10 Top Embodied AI Startups and Companies to Watch in 2026

Iryna Bursuk

Iryna Bursuk

Last updated: July 23, 2025

Explore top embodied AI startups and their contributions to e-commerce, AI, and energy. Gain insights into their latest solutions and market impact. And, discover the funding, mentors, and accelerators driving growth in embodied AI’s vibrant ecosystem.

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Executive Summary: Which are the Top 10 Embodied AI Startups to Watch?

  1. Focoos AI (Italy) – offers Anyma, a platform that auto-generates optimized neural networks for computer vision to improve model efficiency for satellite, traffic, and defect detection applications.
  2. ReSim.ai (USA) – provides a cloud-based virtual testing platform for embodied AI and robotics and enables scalable parallel testing, real-time analytics, and faster product validation.
  3. Meraker (South Korea) – develops AI-powered ophthalmic devices and rendering solutions to support portable diagnostics and real-time screening of major eye conditions.
  4. Resmonics (Switzerland) – uses ambient AI and proprietary sensors to detect respiratory risks in real time and supports workplace health management through predictive analytics dashboards.
  5. Neural Foundry (UK) – builds autonomous robots for industrial environments. It combines adaptive AI, computer vision, and LLMs to address tasks like predictive maintenance and quality control.
  6. Embodied AI (Switzerland) – creates multimodal AI systems and soft robotic arms like the Helix Manipulator that enable visual-language-motion integration for advanced robotic manipulation.
  7. BROSWARM (Lithuania) – designs AI-driven mine detection drones that fuse sensor arrays for accurate UXO identification, enhancing demining efficiency and environmental safety.
  8. Zygizo (Norway) – offers AI-based snow water equivalent (SWE) detection tools that optimize hydropower, flood prediction, and alpine infrastructure through real-time data and hazard alerts.
  9. Dropla (Denmark) – develops drone-based demining systems that integrate AI and sensor fusion for UXO detection, mission planning, and AR-based field training in hazardous zones.
  10. ToPerform (Netherlands) – delivers AI-powered fouling sensors for industrial pipelines to enable predictive cleaning and process optimization to reduce operational inefficiencies and costs.

Global Startup Heat Map highlights Emerging Embodied AI Startups to Watch

Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 7M+ startups, 20K+ technology trends plus 150M+ patents, news articles & market reports, we identified 400+ embodied AI startups.

The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 10 emerging embodied AI startups you should watch in 2026 as well as the geo-distribution of 400+ startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research.

According to our data, we observe high startup activity in Western Europe and the United States, followed by India. The top 5 Startup Hubs for embodied AI are London, New York City, San Francisco, Bangalore, and Singapore.

 

Embodied-AI-Startups-Heat-Map-Blurred-StartUs-Insights-noresize

 

Discover 10 Embodied AI Startups to Watch in 2026

We hand-picked startups to showcase in this report by filtering for their technology, founding year, location, funding, and other metrics. These embodied AI startups work on solutions ranging from ready-to-use neural networks and adaptive AI robots to mine detection and industrial pollution detection.

1. Focoos AI

  • Founding Year: 2022
  • Location: Turin, Italy
  • Use For: Designing and Training of Neural Architectures
  • Funding: Closed an investment round of EUR 2.65 million

Italian startup Focoos AI develops ready-to-use neural networks optimized for computer vision applications through its software, Anyma.

This platform streamlines development for a variety of sectors by automatically designing and training neural architectures that are suited to certain hardware configurations and performance requirements.

 

 AI model

 

Anyma improves computing efficiency while lowering expenses and energy usage by producing models faster and smaller.

Focoos AI also enables businesses to swiftly and efficiently implement intelligent visual solutions.

Additionally, it offers integration into current systems, safe on-premise data processing, and support for applications like satellite mapping, traffic monitoring, and defect identification.

2. ReSim.ai

  • Founding Year: 2020
  • Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Use For: Virtual Testing Infrastructure for Robotics and AI
  • Funding: Raised USD 10.3 million in seed funding

US-based startup ReSim.ai provides a platform for testing AI and robotics through a scalable virtual testing infrastructure. The platform’s integration with current simulation or replay tools enables developers to safely package, register, and run virtual tests in parallel across the cloud.

 

Dashboard

 

ReSim.ai simplifies the process of evaluating embodied AI’s performance against defined success criteria by enabling A/B testing, pass/fail evaluation, and rich metrics.

Its dashboard allows the team to focus on innovation instead of infrastructure by providing high-level analytics and actionable information.

Additionally, the startup speeds up development cycles, reduces the need for expensive field testing, and enables robotics and AI companies to launch products quickly and reliably.

3. Meraker

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: Seoul, South Korea
  • Use For: Screening and Diagnosis of Diseases

South Korean startup Meraker creates AI sensor technology that advances applications in medical imaging and video processing.

