Announcing 70+ finalists and alternates across nine competition categories for the 2025 SXSW Pitch event in Austin, TX from March 8–10.
AgTech & Food
Finalists
Azul
Brooklyn, NY
Azul Bio is focused on preserving coral reefs using Coral Microbiome Boosters (CMBs) to mitigate environmental risks affecting the real estate and tourism industries. CMBs are isolated beneficial bacteria that enhance coral resilience to heat-induced bleaching by triggering physiological adaptations in coral hosts, thereby expanding the temperature range at which corals can survive.
Earnest Agriculture
Rantoul, IL
Earnest Agriculture develops probiotic seed coatings using a proprietary microbe-matching platform to improve soil health, boost crop yields, and enhance resilience. Backed by proven results and industry partnerships, we deliver sustainable solutions that help farmers reduce inputs and increase productivity.
Entomal Biotech
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Entomal Biotech pioneers scalable solutions using Black Soldier Fly bioconversion to transform food waste into valuable resources, addressing global issues of waste, emissions, and food security sustainably.
Farmish
Grand Rapids, MI
Farmish is a marketplace platform that connects local farms with consumers and wholesale buyers across the U.S. and Canada. We democratize access to new markets and business opportunities, empowering farmers to build sustainable income streams, strengthen local food systems, and foster resilience and connection within their communities.
Knead Technologies
Calgary, Canada
Knead Technologies is a B2B software company that enables scalable food recovery solutions in real-time to meet the $940 billion global food waste challenge.
Alternates
Agrinerds
Davis, CA
Waterfowl like ducks and geese are the primary reservoir of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The WaterFowl Alert Network (WFAN) forecasts where waterfowl and HPAI are in order to protect the nation’s 44,000+ commercial poultry farms, 20,000+ dairies and 60,000+ swine premises.
Capture Tech
Ann Arbor, MI
Capture Tech uses system-based approaches in order to prevent ecological damage from environmental contamination sources while bio-transforming those contaminants into resources for environmental restoration.
XLSOR
Fort Collins, CO
XLSOR’s innovative technology leverages a decade of research and Machine Learning to solve the $420m+ fruit loss problem impacting growers and retailers today. Our ML models transform a few minutes of pre-harvest, non-destructive fruit scans, orchard data, and climate data into precise timing and quality predictions in real time to eliminate the surprises of climate shifts.
Enterprise, Smart Data, FinTech & Future of Work
Finalists
Fazeshift
San Francisco, CA
AI Agent for Accounts Receivable.
Launch Ahead AI
Tulsa, OK
Launch Ahead, founded by visionary entrepreneur and advocate Amnoni Myers, who brings lived experience in foster care, empowers youth with tools to thrive as they transition into adulthood. Through personalized pathways, mentorship, and data-driven agency solutions, Launch Ahead transforms the foster care journey, creating opportunities and brighter futures nationwide.
Polygraf AI
Austin, TX
Polygraf.ai offers an agentic AI DLP infrastructure for secure data transactions, enabling organizations to adopt AI tools without risking exposure and maintaining content provenance. The solution uses advanced Small Language Model Agents to prevent AI-generated impersonation and fraud, secure sensitive data by employing smart anonymization, and enhance AI transparency with flexible deployment options.
Safebooks AI
San Francisco, CA
Safebooks is the world's first financial data governance platform designed to help finance teams validate and substantiate the integrity, completeness, and accuracy of all transactions, across all systems, in real time. We help finance teams save money, conduct faster audits, and manage all financial data with 100% precision.
Springboards
Sydney, Australia
Springboards is a creative tool to inspire—not give you the answer. Built for advertising and marketing pros, it’s a suite of generative AI tools designed around a traditional agency workflow to keep humans in the creative equation.
Alternates
MasRefund
Raleigh, NC
MasRefund takes the fear and complexity out of filing taxes by making it as easy as uno, dos, tres! A bilingual tax filing app in English and Spanish. It’s affordable and simple; perfect for tech-savvy Millennials and Gen Zs. MasRefund tax filing - a time saving hack.
