How 80 deeptech startups are changing the world
Deeptech startups are revolutionizing industries by leveraging cutting-edge science and technology to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge, which saw over 4,600 applicants at its 10th edition, highlights the powerful potential of deeptech to create impactful solutions.
From the grand winner Nūmi, which produces human breast milk using cell culture to provide ideal nutrition for infants, to other trailblazing innovations like Found Energy’s aluminum-based carbon-free fuel for industrial applications or Geolith, using patented ion-exchange technology for zero-waste lithium extraction, the 80 startups that pitched are already changing the world.
Photo Credits: Léo Coulongeat Prod / Hello Tomorrow
Other impactful startups include AddOptics revolutionizing AR smartglasses with next-generation lenses, Sunchem’s Nano Leach and Nano Filter technologies enhance critical metal separation, and ColdXray’s graphene-based X-ray sources improve space exploration. In the health and biotechnology sector, Lura Health’s wearable devices enabling continuous salivary diagnostics, Biocentis’ insect control solutions, and BeeOdiversity’s wild bee-powered biodiversity assessments are making significant progress.
As deeptech continues to expand, collaborations across borders and industries will be essential to unlocking the full potential of these technologies. The future of innovation lies in deeptech, and its potential to solve humanity’s grandest challenges has never been more promising.
Here are the grand winners of the 2025 Challenge, presented for the 4th time by Ciprian Stanescu, President of Social Innovation Solutions and editor of Future Magazine:
Photo Credits: Léo Coulongeat Prod / Hello Tomorrow
Grand Prize (€100,000): Nūmi (France) – Produces human breast milk via cell culture, ensuring optimal infant nutrition when breastfeeding is unavailable.
Second Prize: spotLESS Materials (USA) – Develops PFAS-free, nature-inspired coatings creating ultra-slippery, self-cleaning surfaces.
Emerging Pioneer: Papcup (UK) – Offers a handheld device detecting cancer-causing HPV in menstrual blood via electrochemical biosensors.
Additionally, 10 startups were winners in specific categories:
Advanced Computing & Electronics: Gallox Semiconductors (USA) – galium-oxide-based semiconductors enhancing power conversion efficiency.
Aerospace: Alpha Impulsion (France) – Hybrid autophage rockets that consume their structure as fuel, reducing space debris.
Digital Health & Medical Devices: Impli (UK) – High-precision hormone-monitoring implants for IVF treatments.
Energy: Found Energy (USA) – Aluminium-based carbon-free fuel alternative for high-temperature industrial heat.
Environment: Dryad Networks (Germany) – Solar-powered AI sensors detecting wildfires early.
Food & Agriculture: Nūmi (France) – Cell-cultured human breast milk.
Industrial Biotech & New Materials: spotLESS Materials (USA) – Ultra-slippery, PFAS-free coatings.
Industry & Machines: RESONIKS (Netherlands) – Acoustic-based AI technology for structural anomaly detection.
Medical Biotech & Pharmaceuticals: HEPHAISTOS Pharma (France) – Enhances immunotherapy by activating immune responses to tumors.
Sustainable Construction & Infrastructure: AeroShield Materials (USA) – High-performance silica aerogels significantly improving window insulation efficiency.
Deeptech’s power to address humanity’s most pressing challenges is undeniable. By harnessing advanced science and technology, these startups are paving the way for groundbreaking solutions in health, sustainability, energy, and beyond. As they continue to push boundaries, their potential to create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world is becoming increasingly clear. The future of deeptech innovation holds the promise of transforming our greatest challenges into opportunities for progress. Climate solutions based on deeptech and science are taking center stage also at the 4th edition of Climate Change Summit, the largest CEE climate solutions event taking place in Bucharest, Romania in October 20-25, 2025.
Photo Credits: Léo Coulongeat Prod / Hello Tomorrow