Its QuuP AI-powered rendering solution works with all VFX tools. It automates the development of 4K rendering images which cuts production time and expenses.

Additionally, Meraker’s AI-enabled ophthalmic camera allows for high-resolution imaging of the front and posterior segments of the eye.

This facilitates real-time screening and detection of major eye illnesses by integrating advanced algorithms into portable hardware.

4. Resmonics

  • Founding Year: 2020
  • Location: Zurich, Switzerland
  • Use For: Employee Health Management

Swiss startup Resmonics creates AI sensors that use proprietary algorithms with ambient AI technology to identify and track respiratory ailments in real time. This solution recognizes and categorizes the signs of respiratory and lung diseases in monitored environments.

 

 

Additionally, Resmonics provides dashboards with compiled insights for hygiene managers and doctors which facilitate trend analysis and data-driven decision-making.

The startup also improves patient care and workplace health by enabling practitioners to forecast health issues using pattern recognition and benchmarking.

5. Neural Foundry

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: London, UK
  • Use For: Industrial Automation

UK-based startup Neural Foundry creates intelligent robots driven by adaptive AI that increase automation and productivity in a variety of industries.

Its solutions’ advanced features like quality control, predictive maintenance, and operational optimization combine robotics, computer vision, and large-language models.

Further, the startup’s configurable autonomous robots address specific operational challenges in industries including construction, industrial automation, and pharmaceuticals.

 

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6. Embodied AI

  • Founding Year: 2025
  • Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Use For: Multimodal AI systems & Soft Robotic Arms

Embodied AI, a Swiss startup, builds multimodal AI systems and soft robotic arms for practical tasks. It develops Visual Language Action (VLA) models that integrate vision, language, and motion. These models convert human instructions into robot actions.

The startup also makes the Helix Manipulator. It is a soft robotic arm that is shaped by a patented trimmed helicoid design. It supports nine degrees of actuation, reaches up to one meter, and operates with one-centimeter accuracy. Besides, its inverse kinematics algorithms ensure precise motion control.

Additionally, the arm includes SDKs for Python, MATLAB, and ROS2. These tools enable easy integration into research workflows.

7. BROSWARM

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
  • Use For: Mine Detection
  • Funding: Secured EUR 856 000 from ScaleWolf

Lithuanian startup BROSWARM develops mine detection technology that leverages AI to create advanced sensory arrays and sensor fusion systems.

It detects unexploded ordnance (UXO) above and under the ground. Its solution combines AI-powered sensors installed on drones to detect and categorize UXOs and landmines.

 

 

The AI-enhanced detection capabilities combine sensor arrays and sensor fusion techniques to increase accuracy and efficiency.

Moreover, the startup creates life-saving technology that helps to protect environments by efficiently identifying and aiding in the removal of explosive risks.

8. Zygizo

  • Founding Year: 2021
  • Location: Stavanger, Norway
  • Use For: Power Production and Drinking Water Reserves’ Efficient Operations

Norwegian startup Zygizo develops AI-based snow water content detection technology that measures Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) to optimize resource management and safeguard infrastructure.

 

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)

 

The system gathers real-time data on snow characteristics, such as weight, density, and water content utilizing sensors and AI algorithms to enable precise evaluations and forecasts.

In addition, it offers various advantages such as actionable insights on user’s devices, correct flood and avalanche risk projections, and automated danger notifications.

Zygizo also optimizes snow as a renewable resource while improving safety and infrastructure for hydropower, transport, and alpine recreation

9. Dropla

  • Founding Year: 2023
  • Location: Odense, Denmark
  • Use For: Demining Solutions

Danish startup Dropla creates drone-based UXO identification technology that advances demining operations in hazardous environments by utilizing AI and sensor fusion.

The startup’s software detects and geotags landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) by combining remote sensing technologies with AI algorithms.

 

 

It also offers a swarm platform for automated drone coordination, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for terrain-specific tasks, and augmented reality (AR) solutions for mission planning and training.

10. ToPerform

  • Founding Year: 2020
  • Location: Meppel, Netherlands
  • Use For: Smart Industrial Cleaning Solutions

Dutch startup ToPerform develops industrial pollution reduction solutions using AI-powered smart fouling sensors to optimize production processes and reduce inefficiencies.

 

Optimization Process

 

The device continuously tracks pipeline fouling while collecting data in real time to forecast the ideal time for cleaning and ensuring steady, high-performance flow.

The system lowers operating costs, improves productivity, and avoids downtime by switching cleaning from reactive to predictive. ToPerform’s sensors also have a plug-and-play design for easier integration into the current infrastructure.

 

User-friendly AI dashboard

 

Moreover, the startup’s data-driven and sustainable process optimization enables enterprises to minimize environmental effects while maintaining operational balance.

Discover All Emerging Embodied AI Startups

The 400+ embodied AI startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free Industry Innovation Reports for a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2026!