Trez
Houston, TX
Trez is the first U.S. Latino-focused financial tech stack empowering Latino SMBs with culturally relevant payroll and financial solutions. By leveraging AI-powered, voice-command payroll through WhatsApp, used by 90% of minority entrepreneurs in the U.S. Trez brings ultra-speed service to this underserved market, saving time and enhancing trust. Serving a $180 billion Hispanic fintech market, Trez is purpose-built to streamline financial operations for Latino business owners.
Viva Benefits
Austin, TX
Viva empowers housing partners to offer life-changing benefits to renters - like access to doctors, tutors for kids, cash back to save, and grants to help buy homes - so we can close the 40X wealth equity gap between renters and homeowners. All U.S. residents can access a FREE version at VivaBenefits.com.
Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content
Finalists
HAND (Human & Digital)
Brooklyn, NY
HAND (Human & Digital) is a business intelligence platform with an interoperable, ISO-level standard registry at its core. Like an "IP address for talent," HAND applies Citation-Backed Notability™ to assign resolvable "forever IDs" to quantifiably notable talent across cultural industries of Sports, Entertainment, Music, Art, Fashion, Gaming, News, and more.
Human Native AI
London, England
Human Native AI is an AI data platform that fairly benefits both rights holders and AI developers. We equip AI developers with the high quality, wide-ranging data needed to build powerful AI models, while ensuring rights holders are fairly paid for use of their work.
NeuralGarage
Bangalore, India
NeuralGarage is a Generative AI startup creating proprietary technology in the audio-visual domain for the Entertainment, Media and Content Industries. Our proprietary technology, VisualDub, addresses the issue of "Visual Dissonance" in dubbed content by syncing the lips and jaws of actors with that of the dubbed audio to create a seamless viewing experience for the audience.
Vobble
Bengaluru, India
Vobble is revolutionizing kids' audio entertainment with an AI-powered pocket player. It offers immersive podcasts, music, interactive games, and a unique AI-driven audio story creation tool. Kids listen, learn, and create, sparking imagination in a generation lost to screens.
Zibra AI
Kyiv, Ukraine
Zibra AI is a Ukrainian deep tech company that builds AI-powered solutions for VFX and 3D creation for gaming, TV, filming, and more.
Alternates
EVEN
Brooklyn, NY
EVEN empowers creators—from emerging artists to global superstars—to sell music, merchandise, and experiences directly to superfans before a wide release. With innovative tools and global reach, EVEN helps artists generate real revenue, own their data, and foster deeper fan connections, redefining how creators share and monetize their work.
Showcase
Scranton, PA
Showcase is a fan-first platform redefining music discovery by focusing on what truly matters—connecting fans and emerging artists through the universal language of sound. With daily showcases of global talent, we promote music that bridges cultures and fosters meaningful connections, transcending labels, genres, and trends to celebrate the magic of music.
Wonder.Space
Los Angeles, CA
Wonder.Space is the first AI-powered creative network where creators collaborate to produce instant movies. Generate complete movies from prompts, remix other creators' movies and cast characters from across the community. Wonder.Space is where AI meets human creativity, transforming individual storytelling into collaborative moviemaking.
Robotics, Web3, Voice & Extended Reality
Finalists
Airtrek Robotics
Covington, KY
Airtrek Robotics develops an autonomous robot that cleans airport tarmacs, tackling the $23 billion Foreign Object Debris (FOD) issue. With deep expertise in robotics and AI, especially within airport environments, the team is piloting its solution at multiple airports, paving the way for smarter and safer ground operations.
Contoro
Austin, TX
Contoro Robotics is revolutionizing industrial automation with AI-powered robots, focused on automating the unloading of floor-loaded or non-palletized shipping containers and trailers. Their pioneering human-in-the-loop (HITL) model ensures over 99% success in real-world applications, bridging the gap between AI limitations and the commercial viability of advanced robotics solutions.
Fluid Reality
Chicago, IL
Fluid Reality brings the sense of touch to people in virtual environments. Fingertip haptic “displays” imprint high fidelity tactile “images” on the skin. This allows people to feel and use their hands naturally in XR and teleoperation, and to generate high value spatial data for AI training of robots.
MUSE
Tokyo, Japan
MUSE develops robotics platforms integrating robots and data services to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement. Our versatile robot, "Armo," handles tasks like inventory transport, shelf scanning, customer guidance, and promotions. The "Eureka Platform" detects stock shortages and shelf discrepancies, ensuring seamless and efficient store operations.
