (distribution, telco, VAR, SI), with ~$39M in identified enterprise pipeline.
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Preemadonna
Hardware

Preemadonna created Nailbot, an at-home device that instantly prints custom digital art directly onto nails. This platform replaces expensive and time-consuming salon visits with fast, personalized self-expression while building a profitable ecosystem of recurring ink and software sales.

  • The company has already shipped 1,000 units and generated over $208,000 in pilot revenue, reaching the number one spot for new releases on Amazon.
  • They secured a major partnership with NBCUniversal to feature popular brands like Minions and Wicked, proving the device appeals to massive fan bases.
  • Customers love creating their own designs, with 60 percent of users printing custom art and power users printing up to 100 times a month.
  • The hardware acts as a gateway for a highly profitable business model driven by repeat purchases of ink refills, primers, and digital subscriptions.
  • The technology is protected by over 10 patents and a secret chemical formula that allows the ink to stick to any nail type and wipe off easily without harsh UV lights.
founder's note about traction
Shipped 1,000 Nailbot 1.0 units, $208K+ in revenue, hit #1 Amazon New Release, and proved repeat usage: 60% print their own content, power users print 100x/month. Confidential multi-million dollar 2-year NBCU deal across 3 franchises covering co-branded hardware, standalone consumables, digital content, and activations validates that we've cracked multi-gen appeal with fandom and distribution.
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Prophetic
Hardware

Prophetic builds a wearable device that uses focused ultrasound to help people control their dreams. This technology unlocks the 8% of our lives spent dreaming, turning sleep into an active space for vivid experiences and clear thinking.

  • The company has drastically reduced the cost of this ultrasound technology from $200,000 to under $450, leading to 2,200 preorders and over $100,000 in sales on their first day.
  • The team is the first to successfully activate the specific brain networks responsible for lucid dreaming, proving they can actually cause people to become aware and in control while asleep.
  • Previous ultrasound brain devices made annoying clicking sounds, but Prophetic invented a way to make their wearable perfectly silent so it will not wake the user up.
  • Because the headband is classified as a wellness device rather than a medical one, they can bring it to the public much faster than traditional health tech companies.
  • The research team includes top experts, such as a former lead from a $100 million ultrasound project and a neuroscientist who wrote the most comprehensive review on how lucid dreaming works in the brain.
founder's note about traction
We have reduced the cost of a tFUS system from $200,000 to $450 ($150 BOM). We have begun selling the devices, doing over $100,000 of sales in the first day alone.  On the neuroscience, we are the first team that we know of to successfully up regulate the frontoparietal network, which is the neural correlate of lucid dreaming. Now we have shown causation and successfully increased lucidity.
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Tensor
Hardware
RF platforms enabling multiband telemetry and data capture

Tensor Sensors builds software-defined radios for spacecraft and ground stations that can be delivered in weeks instead of years. This provides the space and defense industries with a flexible, highly reliable communications backbone that keeps pace with modern satellite development.

  • Traditional space radios take over a year and millions of dollars to build, but this company can deliver flight-ready units in just four to six weeks.
  • They have already built and tested a prototype in extreme environments like Antarctica and a vacuum chamber to prove the technology works.
  • The company has secured $1.7 million in verified interest from early customers and is currently discussing several multi-million dollar purchase orders.
  • They are actively working with major defense and aerospace players, including an upcoming demonstration with the Space Force and a partnership with a test lab.
  • The founding team and advisors bring deep experience from top aerospace and defense companies like SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
founder's note about traction
Recent spacenews article on heels of space force support memo. CRADA with test lab for testing of L-182 radio. Early customers identified and lined up for radio. Demo with Space Force in Q4 2026. Several MM dollar PO's for radio platform currently in discussion.  Separate X-band SDR project in several customer discussions including top aerospace firms, none we can publicly discuss yet.
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Mind Interface
Hardware
BCI ecosystem translating imagined speech into text

Mind Interface Company is building a non-invasive wearable device and AI decoder that translates imagined speech into text and commands. This technology allows people to control screens and devices using only their thoughts, replacing traditional keyboards and creating new accessibility options for people with disabilities.

