The VDS Startup Competition 2026 has unveiled its Top 50 startups, selected from a record-breaking 1,560 applications across 87 countries. Following an extensive evaluation process, these emerging companies have advanced to the next stage of the competition and will now compete for a place among the Top 25 finalists, who will pitch live at VDS 2026 this October.
This year’s edition marks the highest level of participation in the competition’s history, further reinforcing VDS as one of Europe’s leading platforms connecting startups, investors and corporations. Spain accounted for 57.3% of all applications, while the remaining 42.7% came from international markets led by the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany and Estonia.
The selected startups are developing breakthrough solutions across artificial intelligence, health, biotechnology, sustainability, mobility, fintech, cybersecurity, Industry 4.0, logistics, education and next-generation digital infrastructure.
Artificial intelligence, health and sustainability dominate the VDS 2026 Top 50
Artificial intelligence continues to be the driving force behind the Startup Competition, powering innovations that span healthcare, autonomous mobility, industrial automation, enterprise software, logistics, education and customer experience.
HealthTech and biotechnology also feature prominently, with startups focused on early cancer detection, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic wound management, remote patient monitoring and technologies designed to improve quality of life.
Sustainability remains another defining theme of this year’s selection. The Top 50 includes companies tackling global environmental challenges through intelligent water management, wave-powered desalination, circular economy solutions, cold-chain optimisation and the development of biodegradable materials designed to replace conventional plastics.
The startups were selected through an evaluation process led by Plug and Play, strategic partner of the VDS Startup Competition and one of the world’s leading open innovation platforms and early-stage investors.
Each company was assessed on the level of innovation behind its technology, business scalability, market opportunity, growth potential and the overall impact of its solution.
The road to the VDS 2026 Main Stage
The competition now enters its next phase, where the Top 25 finalists will be selected.
These startups will present their solutions live on the Main Stage of VDS 2026, taking place on 21-22 October at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, in front of an audience of more than 12,000 attendees, 1,500 corporations and 800 investors managing over €300 billion in assets, alongside some of the world’s leading voices in technology and innovation. As part of the final evaluation, the jury will also have access to reports generated using Kuanta AI.
The overall winner will be announced during the second day of VDS 2026 and, among other recognitions, will gain access to Santander X 100, the global community connecting some of the world’s most promising startups with international opportunities for investment, collaboration and business growth.
The Top 50 startups selected for VDS 2026
The VDS Startup Competition Top 50 brings together high-growth startups tackling some of today’s most pressing global challenges through artificial intelligence, digital health, climate technologies, advanced manufacturing, fintech, cybersecurity, mobility and next-generation infrastructure.
The selected companies are:
– Ainwater: develops an AI-powered platform that optimises water treatment and desalination plants, reducing operating costs, energy consumption and downtime.
– AIRWAY SHIELD: has developed a medical device designed to facilitate endotracheal intubation while improving safety for both patients and healthcare professionals.
– Aura System: creates intelligent green walls capable of improving indoor air quality while capturing CO₂ and other pollutants.
– Biowerkz: transforma residuos agrícolas y de madera en materiales sostenibles concebidos para sustituir plásticos, espumas y tableros derivados de recursos fósiles.
– Bouncer Digital: provides age-verification infrastructure designed to distinguish adults from minors while protecting users’ personal information.
– Büyütech: develops AI-powered perception systems for mobility, automotive applications and safety-critical environments.
– CryptoMate: enables businesses to build their own financial ecosystems through blockchain infrastructure, digital payments and tokenised assets.
– Eaship: offers a SaaS platform that digitises and streamlines industrial transport management, improving planning, coordination and logistics operations.
– Edtech4life-Griky: combines AI, digital learning content and microcredentials to deliver more personalised educational experiences.
– Escena 4.0: designs modular event infrastructure integrating energy generation, immersive technologies and advanced audiovisual systems.
– EWEAR: manufactures NFC-enabled smart rings that allow secure contactless payments without the need for cards or smartphones.