Wubble.ai
Singapore, Singapore
Commercial Music Access is a painful process today - it’s expensive, mired in red tape, has limited optionality and allows for zero customisation. And that’s where Wubble comes in. Wubble.ai is the world's first enterprise grade AI solution that empowers businesses, big and small, to create royalty-free, personalised music, in seconds, at a fraction of current costs. The use cases? Marketing and social media videos, retail soundscapes, dynamic gaming soundtracks, training videos...the list goes on. With our clients including the likes of Disney, NBC Universal, Spotify, Starbucks and Warner Discovery, we are just getting started.
Alternates
Code19 Racing
Bloomington, IN
Founded by military veterans and a crack team of autonomy experts, Code19 Racing leverages the track as a proving ground for autonomous innovation, refining systems for real-world, dual-use applications for those who need it most while inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.
Gemma Robotics
New York, NY
Gemma Robotics is democratizing the delight of celebrity-quality makeup application. We are combining the worlds of deep tech and beauty to make confidence convenient by delivering a full face of tailored makeup in mere minutes. Using advanced robotics, touchless airbrush technology, and an intuitive app, Gemma brings effortless beauty to users in the home and on-the-go.
Glydr
Plano, TX
Glydr is building an innovative and revolutionary foot-based controller for games, VR, and much more. Glydr improves performance and relieves strain on overstretched hands and fingers. Glydr is also ideal for gamers with disabilities.
HealthTech, MedTech, BioTech & Accessibility
Finalists
Glidance
Seattle, WA
At Glidance, we’re on a mission to transform independent mobility for people who are blind or have low vision through Glide—the first AI-powered, ground-connected, self-guided mobility aid designed to empower millions more people with unparalleled confidence and independence.
Intero Biosystems
Ann Arbor, MI
Intero Biosystems develops human stem cell-derived mini-organs to transform preclinical testing, accelerating the discovery of safer, more effective drugs before they reach human trials.
NerView Surgical
Ontario, Canada
NerView Surgical aims to reduce accidental nerve injuries during surgery. Inspired by Parikh’s experience with his grandfather’s nerve injury, our novel contactless imaging technology helps surgeons identify nerves, avoid unintended damage, and improve patient outcomes. Our vision is to become the standard of care for surgical nerve visualization.
Somnair
Baltimore, MD
Somnair is a medical device developing the first non-invasive neurostimulation device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, a disease that affects 54 million Americans and 1 billion people around the world.
Vocxi Health
Arden Hills, MN
Vocxi Health detects diseases through a simple 1-minute mobile AI-enabled breath test. The sensor technology behind the platform has 40 granted patents. The team who invented the technology has commercialized dozens of medical technologies. The technology platform measures thousands of exhaled chemical biomarkers (volatile organic compounds) produced by the body.
Alternates
Audiom
Gilroy, CA
Audiom by XR Navigation is a digital map viewer and editor accessible visually, auditorily, and textually, benefiting users across all abilities. It can supplement or fully replace existing geographic maps, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards, and enriches maps for data analytics and navigation through enhanced inclusivity in various settings.
Bia Sleep
Vancouver, Canada
We have built a smart sleep mask that acts like an Autopilot for your brain. We use Neurotechnology (fNIRS) to look at where you are now - ie. your current pin - then guide you with audio and light to where you need to go (Neurofeedback) - ie. your destination: optimal sleep.
CODA
Tel Aviv, Israel
CODA is an AI-powered interactive communication avatar translating spoken language into sign language. Inspired by the Deaf parents of its female co-founders, CODA empowers the Deaf community with independence while helping businesses expand their audience and enhance services through inclusive technology.
Innovative World Tech
Finalists
ChakraTech
San Diego, CA
ChakraTech—named after the Sanskrit word chakra, meaning circle—pioneers biotech and cleantech innovations for sustainable manufacturing. Using ancient microbes, we transform waste greenhouse gases into biomaterials that replace fossil-fuel based plastics. Our approach tackles plastic pollution and the microplastics crisis while also providing a novel solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Expanso
Seattle, WA
Expanso is a leading distributed computing company founded by industry experts with deep experience in distributed systems, container orchestration, and enterprise operations. The team has a proven track record of building platforms used by Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, and their platform Bacalhau already sees over 10,000 monthly downloads.