  • The company is developing an AI model that reads brain waves to understand imagined speech, letting users control devices without moving or speaking.
  • Current brain-computer interfaces require long setup times for each person, but this new software works instantly across different users without heavy calibration.
  • Their early software already correctly identifies commands 70% of the time across different people and reaches 95% accuracy when adjusted for a specific user.
  • To gather the massive amount of data needed to train their AI, they are launching brain-controlled drone racing as an extracurricular program in schools and partnering with hospitals to help paralyzed patients communicate.
  • The founder has a PhD combining data science and biology, experience as a medical school professor, and a history of successfully starting and selling two previous companies.
founder's note about traction
MIC is pre-rev but demand is structurally validated. BCI drone racing events already exist in the US, and the global BCI market is projected at $5.4B by 2030. With 1B+ people living with disabilities (WHO), neural interfaces are an accessibility imperative.  For us, Singapore's extracurriculum licensing model gives us a direct institutional sales channel from day one; in talks with 1 school.
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Newfound Materials
Materials
Materials manufacturing enabling scalable synthesis pathways

Newfound Materials builds physics-driven artificial intelligence to predict and design the manufacturing steps needed to create new materials. This software solves the major bottleneck of scaling up production, helping companies bypass the traditional ten-year timeline required to bring new materials to market.

  • The company already has paid projects with a major global chemicals company and a United States battery manufacturer to improve how they make their products.
  • Their software recently found a way to make a common industrial yellow pigment 15 to 20 percent cheaper in just one week, leading to a testing agreement with a manufacturer.
  • The startup operates without owning any factories, choosing instead to design the chemical recipes, keep the intellectual property, and sell the materials through manufacturing partners.
  • They have signed over ten agreements with various materials companies to explore new manufacturing pathways and have secured government funding to work on rare-earth-free magnets.
  • The team includes experts from UC Berkeley, NASA, and successful materials startups who have deep experience in using artificial intelligence to build new materials.
founder's note about traction
Two current paid engagements: top-3 global specialty chemicals company on catalysis synthesis and a publicly-traded solid-state battery developer on cathode materials. MTA with U.S. based pigments manufacturer to test samples from our patent-pending process. 10+ NDAs/MOUs with materials companies. Non-dilutive: ARPA-E subaward for rare-earth-free magnets; Activate Fellowship and Greentown Labs.
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HeadFirst
Medtech (Hardware)
Concussion screening using a saliva-based lateral flow assay

HeadFirst is creating a rapid, single-use saliva test that detects concussions right on the sidelines in minutes. This objective screening tool replaces subjective guesswork, helping athletes and military personnel avoid the severe risks of undetected brain injuries.

  • Half of all concussions currently go unnoticed because standard checks rely on subjective physical and mental tests rather than hard data.
  • The company developed a portable device that reads specific markers in saliva to deliver accurate, objective results in under 15 minutes without needing a lab.
  • There is already strong demand, with 16 letters of intent for about 13,000 devices per year from sports organizations, schools, and Olympic committees.
  • The business model relies on selling these single-use tests for roughly $30 each, creating a recurring revenue stream with 90 percent gross margins.
  • The technology is protected by pending patents and trade secrets, and the team includes repeat founders with decades of experience building medical devices.
founder's note about traction
HeadFirst is developing a rapid, saliva-based concussion screening test for point-of-care use, delivering results in under 10 minutes without lab infrastructure. Our core breakthrough is proprietary chemistry that enables visual detection of low-concentration biomarkers in saliva on a portable, single-use assay, which has historically required instrumentation. We are initially applying this to traumatic brain injury given the significant unmet need, enabling real-time decision-making in athletic, clinical, and military settings. On the commercial side, we are pursuing a B2B distribution strategy with sports organizations, clinics, and healthcare providers, supported by early LOIs and pilot programs to drive adoption.
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Imagen Bioworks
Medtech (Hardware)
Microscopy platform enabling live single-cell imaging and tagging

Imagen Bioworks builds AI-powered autonomous microscopes that can see, analyze, and physically interact with biological samples in real time. This technology automates tedious lab work and drastically speeds up life science discoveries while cutting costs by a factor of a hundred.

