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Large increase in AI startups at KTH Innovation

Three women. One is shaking the hand of someone outside the frame.
Plenty of handshakes took place at the first meeting for the teams in KTH Innovation's pre-incubator program. Klara Folke and Alva Allard (to the right) have founded Alterspace to make it easier to rent out empty office space. Kristina Hoang (to the left) is one of the founders of SecureTag, which wants to solve the problem of counterfeit and stolen luxury products on the second-hand market.
Published Nov 16, 2023

The accelerated development of artificial intelligence over the past year is clearly visible at KTH Innovation, with over 40% of startups entering the pre-incubator program utilizing AI to build their solutions.

Every year, KTH Innovation meets up to 400 new ideas from students, researchers, and employees at KTH. Hannes Eder Öhrström, a business development coach in Digital Deeptech at KTH Innovation, has observed a significant rise in the number of ideas based on AI.

"Researchers and students at KTH have been working with artificial intelligence for a long time, but about a year ago, we noticed a substantial increase in ideas that, with the help of AI, have the potential to create very high value rapidly, he says. AI can fundamentally change conditions in various areas, from medical technology to new microchip architectures. It is exciting to follow this development closely".

This increase is evident among the eighteen new teams entering KTH Innovation's pre-incubator program, a twelve-month program for promising startups from KTH. Over 40% of these teams are developing their technology using artificial intelligence, including AI-generated podcasts, smart study tools, and software for precision medicine development.

Anxiety-free conversations

Portrait of three Utter Founders
The founders of Utter use AI to make learning a new language easier and more fun. Pictured: Victor Oldensand, Christine Wolf, and Hugo Jönsson. Sofia Bergqvist is Utter's fourth team member.

One such team is Utter, which is creating a solution for individuals wanting to learn a new language. In the Utter app, users can converse with an AI-based language partner, similar to a phone call.

"We are students at KTH, and many of us are learning new languages, says one of the founders, Victor Oldensand. However, finding someone to practice with and scheduling a meeting is challenging. With our app, you can practice more often and overcome the nervousness of talking to a real person".

Currently, the team is working on an English-speaking version, with plans to add more languages in the future, including French, Spanish, and German.

Approximately 10% of the teams supported by KTH Innovation are accepted into the pre-incubator program. Over 300 teams have gone through the program, including successful startups like Flox and Volta Greentech.

A group of people sit in a circle and watch a man give a presentation.
The first of 40 workshops over the coming year.

Hannes Eder Öhrström, responsible for the new batch, looks forward to guiding the nineteen companies through about forty workshops in the coming year.

"It's easy to get caught up in the latest hot startups from Silicon Valley, says Hannes. However, every year when we launch a new batch in our pre-incubator, we are reminded of the strong environment for innovation and creativity that Stockholm, in general, and KTH, in particular, provide".

Text: Lisa Bäckman

The teams in Batch 18

Portrait of the three founders of Morningstar Therapeutics
The three founders William Ferreira Andrén, Theocharis Nikiforos Iordanidis, and Niclas Roxhed.

Morningstar Therapeutics is one of the teams in the program. They are developing a type of rolling microneedle particles that make it possible to deliver substances through the skin barrier without pain and devices like injection needles.

The microneedle particles, which resemble the Medieval weapon morning star (hence the name) are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. By adding them to creams, they can be rolled over the skin and make microscopic holes. You won't feel it, but this allows medicines and skin care to penetrate the skin barrier. 

- We look forward to getting help navigating IP issues, and to finding our first customers in the program, says one of the founders Theocharis Nikiforos Iordanidis, PhD student at KTH's Department of Micro and Nanosystems.

Morningstar Therapeutics  was founded by William Ferreira Andrén, Theocharis Nikiforos Iordanidis, and Niclas Roxhed.  

2Witness

2Witness develops a state-of-the-art secure communications platform for authorities, individuals, and companies. The aim is to make it possible for anyone affected by crime to testify fully anonymously.  

Accord

Accord is a user-friendly organizing app that tracks and gamifies household chores, offering families clear insights and effectively cutting down the tension and debates surrounding task distribution. 

Agteria Biotech

Agteria Biotech wants to help solve climate change by offering a scalable, patent-pending feed additive that achieves a 92% reduction in methane emissions at an affordable price.

Alterspace

Alterspace aims to offer a dynamic platform where businesses with surplus office space can effortlessly connect with those in need of flexible, short-term rentals.

Cellufy

Cellufy focuses on sustainable industrialization through the development of fully bio-based materials as barriers for the guidance of fish past hydropower plants.

DigiPlan

DigiPlan develops software for the automatic translation of regulations from older zoning plans to today's legal and digital equivalent.

Hemnio

By offering a platform for direct purchase and sale of homes without the need for traditional brokerage services, Hemnio wants to redefine the real estate market.

Lajja Design Tech

Lajja Design Tech has developed EasyScale, a scale for healthcare professionals that transforms any chair into a scale. Through its unique design, it can easily be brought along to the patient for safe and secure weighing.

Lingoberry

Pioneering a dedicated approach to Swedish language acquisition, Lingoberry harnesses the power of AI-driven dialogues to enhance students’ vocabulary and bolster verbal communication skills.

Mappi

Mappi is a digital study platform for upper secondary school students, featuring a big library of assignments with built-in AI powered study aids.

ML Genics

ML Genics’ machine learning-based software interprets, analyses, and reports genomic data faster, cheaper, and more reliably than traditional methods. 

Morningstar Therapeutics

Morningstar Therapeutics' rolling microneedle particles enable novel pharma and beauty applications, increasing both effect and comfort for our users. 

Pillai

Pillai aims is to revolutionize health literacy with an AI-powered mobile app designed to transform intricate medical text into easily digestible and personalized information.

PodPerfect

PodPerfect is an AI-powered app generating one-of-a-kind listening experiences. They want to provide tailored content that aligns perfectly with users’ input preferences. Don’t search for your perfect pod, create it! 

Rebaba

Rebaba upcycles spent EV batteries into safe and cost-efficient 2nd life Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).  

SecureTag

SecureTag is building an authentication and digital ownership platform for luxury items, utilizing NFC-enabled digital product passports.

Utter

Utter helps language learners improve their conversational skills with a realistic AI-based language partner. Like a phone call, but without the anxiety that comes with talking to native speakers.

Wilma

Wilma is building an AI-powered Legal Assistant to make all your legal needs affordable, quick, and simple. Using their service, you will be able to create, negotiate, review, e-sign, and store contracts, and ask legal questions, all while ensuring top-tier security, centralization, and anonymity. 

More about the teams in Batch 18

About the KTH Innovation pre-incubator program

The KTH Innovation pre-incubator program is a 12-month program for promising startup projects from KTH. We welcome new teams into the program twice a year. Around 10% of all ideas that KTH Innovation supports go to the pre-incubator program.

In addition to business development support from KTH Innovation, the teams in the program get access to offices and meeting rooms in KTH Innovation's premises at Teknikringen 1. Every week, they meet over lunch and take part in a tailor-made workshop program.

They also get access to our makerspace and production studio. Together with the program's over 250 alumni projects, they form a supportive community, growing and developing together.

Participants in the program also get an opportunity to get an experienced mentor via KTH Innovation's mentor program, and to pitch for a SEK 250,000 in investment from KTH Holding AB.

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Belongs to: About KTH
Last changed: Nov 16, 2023