Five startups win ABB’s challenge with AI energy solutions

ABB has named five startups as winners of its 2025 Startup Challenge. Each will receive USD $30,000 to co-develop their proposed solutions alongside ABB experts.

Selected from a pool of over 155 applicants representing 37 countries, the startups — Emissium from Switzerland, Better Futures from Dublin, Lookthrough from Switzerland, Contextere from Ottawa, Canada, and Eatron Technologies from the UK — have proposed artificial intelligence-powered solutions to address challenges in energy use within industry, buildings, power grids, and utilities.

Each winning startup will participate in a collaboration project, developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) intended to lead to commercialising their proposed solution. Winners will also receive mentoring from Microsoft and advisors from Synerleap, ABB's startup accelerator.

The ABB Startup Challenge is now in its sixth year. Focusing on initiatives that aim to make energy management smarter and more efficient, the programme provides selected startups with technical and commercial support as they progress their ideas to market readiness.

Massimo Muzzì, Head of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability, ABB Electrification, said, "The ABB Startup Challenge enables us to identify talented entrepreneurs and nurture the fresh thinking that is needed to address key energy issues. ABB and startups have complementary capabilities, so we can support each other with insights and expertise to develop new and innovative solutions and business models."

"We are actively seeking long-term collaborations and investment with startups as part of our open innovation strategy. Our startup challenges are incredibly important to ABB. More than a quarter of the USD $80m ABB Electrification has invested in startups since 2020 has been spent on solutions that we've identified and developed through our annual competitions."

Emissium of Switzerland won with a software platform designed to provide real-time intelligence and AI-powered optimisation for Distribution System Operators. This tool aims to help track and reduce emissions, optimise operational and capital expenditures, and enhance infrastructure planning. The platform integrates advanced data analytics, forecasting algorithms, and digital twin technologies to provide operators with actionable insights.

Better Futures from Dublin was recognised for EVA, an AI assistant platform developed for engineers that automates up to 80% of the relay configuration and validation process. According to the company, engineers characteristically spend half their work time on documentation, verification, and knowledge retrieval, tasks that EVA seeks to automate, enabling engineers to focus on areas requiring higher value expertise.

Lookthrough, another Swiss-based startup, has proposed an AI-powered software tool for real estate decarbonisation. The tool is designed to integrate with the ABB energy management ecosystem, allowing building owners to monitor energy consumption in real time and manage retrofit planning for long-term sustainability. The system models various scenarios, enabling optimisation of buildings as physical assets.

Contextere from Ottawa, Canada, presented ABB Madison DrivePilot, which uses artificial intelligence to provide instant insights into drive performance within operational environments. Based on Contextere's Madison insight engine, DrivePilot offers real-time decision support to enhance commissioning, operation, optimisation, and maintenance of motion drives used in industrial settings.

Eatron Technologies from the UK became a winner with its AI-powered battery optimisation software. The software is intended to improve battery safety, longevity, and performance, using a combination of machine learning, physics-based modelling, and data analytics to forecast failures, optimise usage, and reduce downtime.

Each of the five selected projects will proceed with the intent to achieve a market-ready MVP within six months. The MVP has the potential to enter the global market, targeting ABB's own customers and partners. ABB reports that since 2020, more than 20 MVPS have been delivered through the Startup Challenge programme, and several previous winners and finalists remain in ongoing collaborations for commercial contracts.