FastSense
Tel Aviv, Israel
Fast Sense is a hydrogen molecule management company that quantifies what's in your gas or liquid through a mult-pixel semiconductor chip for the energy sector.
We Hear You
St. Louis, MO
We Hear You specializes in accessibility solutions, led by the Hero Door Opener: a portable, cost-effective device that automates any door without hardwiring. Compatible with voice activation, personal remotes, and wall buttons, the Hero enhances mobility and accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the immunocompromised, and anyone needing hands-free access.
Xatoms
Toronto, Canada
Xatoms leverages its patented quantum chemistry and AI technology to discover new photocatalytic materials capable of purifying water from the world's toughest contaminants using sunlight. With pilot projects across Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada, Xatoms is a leader in the photocatalytic discovery space.
Alternates
Carrot
Miami, FL
Carrot is a ClimateTech platform building the world’s first green commodities market to accelerate decarbonization and waste reduction at scale. Using AI and blockchain, Carrot tracks and certifies recycling and carbon credits, empowering businesses, communities, and supply chains to drive measurable impact toward a resource-efficient, low-carbon, and inclusive circular economy.
DabbL
Los Gatos, CA
dabbL is a social app democratizing college guidance by empowering millions of anxious high schoolers with AI-powered, personalized college and career recommendations - something only a privileged few could afford before. dabbL also doubles the efficiency of overloaded school counselors by saving them 5X manual effort every year.
Sigen AI
Vancouver, Canada
Sigen AI is opening up a previously untapped and infinite video data source – corporate CCTV video footage. Our technology converts this footage into a monetizable asset, which could be used for deep insights or sold as a data set for the AI sector.
Security, GovTech, & Space
Finalists
Charter
Los Angeles, CA
Charter is building the infrastructure technology to financialize the space industry and underwrite the entire space economy. With Ubik, Charter’s platform for spacecraft manufacturing, we accelerate engineering by 2x, and we’re the first-in-the-world to enable space asset insurance through data-driven underwriting in partnership with the world’s leading insurers.
Hyphen Innovations
Dayton, OH
Hyphen Innovations is a startup from an Air Force entrepreneur program focused on R&D that makes space, defense, and aerospace parts better. Key activities include creating test devices, damage free parts, and manufacturing processes. Promising products from the R&D are i-DAMP designs for engines and accelerated testing for manufacturing qualifications.
LifeKnight
Traverse City, MI
LifeKnight is an AI-powered safety platform revolutionizing emergency detection & response. Our flagship LOIS Safety App delivers seamless, automated protection, integrating health monitoring and workplace safety to save lives and enhance security worldwide.
Little Place Labs
Houston, TX
Little Place Labs leverages advanced space edge computing and machine learning on satellites to deliver near-real-time insights for applications like asset monitoring, disaster detection, and maritime surveillance. Trusted by the US Air Force, we empower decision-makers with precise, timely data for critical missions.
Verisoul
Austin, TX
Verisoul helps companies automate fake account and fraud detection throughout the entire user journey. We secure the integrity of online accounts, interactions, and transactions for businesses worldwide.
Alternates
Elodin
San Francisco, CA
Unified flight software and hardware are needed for tomorrow's mission.
Rarefied
Sommerville, MA
Rarefied is a Harvard University spin-out developing technology that enables lightweight platforms to levitate indefinitely in near-space (30–100 km altitudes) using only sunlight. As the first solution capable of sustained flight at these altitudes, we’re opening new frontiers for weather monitoring, telecommunications, and defense applications with unmatched sustainability.
Tempesst Droneworx
Houston, TX
Tempest Droneworx is a service-disabled Veteran owned software company whose mission is to prevent issues from becoming serious problems via early warning. Our Harbinger software fuses agnostic sources of data, providing real-time contextual intelligence that is shared simultaneously across organizations, reducing time to decision and speeding time to action.
Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability
Finalists
Carbon Negative Solutions
Portland, OR
Carbon Negative Solutions remediates air and ground pollution for industrial companies, converting these waste streams into carbon-negative cement supplements (SCMs). Our technology enables industrial companies to turn their expensive waste into money making assets all while decarbonizing two hard-to-abate industries simultaneously.
