Technology

Five startups win ABB Startup Challenge 2025 with AI-driven energy innovations

Friday, 18 April 2025 12:03AM UTC

Five pioneering startups from Switzerland, Ireland, Canada, and the UK have been awarded funding and mentorship by ABB for innovative AI solutions targeting smarter energy use in sectors such as industry, buildings, and power grids. Each winner will collaborate with ABB to develop their product within six months, supporting advances in energy efficiency and sustainability worldwide.

Five startups have been named winners of the ABB Startup Challenge 2025, recognised for their pioneering use of artificial intelligence (AI) to promote smarter energy utilisation across various sectors including industry, buildings, power grids, and utilities. Selected from over 155 applicants spanning 37 countries, each victorious startup will receive $30,000 in funding to collaboratively develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation.

The competition, now in its sixth year, seeks to identify bold and innovative ideas addressing energy efficiency and sustainability challenges. Each winning team will benefit from the expertise of ABB professionals throughout the product development phase, along with mentoring provided by Microsoft and advisors from Synerleap, ABB’s startup accelerator. Massimo Muzzì, Head of Strategy, Business Development, and Sustainability at ABB Electrification, explained the initiative’s purpose: “The Startup Challenge is our way of connecting with visionary entrepreneurs who bring fresh approaches to energy innovation. By combining ABB’s expertise with startup agility, we’re able to shape new solutions and business models. More than 25% of the $80 million we’ve invested in startups since 2020 came from these challenge programs.”

The five successful startups and their innovative projects are as follows:

Emissium (Switzerland) – Emissium has developed a software platform specifically for Distribution System Operators. This platform enables real-time emissions monitoring and incorporates advanced analytics, forecasting tools, and digital twin technology. The solution aims to optimise operational costs and enhance long-term planning capabilities through improved decision-making.
Better Futures (Ireland) – Better Futures impressed the judges with EVA, an AI-powered assistant developed for engineers. EVA automates up to 80% of tasks involved in relay configuration and validation. By streamlining routine documentation and verification, the tool significantly improves productivity and allows engineers to concentrate on higher-value work within electrical infrastructure projects.
Lookthrough (Switzerland) – Lookthrough presented a decarbonisation tool designed to transform the real estate sector. Integrated seamlessly with ABB’s current energy management systems, this solution provides property owners with real-time energy consumption tracking and advanced modelling for retrofit project planning. Its capabilities support efforts to reduce emissions and facilitate sustainable building upgrades.
Contextere (Canada) – Contextere introduced the ABB Madison DrivePilot, a smart analytics solution tailored for motor drive systems. Utilising Contextere’s AI platform, DrivePilot offers real-time monitoring and supports decision-making processes to enhance the performance, commissioning, and maintenance of industrial motor drives, thereby improving intelligence and reliability in these operations.
Eatron Technologies (United Kingdom) – Eatron Technologies unveiled an AI-powered battery optimisation system that combines machine learning, physics-based modelling, and data analytics. This innovation focuses on enhancing battery safety, extending operational lifespan, and boosting overall performance. Such developments are particularly valuable in sectors where efficient and reliable energy storage is crucial.

Each project is anticipated to reach the MVP stage within six months. Since the challenge began in 2020, ABB has supported the delivery of over 20 MVPs and continues to assist previous winners and finalists in obtaining commercial contracts and scaling their solutions globally through its extensive network of customers and partners.

ABB employs more than 110,000 people across over 100 countries and strives to empower industries through engineering expertise and digital innovation. The Startup Challenge reflects ABB’s commitment to fostering sustainable energy solutions and driving advancement across multiple sectors.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://new.abb.com/news/detail/125111/abb-startup-challenge-2025-winners-power-up-the-energy-transition-with-ai-solutions - This official ABB news release confirms the five startups named winners of the ABB Startup Challenge 2025, details their innovative AI solutions aimed at smarter energy use across various sectors, and states each winner will receive $30,000 funding and collaborate with ABB to develop an MVP within six months.
https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/news-and-events/latest-news/better-futures-wins-abb-award/name,813687,en.html - This University College Dublin article verifies Better Futures as one of the winners with their AI assistant EVA that automates up to 80% of relay configuration and validation, highlighting the $30,000 prize and collaboration with ABB to bring the use case to market.
https://channellife.co.uk/story/five-startups-win-abb-s-challenge-with-ai-energy-solutions - This article details all five winning startups, their respective AI-powered energy solutions, the $30,000 award, six-month MVP development plan, mentorship from Microsoft and Synerleap, and ABB’s investment strategy and startup challenge history.
https://4imag.com/irish-ai-start-up-better-futures-wins-abb-2025-startup-challenge-award/ - This source supports the claim that Better Futures from Ireland won the ABB Startup Challenge 2025, receiving $30,000 and planning collaboration with ABB over six months to develop their AI solution.
https://www.collaborateandcommercialize.com/abb-startup-challenge-2025 - This webpage outlines the ABB Startup Challenge structure, including the $30,000 collaboration funding, MVP development timeline, access to Microsoft tools and mentoring, Synerleap support, and the process from application to go-to-market phase.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative refers explicitly to the ABB Startup Challenge 2025 and mentions it is in its sixth year, consistent with recent iterations of the programme. The direct mention of 2025 and recent funding rounds with up-to-date figures indicate the content is current and likely not recycled. No outdated roles or events are referenced.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The key quote from Massimo Muzzì, Head of Strategy, Business Development, and Sustainability at ABB Electrification, appears authentic and is directly attributed with a clear role and context. No prior or original online source for this exact quote was found, suggesting it may be an original primary statement rather than recycled. This raises confidence in the quote's originality.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from what appears to be a reputable corporate announcement or a formal press context related to ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation. ABB's prominence in the industry lends credibility. However, as the narrative is likely a press release or similar, it inherently presents the company's perspective and promotional content, which is standard for such communications.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims regarding startups using AI in energy-related fields such as emissions monitoring, relay configuration, decarbonisation, motor drive analytics, and battery optimisation align well with current technological trends. The detail about MVP development and support from partners like Microsoft and Synerleap is plausible and fits known industry practices. No extraordinary or unverifiable claims were noted.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is timely, referencing the 2025 ABB Startup Challenge with accurate and plausible details. The uniqueness of the direct quote supports originality, and the source's link to ABB, a reputable company, ensures reliability. The claims about AI applications in energy sectors are consistent with current industry advances. Overall, the information presented is credible and fresh.

ABB Startup Challenge
Artificial Intelligence
Energy efficiency
Sustainability
Startups