World Summit AI Start-up Showcase
AI for global good
Applications are now closed for 2025. Discover the Start-up Showcase winner. Join the Investors Club in 2026.
About the Start-up Showcase
In 2025, World Summit AI put the spotlight on AI solution for global good.
The five shortlisted start-ups each had 15-minutes to pitch their venture to a panel of expert judges.
The judges were hugely impressed by all entrants, but this year’s winner, announced on the Main Stage at the end of the Summit, was Sébastien Willems, Co-founder & CEO, Antfarm. Antfarm’s mission is to make waste sorting fully autonomous. A fleet of intelligent robots work together, recognizing and picking recyclables with remarkable accuracy. The result: higher recovery rates, lower costs, and a smarter path toward circular materials.
Huge congratulations to the Antfarm team and we look forward to seeing you at the Summit next year!
Applications for next year’s Startup Showcase will open early 2026.
Judging panel:
- Lisa Brouwer, Investor, Curiosity VC
- Michael van Lier, Founder & MD, Builders Studio
- Julia Tudor, Partner, Ascension VC
- Marc Mathieu, Founder, Rogue Ventures AI
Interested in entering the showcase in 2026? Register your interest and we’ll notify you as soon as applications open.
Interested in funding the future of AI? Join the Investor Club, you’ll receive a host of exclusive benefits to get in early with tomorrow’s unicorns.
Amber
Amber addresses the global mental health crisis where 74% of people cannot access traditional therapy due to cost, availability, or geographic barriers. We combine advanced language models with custom-trained specialized models to deliver evidence-based mental health support that’s available 24/7 at a fraction of traditional therapy costs.
ambermind.ai
Antfarm
Antfarm deploys AI-powered robots to sort waste highly efficiently, driving the cost per ton down by 60%. This will enable new levels of recycling and prevent gigatons of pollution and CO2.
antfarm.com
NEKOD
At NEKOD our mission is to democratize technology while keeping it safe. We do that by ensuring apps, built by non-technical employees using AI, are safe for production. As AI empowers employees without coding backgrounds to create apps, hidden risks often go unnoticed. NEKOD’s automatically discovers and assesses these business-built and vibe coded apps, detecting issues like data exposure, weak access controls, and regulatory gaps. By embedding compliance with frameworks such as the EU AI Act and DORA, we ensure AI innovation in organizations is safe, trusted, and impactful.
NEKOD
Mission AI
Mission AI builds ethical, ROI-driven AI tools for nonprofits, governments, and social enterprises. Our flagship product, Passerelle, bridges language gaps for migrants and refugees in public services using AI triage and human interpretation. We tackle some of the world’s hardest problems – from rising extremism to communication barriers faced by displaced people…and the everyday ones too, like streamlining nonprofit workflows or helping social enterprises increase their reach
Mission AI
Vista Technologies
At Vista Technologies, we bring bold ideas to life in digital reality. We’re a tech consulting and product development company offering end-to-end solutions from immersive experiences to full-stack systems and brand strategy.
Our core services include:
Tech Consulting – Guiding organizations through XR integration, digital transformation, and innovation strategy.
Product Development – Building websites, mobile apps, and software systems tailored to real-world needs.
Immersive Technologies – Designing VR/AR/XR solutions for education, peacebuilding, training, and storytelling.
Our flagship product, Co-Live, is an award-winning VR storytelling platform that fosters empathy and social cohesion through immersive learning experiences, co-created with local communities.
Founded by a diverse team of architects, developers, and designers, Vista Technologies merges creative vision with deep technical expertise to build impactful, human-centered digital solutions.
Let’s co-create the future one experience at a time!
Vista Technologies
Why enter the start-up showcase?
- Gain global exposure to investors, industry leaders, and media. Start-ups have been acquired from their connections made at World Summit AI
- Connect with collaborators who share your passion for AI that makes the world a better place
- Receive expert feedback from our judges and investors to accelerate your impact in the real world
- Join a global movement shaping the future of AI for everyone. Our community is 360K and counting…
What you get
- Pitch on the renowned World Summit AI Start-up Showcase stage, to a dedicated audience
- Get expert feedback from our panel of expert judges
- Get full access to both days of World Summit AI 2026
- Network and schedule 1-2-1 meetings with the global AI community through our AI-powered networking app
- Get your company logo and speaker featured on the World Summit AI Website
- Get social media coverage of your participation
Entry requirements & the fine print
- Applications will open early 2026
- The Start-up Showcase winner, selected by the judges, will be announced on the Main Stage at the end of the summit
- If you’re one of the five shortlisted start-ups, the CEO or Founder of your start-up must be able to join us in person in Amsterdam on 7 and 8 October 2026.
- To qualify as an early stage start-up, you must have been incorporated for less than 2 years and have received less than $2 million in funding.
All applications are screened. So if this criteria doesn’t apply, your application will be politely rejected.
