Sustainable space technology, bioplastics made from seaweed, affordable fusion: meet the inspiring and innovative start-ups that will be showcasing at the GCV Symposium 2024.
Every CVC will admit that the most exciting part of their job is discovering new technologies. It’s by investing in promising companies, technologies, founders, and entrepreneurs that they make a difference to their parent companies, their bottom line, and of course the world at large.
The 2024 GCV Symposium in London will again bring together inspiring startups to exhibit, speak and present to a community of corporate ventures and innovators.
If you’re attending the symposium today or tomorrow, you’ll have the chance to meet and learn more about these companies. In case you missed it, we’ve prepared a complete guide to all the startups here.
Space Tech
A slew of space tech start-ups have sprung up in the UK and across Europe in recent years as the SpaceX effect has driven down costs and demonstrated that private companies can accelerate space exploration – a field that influences not just rockets but everything from robotics to solar energy.
Space sustainability will be on the agenda for the first day of the symposium on June 25th, with UK-based Space Village showcasing its technology. The company is developing robots that can repair satellites in space, and sustainable space development company Star’s Edge will also be showcasing its electric thruster technology.
On the second day, SpacePower, a London-based company developing auxiliary power sources for satellites, and Astron Systems, a company developing reusable rockets, will exhibit.
sustainability
Sustainability is a key factor in the startup world and an area where companies are keen to invest, with many net-zero targets fast approaching.
With so many different facets of industry and consumption, the world of sustainability technology is broad and far-reaching, and the start-ups on display at the GCV Symposium reflect that range.
Tackling an ever-present packaging problem, Kelpi exhibited on the first day of the GCV Symposium and has developed a bioplastic coating using seaweed that is a real alternative to fossil fuel plastics. FlexSea is another startup that uses seaweed to create a bioplastic packaging solution that decomposes within weeks. Tune in to FlexSea on the main stage at 9:40 a.m. on day two as the CEO talks about leveraging the power of strategic investors.
The CEO of Uncaged Innovations, a company developing sustainable, animal-friendly alternatives to leather, will be speaking on the main stage at 2.50pm on the first day as part of a panel discussion on the impact of CVC on early-stage companies.
Waste and recycling are also among the startups exhibiting on the first day, including FibeRight, which solves the problem of non-recyclable waste, and Oxi-tech Solutions, which has developed a water sanitation method without the use of harsh chemicals.
If you’re joining us on the first day, be sure to attend the Energy Roundtable at 16:40 in Thames 2, which will include talks from Cetogenix, a New Zealand start-up focused on hydrothermal oxidation to turn waste into useful products, and Tau Group, which produces sustainable magnet wire for electrification.
Sustainable energy is another big theme at this year’s expo. Other startups exhibiting on the first day include Wild Hydrogen, which is developing carbon-negative hydrogen production, and Phelas, which has developed an effective power storage system for wind and solar, making it easier to power homes even when it’s not sunny or windy.
Day two will again see a strong presence of start-ups in the sustainable energy sector, including Anionix, which develops green hydrogen electrolyzers; GT Wings, which has developed innovative wind propulsion systems for the commercial shipping industry; and GridEdge, which has created technology to create digital twins of buildings that can be used to transform energy efficiency.
Quantum and Fusion
Several quantum computing start-ups will be taking part in this year’s GCV Symposium. Oxford Quantum Solutions, which develops quantum solutions for enterprises, making quantum computing available to a wider audience, will be speaking at the Energy Roundtable at 16:40 on the first day at Thames 2.
On the nuclear fusion front, Tokomak Energy, a company developing low-pollution, affordable nuclear fusion solutions, will be exhibiting on the main stage on the first day at 11.20am.
Two quantum/fusion startups will be speaking as part of the Deep Tech Portfolio Showcase on the second day of the conference at 10:35am: Oxford Ionics is using patented systems to develop processors that dramatically improve the scalability and reliability of quantum computing, catalyzing a new era of computing. First Light Fusion is taking a new approach to inertial fusion that is simpler, more energy efficient, and with less physical risk, enabling the scaling of fusion technology.
health care
It’s always exciting to see developments in healthcare technology. Three health tech companies will be participating in the symposium. Exhibiting on the first day is POM Health. The company has developed a medical-grade hormone monitor that can provide accurate and personalized healthcare recommendations. It’s like a 24/7 blood glucose monitor for people with type 1 diabetes, but for anyone to use. Imagine how this could change the everyday health of ordinary people.
On the second day, the main stage will feature Feel, an additive-free nutritional supplement company, whose CEO will talk about how to leverage the power of strategic investors.
Oxfordshire-based Living Optics offers imaging technology that can create images that go beyond what the human eye can see, with a wide range of use cases, one of which is in healthcare. The company’s hyperspectral imaging is used not only in healthcare, but also in agriculture, remote sensing and other fields. Living Optics’ CEO will be speaking on the main stage at 10:35 on day 2 as part of the Deep Tech Showcase.
And the rest
As expected, the breadth and scope of technologies being presented at this year’s symposium is diverse and some do not fit neatly into the categories above.
If you’re interested in mobility technologies, don’t miss the Mobility Roundtable on the first day at 15:40 in Thames 2. The discussion will feature Lambda4, a German company that has developed an algorithm to evaluate distance measurements using Bluetooth. Applications include smart locks, smart lights and autotech.
The Mobility Roundtable will also feature Transport Design International (TDI), a UK-based company that makes zero-emission, battery-powered, lightweight vehicles.
On the main stage on day one, from 14:50, the CEOs of Verax AI and ChipFlow will speak about the impact of CVC on early-stage companies. Verax AI provides trust solutions software that enables companies to leverage generative AI while maintaining accuracy and compliance. ChipFlow manufactures custom-made integrated circuits that enable product companies to create their own chips.
The list of startups exhibiting on the first day will be joined by TherMap Solutions, which uses a unique data collection system (thermal reflectance) to analyze the thermal management of semiconductor materials and their packages, and AI Dizital, an affordable blockchain solution for enterprise use.
And finally, exhibiting on day two will be Securium, a cybersecurity software development company focused on protecting vulnerable individuals online, particularly children, and Weeteq, a small technology development company using artificial intelligence at the circuit level.
