Narrowing down an impressive roster of 30 pioneering startups to only five finalists was no easy task for VivaTech, as the inaugural Innovation of the Year competition drew an exceptional range of candidates. Each contender presented bold, innovative and technically advanced solutions designed to overcome substantial global challenges—ranging from healthcare and climate change to infrastructure and human-machine interactions.

This prestigious new honour at VivaTech 2025 shines a bright spotlight on groundbreaking startups exhibiting not just exceptional creativity, but also the capability and vision to profoundly transform their industries.

The five extraordinary companies selected to pitch live on stage at VivaTech 2025 include:

BeyondMath, creators of the world’s first generative physics platform. This revolutionary technology replaces traditional, time-consuming simulations with rapid real-time AI simulations. Engineers leveraging the BeyondMath platform can conduct experiments up to 1,000 times faster, instantly assess thousands of design options, and significantly reduce both cost and complexity.

Chipiron aims to democratize healthcare through its groundbreaking, ultra-light and cost-effective MRI machines. Using ultra-low magnetic fields, Chipiron maintains high-quality imaging results, thus greatly expanding access to MRI diagnostics, potentially making comprehensive screenings as simple and routine as blood tests.

Enerdrape offers a novel approach to renewable energy through their revolutionary geothermal panels. These panels non-invasively transform urban underground spaces such as parking lots and tunnels into sustainable heating and cooling sources. By avoiding the disruptive drilling typically involved in geothermal installations, Enerdrape’s concept promises rapid and efficient retrofitting for densely populated urban areas.

Hua Tech International combines advanced microfluidics, nanostructured semiconductor biochips, multiplex fluorescence staining, and sophisticated AI analysis. Their automated platform enables precise identification and analysis of rare circulating cells for improved cancer diagnostics, promising enhanced early detection and targeted treatments.

Lumisync is pioneering substantial innovation in data center communication, creating the world’s first entirely photonic oscillator. This groundbreaking technology enables data centers to synchronize data flows at unprecedented speeds, slashing latency and energy use by a factor of up to a thousand.

Each finalist startup will showcase their innovations and engagingly pitch their businesses to a carefully selected panel of judges, which includes industry experts from TechCrunch, NVIDIA, 25madison, and Daphni. The fierce competition takes place on Wednesday, June 11, at 1:35 PM, live at VivaTech’s Pitch Studio Stage.

The winner of the Innovation of the Year award will be announced during the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 12, at 5:45 PM. In addition to the accolade and prestige of being crowned “Innovation of the Year,” the winning startup will receive a dedicated exhibition space at next year’s VivaTech and a guaranteed spot in TechCrunch’s renowned Startup Battlefield 200.

The awards ceremony will also highlight four other pivotal VivaTech awards: the Female Founder Challenge—honouring innovative female founders redefining disruptive technology; the AfricaTech Awards—a pan-African initiative recognizing startups in sustainability, healthcare, e-commerce, and fintech; the Next Startupper Challenge—spotlighting innovative student entrepreneurs; and the Tech for Change Award—recognizing startups whose core mission centers around creating a positive global impact.

The entrepreneurial world eagerly anticipates the dynamic presentations these exceptional founders will deliver, as they vie to become VivaTech’s first Innovation of the Year winner.