– Famel: is reinventing the historic Portuguese motorcycle brand through a new generation of accessible and sustainable electric motorcycles.
– FindNido: uses artificial intelligence and industrialised construction processes to digitise and automate residential development.
– Foot Analytics: helps organisations understand how corporate spaces are used by analysing occupancy through existing Wi-Fi infrastructure.
– GRAVITY WAVE: recovers plastic from the sea and coastal environments before transforming it into new products and sustainable materials.
– Hamlet: automates the management of flexible workspaces, including bookings, operations, access control and billing.
– heecap: develops medical technology designed to prevent and treat respiratory muscle atrophy in mechanically ventilated patients.
– Heuristik: combines fingerprint biometrics and artificial intelligence to improve patient identification and healthcare management.
– Horus ML: develops AI-powered medical imaging, precision medicine and remote patient-monitoring solutions.
– KIUR Healthcare: provides an AI-driven clinical decision-support system focused on improving the treatment of chronic wounds.
– Lampsy Health: monitors epileptic seizures using computer-vision technology integrated into a household lamp.
– Learny AI: combines conversational AI and gamification to create personalised learning experiences for children.
– LetMePark: integrates parking, EV charging and toll services into a single connected-mobility platform.
– Manie: automates energy-provider switching, helping consumers reduce costs while improving market efficiency.
– Mentelem: provides companies with a mental-health platform combining artificial intelligence, clinical psychology and continuous personalised support.
– Mettis AI: transforms real-world driving behaviour into structured and explainable data to improve driver assessment, mobility and road safety.
– MINICOOL: uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the design and development of children’s fashion collections.
– Miramoon Pharma: is developing next-generation neuroprotective therapies aimed at slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
– Moonlight AI: uses computer vision to identify genomic biomarkers and accelerate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
– Nanogrow Biotech: develops nanobody-based therapies targeting cancer and immune-related diseases.
– Ocean Oasis: develops floating desalination systems powered entirely by wave energy, providing fresh water with minimal environmental impact.
– Olorama Technology: creates synchronised scent experiences for live events, cinema, immersive entertainment and virtual reality.
– OpenBox AI: provides governance and oversight software that enables organisations to deploy AI agents safely, transparently and at scale.
– Pack2Earth: develops bio-based, biodegradable and compostable packaging materials designed to replace conventional plastics.
– Panssari: protects critical infrastructure through an intelligent security platform combining artificial intelligence, IoT, radio-frequency technologies and computer vision.
– ROBOPEDICS: develops connected robotic and bionic technologies that improve mobility and independence for people living with physical disabilities.
– Runo: automates sales calls, customer conversations and voice workflows using artificial intelligence.
– Spendbase: helps organisations optimise software subscriptions, cloud infrastructure and other recurring technology expenses.
– Sycai Medical: develops AI-powered medical imaging software for the early detection of abdominal cancer and other pancreatic diseases.
– TalentHero: uses artificial intelligence to simplify hiring, workforce management and payroll across Southeast Asia.
– Tinkery: transforms fragmented business information into operational intelligence that supports faster and better decision-making.
– tranSkriptorium AI: applies document AI to digitise, transcribe, search and analyse complex historical manuscripts and archival collections.
– Truecold: uses artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimise cold-chain logistics and temperature-sensitive supply chains.
– Walker Subsea: develops next-generation energy systems for autonomous underwater vehicles and subsea robotics.
– Wallib: is building a digital financial platform powered by Bitcoin and stablecoins for the Latin American community.
– Wastli: encourages recycling and citizen engagement through rewards, gamification and behavioural incentives.
– WiseCX: automates customer engagement and brand interactions through AI-powered communication solutions.
– Xplora: combines advanced sensing technologies and artificial intelligence to assess underground assets and infrastructure risks.
– ZIM Connections: provides global eSIM connectivity solutions for businesses and international travellers.
– ZYON Helmets: develops motorcycle helmets with integrated air-filtration technology designed to protect riders from urban air pollution.