  • The software acts as an artificial intelligence scientist that runs microscopes around the clock, freeing researchers from manual labor.
  • Unlike traditional tools, this system analyzes live images and physically reacts on its own, such as shining light on specific cells to tag them for further study.
  • The technology makes research significantly faster and cheaper, turning a traditional 23-year, million-dollar experiment into a 12-week process that costs just a few thousand dollars.
  • The company has already secured $700,000 in grants from the NSF and NIH, along with a $500,000 deal with their first paying partner.
  • The founders have decades of experience in bioengineering, and their working prototype has already been validated and published in the journal Science Advances.
founder's note about traction
We are building "Waymo for Biology". We let LLM operate microscopes to automate groundbreaking life science discoveries. We have a B2B business model with academic and industry labs as our potential customers. We have raised around $700K non-dilutive funding to date and secured our first paying partner ($500K). We are raising $2M in Q4 of 2026.
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Current Surgical
Medtech (Hardware)

Current Surgical builds an AI-powered ultrasound platform and smart needle that allows doctors to see and destroy solid tumors in a single step. This technology automates microinvasive surgery, making advanced, radiation-free treatments affordable and accessible to any medical facility rather than just major hospitals.

  • The company created a smart needle that combines ultrasound imaging and tumor-destroying energy into one device, letting doctors see and treat tissue at the same time without radiation.
  • By training AI models on proprietary data, the software decodes tissue properties in real time to guide the needle and automate the procedure, helping any doctor perform like an expert.
  • Unlike massive and expensive robotic systems found only in major hospitals, this platform costs around $50,000 for the base unit and $5,000 per single-use probe, making it easy for any clinic to adopt.
  • The initial focus is on treating solid tumors in the liver and kidney, with plans to expand to all solid tumors, heart rhythm problems, and nerve treatments.
  • The team has already proven the technology in animal studies, confirmed their FDA regulatory path, and received validation from over 75 surgeons who believe it will significantly increase their surgical capacity.
founder's note about traction
We have demonstrated our technology on the benchtop, in animal studies, and have confirmed regulatory pathway with the FDA (510k). In addition, we have spoken to 75+ surgeons. All have said our platform would dramatically increase the number of surgeries they can do. This is a treatment modality that patients need, doctors are eager to provide, and payers are willing to support.
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NuEyes Technologies
Medtech (Hardware)
Platform enabling real-time intraoperative AR guidance

NuEyes builds augmented reality glasses and a real-time operating system that give surgeons instant AI guidance and 3D vision during procedures. This wearable technology replaces bulky, outdated navigation tools to seamlessly improve surgical precision and training in the operating room.

  • The hardware is already FDA cleared and surgeons are actively using the glasses to complete full procedures from start to finish without relying on traditional optics.
  • The company has seen strong organic demand, with inbound interest from over 35 hospital systems and a roadshow spanning more than 45 hospitals.
  • Their artificial intelligence processes images in less than a millisecond, which is ten times faster than competitors and ensures surgeons see digital overlays without any distracting lag.
  • Instead of just making a single medical device, they created an open software platform that lets outside developers build and sell new surgical apps directly to users.
  • The glasses are designed to match how surgeons already work, allowing them to keep their hands free and maintain a comfortable posture while getting advanced visual support.
founder's note about traction
We are in active pre-production with NuLoupes, with units already used by surgeons in live procedures across multiple specialties. We have completed full cases start-to-finish without reverting to traditional optics, validating performance and workflow in real OR settings. Traction has been entirely organic, with inbound interest from 35+ hospital systems.
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Parley Neurotech
Medtech (Hardware)

Parley Neurotech combines targeted audio therapy with an FDA-approved antihistamine to repair the nerve damage in the brainstem that causes central hearing loss. This treatment restores the brain's ability to process sound, which can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

