VDS has announced the 25 finalists of its 2026 Startup Competition, who will compete on October 21 and 22 at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia to become the “Best Startup of VDS 2026.” The selection marks the final stage of a process that began with 1,560 applications from 87 countries, record figures that reinforce the competition’s international reach and consolidate VDS as one of the leading showcases for technology entrepreneurship and for connecting startups with investors and corporates.
The 25 finalists represent some of the areas shaping the evolution of technological innovation worldwide. Artificial intelligence, health, biotechnology, sustainability, the circular economy, water management, smart mobility, robotics, new materials, critical infrastructure and connectivity all feature in a selection defined by the application of technology to real-world social and economic challenges.
The evaluation process for the Startup Competition was led by Plug and Play, strategic partner of the competition and one of the world’s leading open innovation and startup investment platforms. Evaluation criteria included innovation, scalability, market opportunity, growth potential and the impact of each solution.
An international jury to select the winner
During VDS 2026, the 25 finalists will pitch their projects before a renowned international jury made up of professionals from leading venture capital and investment firms. The panel will select the “Best Startup of VDS 2026.”
The jury will include Desirée Alayza, Global BD Director at Bcombinator; Pedro Ribeiro Santos, Managing Partner at Armilar; Iryna Krepchuk, Investment Manager at Trind Ventures; Lily Joo, Venture Partner at VentureFriends; Isabella Vahdati, Principal at Brighteye; Jorge Blasco, Venture Partner Spain & Portugal at LUMO Labs; Christoph Klink, Partner at Antler; and Joao Monteiro, from Plug and Play.
From 1,560 applications to 25 finalists
The selected startups will present their projects on the Main Stage at VDS 2026 before an international audience of more than 12,000 professionals from over 120 countries, 1,500 corporates and 800 investors managing more than €300 billion in assets, alongside leading international figures from the worlds of technology, innovation and investment.
The selection also reflects the competition’s strong international reach, with the 25 finalists coming from 10 countries. Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom account for the majority of the selected startups, while Chile, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, India, the United States and Italy are also represented.
The 25 finalist startups are:
- Ainwater: Develops an AI-powered platform that optimises water treatment and desalination plants to reduce operating costs, energy consumption and downtime.
- AIRWAY SHIELD: Has developed a medical device designed to facilitate endotracheal intubation and improve safety for both patients and healthcare professionals.
- Biowerkz: Transforms agricultural and wood waste into sustainable materials designed to replace fossil-based plastics, foams and panels.
- EWEAR: Manufactures smart rings with NFC technology that enable secure contactless payments without the need for cards or smartphones.
- Famel: Reinvents the historic Portuguese motorcycle brand with a new generation of accessible and sustainable electric models.
- FindNido: Uses artificial intelligence and industrialised construction processes to digitalise and automate residential development.
- GRAVITY WAVE: Recovers plastic from the sea and coastal environments and transforms it into new materials and products.
- heecap: Develops medical technology to prevent and treat respiratory muscle atrophy in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.
- Heuristik: Combines fingerprint biometrics and artificial intelligence to improve patient identification and management.
- LetMePark: Integrates parking, electric vehicle charging and toll payments into a single connected mobility platform.
- Manie: Automates switching between energy providers to help consumers reduce costs and improve market efficiency.
- Moonlight AI: Uses computer vision to identify genomic biomarkers and accelerate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Nanogrow Biotech: Develops nanobody-based therapies aimed at treating cancer and immune-related diseases.
- Ocean Oasis: Develops floating desalination systems powered exclusively by wave energy to produce fresh water with a reduced environmental impact.
- OpenBox AI: Provides governance and monitoring software that enables organisations to deploy AI agents safely, transparently and under controlled conditions.
- Pack2Earth: Develops bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials designed to replace conventional plastics.
- Panssari: Protects critical infrastructure through a security platform combining artificial intelligence, IoT, radio-frequency technologies and computer vision.
- ROBOPEDICS: Develops connected robotic and bionic technologies to improve mobility and independence for people with physical disabilities.
- Runo: Automates sales calls, customer conversations and voice-based processes using artificial intelligence.
- Spendbase: Helps companies 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.
- Truecold: Applies artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimise cold-chain logistics and the transport of temperature-sensitive products.
- Xplora: Combines advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to assess underground assets and infrastructure-related risks.
- ZIM Connections: Provides global eSIM connectivity solutions for businesses and international travellers.
- ZYON Helmets: Develops motorcycle helmets with integrated air filtration systems designed to reduce users’ exposure to urban pollution.
The 25 companies were selected from the Top 50 of the VDS Startup Competition 2026, a group that already reflected the growing importance of artificial intelligence, health, biotechnology, sustainability, mobility, cybersecurity, industry and new digital infrastructure.
In addition to presenting their projects to investors, corporates and leading international figures from the tech ecosystem, the finalist startups will gain access to a range of prizes designed to support their growth. Each of the 25 selected startups will receive $1,000 in Miro credits. The winning startup will receive $2,000 in Miro credits and €150,000 in Microsoft Azure credits.
The “Best Startup of VDS 2026” will gain international visibility, access to the VDS content programme and opportunities to connect with leading investors and industry figures. The selected company will also join Santander X 100, the global community connecting high-potential startups with investment, collaboration and international expansion opportunities.