Helix Earth
Houston, TX
Commercial air conditioning uses antiquated and power-hungry technology, producing more carbon emissions than the aviation industry. Helix Earth is adapting tech we created for NASA space missions to build a retrofit device that improves commercial rooftop AC efficiency and lowers your power bill by up to 50%.
Importal
Austin, TX
Importal is an AI-powered trade compliance platform that empowers companies to seamlessly and compliantly import goods into the United States. Our automated solution eliminates costly errors, expedite clearance, and ensure compliance—helping businesses reduce risk, save time, and scale confidently in a competitive market.
SLY
San Francisco, CA
SLY is an emissions monitoring platform for real-time, continuous environmental sensing over vast, remote assets. By digitizing air molecules, our platform detects anomalies like fire-associated gases or super-pollutants such as methane, within minutes. Designed for energy infrastructure, SLY transforms asset monitoring into a powerful tool for both safety and sustainability.
Tern AI
Austin, TX
Tern AI is building the future of positioning, where figuring out where we are doesn’t require a trip to space. Our patented IDPS enables accurate navigation without satellites—easy to install, update, and interference-resistant. It remains dependable in the most challenging locations and without signal, ensuring safer navigation wherever you travel.
Alternates
Emobi
San Francisco, CA
Emobi is the leading EV charging digital infrastructure that delivers a single point of integration to a vast network of charging stations and e-mobility partners through its advanced AI and data refinement models. The company enables traditional and streamlined (JustPlug) Plug & Charge technology, facilitating automatic charging identification between EVs and chargers.
Sluicebox
San Francisco, CA
Building the technical infrastructure to accelerate the green transition for the $2T electronic value chain.
Velo AI
Pittsburgh, PA
Our mission at Velo AI is to improve road safety by addressing the alarming surge in bicyclist fatalities and injuries over the past decade. Our first product, Copilot, constantly watches the road and alerts both bicyclists and vehicle drivers about potential hazards, to stop crashes before they occur.
Student Startup
Finalists
MadLab
Boston, MA
MabLab is a healthcare startup based at Harvard University building rapid tests to screen for laced drugs and spiked drinks. After losing a close friend to the overdose crisis, our mission is to revolutionize personal safety with a life-saving solution that detects the presence of dangerous lacing agents before tragedy strikes.
MyEndoscope
Tokyo, Japan
We develop MyEndoscope, a portable endoscopic training system combining a VR simulation app and a Bluetooth-enabled controller. Designed for accessibility and efficiency, it empowers endoscopists and healthcare professionals worldwide to practice anytime, anywhere, enhancing skills, improving patient safety, and addressing training gaps in global healthcare systems.
The Dev Difference
Chicago, IL
The Dev Difference is an AI mock interview platform that helps candidates practice their communication and technical skills, get instant feedback, and grow confidence to land high-quality roles in tech. Our goal is to level the playing field of interviews to see a more representative and equitable workforce in tech.
The Flossy Organization
Brooklyn, NY
Closing the advocacy gap in marginalized communities through intergenerational civics training, tech and grassroots mobilization.
Vocadian
Boston, MA
A health tech venture building predictive fatigue risk management for safer, healthier, and more productive frontline workforces. Our voice AI-powered software serves safety-critical industries including transportation, mining, construction, aviation, and insurance across LATAM and US. We help organizations reduce risks, protect workers, and foster a culture of trust and well-being.
Alternates
BRCE
Detroit, MI
BRCĒ develops advanced athletic gear using proprietary composite materials to enhance performance, safety, and recovery.
FindRX
Boston, MA
FindRx is a cutting-edge healthcare solution dedicated to addressing medication shortages, including ADHD treatments and diabetic injections. Leveraging deep clinical expertise and innovative strategies, FindRx reliably supports patients and institutions. By expanding into data services, it provides real-time pharmacy inventory analytics, enabling institutions to make strategic, data-driven business decisions.
RevcoEnergy
Austin, TX
RevcoEnergy is a sustainable, grid-optional energy provider. We provide easily deployable solar power systems with integrated battery storage and EV charging capabilities. Our vision is to offer alternative power sources that are both powerful in the energy they provide while simultaneously ensuring they are sustainable and inclusive.