  • Central hearing loss is a brain processing issue that hearing aids cannot fix, but this combination of sound therapy and a common allergy drug actually repairs the underlying nerve damage.
  • The company has spent seven years researching this approach, securing $13 million in grants from the NIH and proving a 90 percent reversal of hearing loss in animal studies.
  • They are currently enrolling patients in an active Phase II clinical trial to prove it works in humans, and recent publicity has already helped them double their volunteer count to over 130 people.
  • Instead of waiting years for full FDA approval, they are launching early in Montana under a new state law, allowing them to generate revenue and test the market with real patients immediately.
  • The founding team consists of neuroscience PhDs with previous startup experience, including a chief science officer who has spent over a decade studying the auditory brain at a top medical research university.
founder's note about traction
We have an active, enrolling Phase II clinical trial to prove efficacy https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07304024. A modest publicity bump from winning a pitch contest last week doubled the number of trial volunteers (we currently have 130+). We are going to market via Montana's SB535 (rules finalized as early as next week). We have a first customer lined up & dozens of patients referred.
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Corvita Biomedical
Medtech (Hardware)

Corvita Biomedical builds an AI-powered, all-in-one incubator that combines life support, continuous monitoring, and automated disease detection for premature babies. This affordable and portable system allows hospitals to provide intensive care without needing multiple expensive devices or forcing risky transports to specialized facilities.

  • The Ark Incubator replaces over 11 separate intensive care devices by building a ventilator, CPAP machine, phototherapy light, and vital sensors directly into one unit.
  • It uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to watch the baby continuously, automatically logging medical records and spotting early signs of conditions like sepsis or brain injury before humans can.
  • By dropping the cost of a neonatal bed setup from over $110,000 to $45,000, it makes high-quality care accessible to under-resourced hospitals.
  • The company already has a signed agreement to deliver four incubators to a humanitarian society and is working with clinical advisors from major Canadian hospitals to start pilot studies.
  • The founder and CEO has a deeply personal connection to the problem, having been born at 23 weeks premature in a neonatal intensive care unit in Gabon.
founder's note about traction
Corvita has a signed LOI with First Steps Humanitarian Society for four ARK Incubators. We have committed clinical advisors from some of Canada's largest hospitals who will become Principal Investigators on pilot studies for clinical validation and act as gateways into their respective hospitals after commercialization.
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Phasio
Other
Automation of pricing, scheduling, and part identification

Phasio is an operating platform that uses AI to automate quoting and shop floor tracking for contract manufacturers. This software helps factories survive the shift to small-batch orders by drastically cutting administrative costs and building a data foundation for future robotics.

  • The platform cuts the time it takes to price a new order from several hours down to just 60 seconds using smart algorithms.
  • It relies on computer vision to instantly recognize parts on the factory floor, helping workers process more items without needing to memorize complex catalogs.
  • Every part processed is saved as a detailed 3D model, building a massive library of data that will eventually teach industrial robots how to make these items.
  • The company has grown primarily through word-of-mouth and inbound interest, securing over 60 paying factories without needing dedicated sales or marketing hires.
  • Instead of forcing factories to replace their entire financial software, this system simply connects to their existing tools, making it much easier for shop workers to adopt.
founder's note about traction
Western contract manufacturers are being crushed by the shift towards high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. Every small batch needs its own quote, its own scheduling, its own tracking. The tools they have (Excel, paper, standalone ERPs) were built for a different era and the admin overhead is eating their margins. Phasio is the operating platform built for this new reality. We use an algorithmic quoting system to reduce quote times by 95%+. We use computer-vision-based part recognition to unlock higher throughput on the shop floor. Over time, this creates a data moat competitors can't replicate. We acquire customers through direct outreach to shop owners. Currently 85% of new customers come inbound or by referral. This has enabled us to grow with zero dedicated marketing/sales hires to date.
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Russell
Robotics

Orpheus Ocean builds autonomous underwater vehicles to map and monitor the deep ocean floor. This technology replaces slow and expensive traditional equipment, giving industries like energy, defense, and telecommunications affordable access to critical underwater data and infrastructure.

