From AI Agents to Ten Minute Deliveries and Hyperspectral Satellites, we select the top ten tech startups that have been backed by big funding and bold ideas, which reveals where technology—and investor confidence—is headed next.
We have compiled the top ten tech startups to watch, chosen for their funding round raises, innovative technology, market potential, and investor interest:
10. ByteDance (China)
Though ByteDance is most famous for TikTok, it’s far more than just a social media company. Its AI-powered content algorithms have set new standards for user engagement, reshaping how we consume media. Despite facing regulatory challenges, ByteDance’s ability to attract global audiences and generate significant ad revenue keeps it among the most influential tech giants in the world.
Founded by Zhang Yiming, ByteDance also owns Toutiao, China’s largest general news platform, alongside TikTok, which has gained massive popularity worldwide. As of June 2021, ByteDance’s platforms boasted a staggering 1.9 billion monthly active users.
9. SpaceX (USA)
SpaceX is revolutionizing the aerospace industry with its reusable rockets, drastically reducing the cost of space travel and paving the way for bold ventures like Mars exploration. Through its Starlink project, SpaceX is already expanding global internet access, connecting remote areas and enhancing communication worldwide. With its ambitious vision of interplanetary colonization, SpaceX is not only leading advancements in private space exploration but also setting the stage for the future of space travel.
By lowering mission costs, the company is driving innovations in satellite technology, space tourism, and even the possibility of living on other planets.
8. OpenAI (USA)
OpenAI, the force behind ChatGPT and DALL-E, remains at the forefront of the generative AI wave. Founded in 2015 by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and others, it has evolved from a nonprofit lab into a tech giant shaping global AI ethics, safety, and innovation.
Backed by $11.3 billion in funding, a $2 billion revenue milestone in 2024, and a $80 billion+ valuation, OpenAI’s influence is undeniable. Its GPT-4 release in 2023 and Microsoft’s 49% stake highlight its leadership in the race toward safe, powerful AGI.
7. Exowatt (USA)
Exowatt is tackling the enormous energy demands of AI and digital infrastructure with its modular thermal energy storage systems. Focusing on providing 24/7 renewable energy to data centres, Exowatt is positioning itself as a leader in the clean tech and digital infrastructure space. Their flagship product, the Exowatt P3, stores solar energy as heat in long-duration batteries and converts it to electricity on demand—eliminating the need for grid reliance after sundown.
Founded in 2023, Exowatt is gaining traction, recently raising $90 million to ramp up production and deployment, with plans to roll out commercial applications in 2025.
The company is seeing significant demand, with an order backlog of 90 GWh from hyperscalers, energy developers, and data centers. As AI’s energy appetite grows, Exowatt’s innovative solution is poised to revolutionize how high-demand sectors harness and use solar energy.
6. Pixxel (India)
Pixxel is pushing the boundaries of Earth observation with its hyperspectral imaging satellites, offering real-time, high-resolution data that can detect environmental changes invisible to the human eye. Founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, the Indian space-tech startup aims to build a constellation of satellites capable of scanning the electromagnetic spectrum, much like a giant MRI for the planet.
By capturing detailed images across a wide range of the spectrum, Pixxel’s satellites can detect things like methane leaks, algal blooms, and pest infestations, giving industries from agriculture to climate monitoring a deeper understanding of environmental shifts.
While its funding may be smaller than some of the other players in the space, Pixxel’s innovative approach positions it as a rising star in the rapidly growing space-tech sector.
5. Zepto (India)
Zepto is transforming India’s grocery delivery market with its promise of 10-minute delivery, making it a leader in rapid commerce. Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, the Mumbai-based startup identified the need for fast, reliable grocery delivery, especially among millennials and Gen Z.
In 2024, Zepto raised over $1 billion, reaching a $5 billion valuation. Its focus on speed, convenience, and cash on delivery (COD) has made it a favorite among busy professionals. By leveraging data analytics and machine learning, Zepto optimizes inventory and delivery, meeting the demand for instant gratification in emerging markets.
4. AI21 Labs (Palestine/Israel)
In today’s content-heavy AI landscape, AI21 Labs stands out by focusing on something critical—accuracy. While many Gen AI tools can “hallucinate” facts, AI21’s models are built to reduce errors and boost trust, making them more reliable for real-world use.
Founded in 2017 by AI heavyweights behind Mobileye, Stanford, and CrowdX, AI21 is turning advanced research into practical tools. Backed by Google and Nvidia and reportedly raising $300 million, the startup helps enterprises build custom Gen AI apps powered by its own cutting-edge language models. In short, it’s building AI you can actually count on.
3. Anysphere (USA)
Anysphere is changing how developers code with Cursor, an AI-powered coding assistant built on Visual Studio Code. Designed around the concept of “vibe coding,” Cursor lets developers write code using natural language, streamlining everything from debugging to intelligent rewrites.
Founded in 2022 by four MIT grads, Anysphere raised a staggering $900 million in early 2025—a clear sign of just how hot Gen AI tools are for specific professions.
Cursor is already in use at major companies like OpenAI, Stripe, Shopify, and Johnson & Johnson, and reportedly helps generate nearly a billion lines of code every day.
2. Mistral AI (France)
Mistral AI is a fast-growing French startup, revolutionizing the AI landscape by championing open-source large language models, making advanced AI more accessible and customizable. Founded in 2023 by ex-Meta and DeepMind engineers Arthur Mensch, Guillaume Lample, and Timothée Lacroix, Mistral AI has already secured over $500 million in funding and reached a $2 billion valuation.
The company made waves with a €105 million seed round and strategic partnerships, including one with Snowflake in 2024. This collaboration integrates Mistral’s top model, Mistral Large, into Snowflake Data Cloud, enabling businesses to leverage generative AI on their own data. Mistral AI is not just participating in the AI space—it’s leading it.
1. Databricks (USA)
Databricks is shaking up the way companies work with data. Based in San Francisco, this startup has built a powerful platform that helps businesses handle and make sense of huge amounts of information. Their game-changing “Lakehouse” architecture blends the best features of data lakes and data warehouses—basically making it easier and faster to run AI-powered tools and make smarter decisions.
In 2024, they raised a whopping $10 billion in funding, showing just how much trust investors have in their vision. Over 10,000 companies—including big names like Shell, Rivian, Comcast, and more than half of the Fortune 500—already use Databricks to power their AI strategies.
