As part of this year’s EU-Startups Summit, we’re excited to introduce a special section dedicated to showcasing some of Europe’s most promising AI-focused startups. Taking place on 24 April at 16:30 on the Stepup Startups stage, this session will shine a spotlight on eight selected companies as they pitch their innovations and business models to an audience of top investors, corporates, and fellow entrepreneurs.
These startups are backed by the EIC and work at the forefront of AI and deep tech, tackling complex challenges across sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, climate resilience, manufacturing, security, and finance.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a flagship initiative of the European Commission to turn disruptive European science into groundbreaking commercial propositions and accelerate the scale-up of “game-changing” innovations. It is a key building bloc of a reinforced European ecosystem and the New European Innovation Agenda, filling the gap between R&D support, private investors, and the market. With a budget of over €10 billion under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021-2027), it seeks to position Europe as a global leader in the current wave of deep tech innovation.
Below we’re introducing you to the startups that will take the stage at the Summit to present their AI-powered solutions and ambitious growth plans:
3Bee (Italy) – Founded in 2016, 3Bee’s division XNatura develops advanced tools to monitor and protect biodiversity and climate using IoT sensors, satellite data, and AI algorithms. Their platform supports companies, municipalities, and nature reserves in aligning with CSRD, ESRS E4, and GRI 101 regulations. The solution is particularly relevant as biodiversity reporting becomes a priority for compliance and sustainability strategies. 3Bee aims to become the go-to infrastructure for ecological intelligence across Europe.
Cypheme (France) – Cypheme-Vrai is the first AI system capable of detecting counterfeit products using nothing but a smartphone camera. Developed with proprietary foundation models and large industrial datasets, it has achieved 99.71% accuracy against highly sophisticated fake goods. Its technology has already been deployed at scale, including successful interventions in the pharma industry, where it helped detect counterfeit anti-cancer medication.
Efenco (Estonia) – Efenco is a cleantech company revolutionising energy efficiency in industrial operations. With its patented HERC chip, Efenco dramatically improves fuel use in energy-intensive processes like steel manufacturing, cement production, and district heating. The ceramic-based technology reduces CO₂ emissions and fuel costs by at least 18%, providing a simple yet powerful upgrade to industrial furnaces and boilers. Backed by a decade of R&D, the startup is now expanding its reach across Europe’s industrial hubs.
FLASC (Netherlands) – FLASC is developing a non-battery energy storage system specifically for offshore renewables. Their patented hydro-pneumatic liquid piston system stores excess energy by compressing air, creating a reliable solution to match the volatile renewable energy supply with demand. The latest iteration, the Open-Gas Cycle, improves efficiency and scalability, making FLASC a compelling partner for offshore wind projects. With international patents and recognition from DNV, the company is poised to reshape offshore energy storage.
Mifundo (Estonia) – Mifundo is enabling seamless, cross-border access to credit across Europe. Its AI-powered platform aggregates and standardises credit bureau data from multiple countries, merges it with open banking information, and calculates a unified EU-wide credit score. The goal is to eliminate fragmentation in consumer lending and give citizens and businesses a “portable” credit profile. Mifundo is already working with regulators and partners to become a key player in the future of pan-European finance.
MITIS (Belgium) – MITIS is pioneering next-generation energy converters that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through high-speed turbomachinery. The company’s patented technologies—spanning flameless combustion, aerodynamic airfoil bearings, and proprietary recuperators—are being applied to develop oil-free microturbines and hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Leading EU-funded projects such as Fit4Micro and RESTORE, MITIS is making real strides toward decentralised, low-emission power solutions.
Naco Technologies (Latvia) – Naco Technologies specialises in high-performance nano-coatings for the green hydrogen economy. Their proprietary High-Speed Magnetron Sputtering (HMS) technology reduces the need for expensive platinum group metals in fuel cells and electrolyzers, improving efficiency while cutting costs. By addressing a key bottleneck in hydrogen adoption, Naco is helping enable clean energy technologies at scale. Their coatings are designed to meet the demanding conditions of next-generation energy systems.
SAIA Agrobotics (Netherlands) – SAIA is transforming greenhouse farming with its AI-powered, fully automated plant-handling system. Rather than pushing robots into dense plant environments, SAIA has reimagined the process: Plants are moved to a central location for harvesting, enabling faster, more efficient automation. This approach boosts productivity and traceability while reducing labour demands. With a working system already operational, SAIA is well positioned to modernise food production with scalable, smart agtech.
To learn more about the companies pitching, visit the Dealflow.eu platform, where you can request direct introductions through each company’s profile. Secure your ticket today and stay tuned for exciting updates on our event page.
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Malta Enterprise is Malta’s economic development agency, facilitating economic growth, investment, and innovation, by offering a range of support services for local and foreign enterprises setting up a productive presence in Malta. As a key player in Malta’s economic landscape, it contributes to the nation’s prosperity by attracting investments, supporting businesses, and driving innovation, thereby reinforcing Malta’s position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Malta Enterprise actively cultivates a vibrant startup ecosystem, playing a pivotal role in fostering a conducive environment for startups and offering tailored support and incentives to empower emerging businesses.
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Scytale helps startups get compliant and stay compliant with frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and more, without breaking a sweat.
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The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a flagship initiative of the European Commission to turn disruptive European science into groundbreaking commercial propositions and accelerate the scale-up of “game-changing” innovations. It is a key building bloc of a reinforced European ecosystem and the New European Innovation Agenda, filling the gap between R&D support, private investors, and the market. With a budget of over €10 billion under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021-2027) it seeks to position Europe as a global leader in the current wave of deep tech innovation.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/04/meet-the-eic-backed-startups-that-will-present-on-stage-at-this-years-eu-startups-summit/