  • The company earned $250,000 in its first year and is on track to reach $1 million in its second year, with a $100 million pipeline of potential business.
  • Their underwater robots operate without cables and make their own decisions, cutting the cost of deep sea exploration to a tenth of what traditional methods charge.
  • Customers can either hire the robots for specific missions or simply buy the data they collect, operating on a service model similar to satellites.
  • The technology addresses major security and infrastructure needs, such as inspecting the underwater cables that carry 95 percent of the world's data and identifying unexploded threats.
  • The founding team brings decades of experience from top ocean research institutions and deep tech commercialization.
founder's note about traction
$250k in revenue across three contracts in our first year, including 2 deployments to >5000m. $500k revenue to date in 2026, on track for $1M in our second year. $100M potential revenue in top of funnel pipeline.
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100XBIO
Robotics

100XBIO builds an affordable robot that turns complex, two-day cell biology experiments into a single-click process. This technology eliminates costly human errors and makes advanced lab automation accessible to standard research facilities.

  • Traditional lab automation systems cost millions and require custom room setups, but this robot is ten times cheaper and costs only $80,000 upfront for the first two years.
  • The system handles the core workflows used in most cell and cancer biology labs, shrinking ten hours of manual work down to just one hour.
  • The company has a working prototype protected by two patents, six signed letters of intent, and paid projects with major research institutions.
  • The founders interviewed hundreds of experts and potential customers to confirm market demand and find the best entry point for their product.
  • The leadership team brings over 30 years of combined experience in immunology and automation, having managed large teams and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
founder's note about traction
We have a working prototype protected by two filed patents (PCT), along with 6 LOIs, one completed paid project, and two more scheduled. In addition, we have interviewed over 300 potential customers and experts to validate demand and identify the best segments for our market entry.
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Starpilot
Robotics
Automation platform enabling digitizing workflows and simulating workspaces

Starpilot builds an artificial intelligence engine that creates digital twins of precise human workflows to train robotic systems. This allows manufacturers and labs to deploy accurate robots for complex tasks that current hardware cannot handle.

  • Current robots struggle with precise tasks like threading and cabling because they lack high-quality training data and physical context.
  • The software maps exact human movements to create a digital twin, then runs simulations to test and perfect how a robot should perform the same task.
  • Instead of relying on generic data, the system generates specialized training data that teaches robots how to handle complex physical interactions.
  • The company has already received over $1 million in pilot requests in just two months from major industry players like Nvidia and Uber.
  • The founding team includes experienced robotics founders and top researchers from institutions like MIT, Columbia, and Caltech.
founder's note about traction
We've spent the last several months engaging in conversations with over 50 manufacturers & AI companies, and have over $1M in requests for us to satisfy
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Crux Aerospace
Space

Crux Aerospace is building South America's first reusable rocket system designed specifically to launch small satellites into orbit. This provides satellite makers with affordable, dedicated flights instead of forcing them to wait for inflexible rideshares on larger missions.

  • The company is building a rocket that can carry up to 1,000 kilograms, giving small satellites their own dedicated flights instead of making them share rides.
  • Launching from Argentina provides clear coastal flight paths, allowing for frequent launches without the heavy air traffic found at other major spaceports.
  • All rocket fuel and oxidizers are sourced locally, which keeps costs low and avoids international supply chain delays.
  • The service costs less than $5,000 per kilogram, making it one of the most affordable dedicated launch options available.
  • The founding team has over 15 years of aerospace experience, having managed large space budgets and successfully tested more than 30 liquid rocket engines.
founder's note about traction
We are actively engaging with Argentina’s national space ecosystem and broader Latin American space programs to secure early customers. The region is experiencing growing satellite development activity but lacks sufficient domestic launch capacity, which creates a clear medium-term market opportunity for our services. We have validated demand through ongoing discussions with institutional and comm
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