AI has been an unstoppable force for the whole course of 2025, and it looks likely that the technology will continue to dominate innovation across industries in 2026.
That said, some high-profile figures suggest that the hype around AI has led to overinflated valuations. Bill Gates, for example, suggests that we are in an AI bubble that could soon burst in a similar fashion to the dot-com boom and bust.
However, the jury is still out.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, for instance, is keen to downplay these concerns and believes that AI valuations will pay off. This is backed by the fact that his company became the first to reach a $5 trillion market capitalization, and demand for Nvidia’s AI chips and supercomputers shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.
Investor interest in AI is holding steady too.
Crunchbase data, as one example, found that 46% of all startup funding globally went to AI companies in Q3’25, at a grand total of $45 billion USD. These sky-high figures have been helped by the fact that investors have opted to back AI mega-rounds of $100 million or more this year and the $13 billion raised by Anthropic alone.
The good news is that these huge funding rounds haven’t taken all the capital off the table. Investors have also been keen to back sector-specific AI solutions that bring the benefits of AI forward to industries across the board. Although cybersecurity, logistics and biotech have proven popular this year, the potential applications are nearly endless.
This, according to Huang, is a key indicator that AI will continue to deliver. “All of these different AI models we’re using—we’re using plenty of services and paying happily to do it,” he explained.
The diverse range of AI-focused startups shows this in action. To get a picture of how the AI industry is likely to develop in 2026, let’s take a look at 15 entrepreneurs to watch in 2026 with some of the most creative innovations and disruptive, high-impact use cases for the technology.
Bernd Bube, CEO, ADvendio
Bube is the founder and CEO of ADvendio, an ad sales and order management platform that leverages AI.
After spending several years working in the media industry, the entrepreneur founded ADvendio in 2004 after realizing that there was a gap in the market for a full process solution designed specifically for advertising management.
At the time, there was nothing available in an easy-to-use format and most systems took a lot of development work to implement effectively. Digital advertising was highly fragmented, and it was clear there were many inefficiencies across media channels.
Today, Advendio is bringing AI-powered omnichannel ad management to its customers with a ready-to-use solution for users who already have an existing multichannel strategy in place, and scalability for channel specialists. As a result, it effectively delivers highly relevant advertising experiences powered by AI across print, digital, streaming, OOH & DOOH at scale.
Operating in over 20 countries, ADvenio’s easy-to-use, safe, secure and reliable solution has been streamlining the ad sales process of businesses for over 13 years.
Deepti Juturu, Co-Founder & Chief Customer Officer, Prezent
Juturu is the co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Prezent, which is an AI-driven communication success and presentation productivity platform for enterprise teams.
The entrepreneur earlier was CEO of Prezentium, which was acquired this month by Prezent.
According to TechCrunch, Prezent raised an additional $30 million in a round led by Multiplier Capital, Greycroft, and Nomura Strategic, bringing its total funding to $74 million.
The company is now valued at $400 million following the acquisition of Prezentium, and also recently debuted its first AI-Coach to create the future of business communication training at scale.
Prior to Prezentium, Juturu was a Senior Manager, Commercial Operations at Genentech and a Senior Associate at McKinsey.
Alex Sandoval, Founder and CEO, Allie AI
Sandoval is the Founder and CEO of Allie, and has over 14 years of experience building SaaS products for tech companies big and small. He is now bringing AI-powered decision-making on the factory floor with Allie AI.
The company he founded builds AI-powered software in order to increase productivity, reduce downtime, and democratize knowledge expertise for factories.
Sandoval first crossed paths with his co-founder, Nicolas Degiorgis, when they were both working at Rappi. The two were drawn to each other by their shared passion for technology and their desire to make a difference in the world.
The idea for Allie came about during the pandemic when he noticed that factories were still relying on paper and pencil for basic statistics like efficiency and machine monitoring. Recognizing the opportunity to unite industrial data and offer a simplified dashboard experience for factory operators and managers.
As a company with a deep technical culture, Allie has developed proprietary technology in-house from day one, building all of its infrastructure, machine learning models, and features with a team of full-time engineers based in its technology center in Buenos Aires.
Jitesh Shetty, CEO, Credibl
Shetty is the founder and CEO of Credibl, a native AI full-stack platform for decarbonization initiatives, ESG data management and supply chain traceability.
83% of leaders increased their sustainability investments this year and 81% of companies are leveraging AI to drive sustainability outcomes.
The company Shetty founded, Credibl, is at the forefront of this development, helping organizations and complex multinational enterprises cut through the complexity associated with ESG reporting with its AI platform that’s used by more than 100 enterprises around the world.
This year, Credibl partnered with Deloitte Australia to launch the SustainNext Climate Reporting platform, which combines Credibl’s AI stack with Deloitte’s assurance expertise to simplify climate data collection and disclosure. The launch aligns with Australia’s new AASB climate reporting requirements, taking effect from July 2026.
Shetty is a serial technology entrepreneur, who prior to Credibl founded a cloud computing labs company Qwiklabs, which sold to Google. He is also an investor in over 17 AI and deep tech companies.
Manuela Gutierrez, Operations Leader, 360 Health Data
Gutierrez is one of the team leaders at 360 Health Data, and has been passionate about her career in the software industry. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in customer relationship management, visual design, and UI/UX. She has collaborated with international entrepreneurs, creating and developing initiatives in Colombia, particularly in software for the healthcare sector and clinical trial studies.
Manuela plays a key role at 360 Health Data, which incorporates AI for its medical resource platform that aims to facilitate access to up-to-date medical information. The company leverages the immense potential of scientific research, medical evidence, and advanced technology to create a global collaboration that empowers healthcare professionals throughout South America. Manuela’s efforts to create impactful and intuitive digital experiences have contributed to improved decision-making and strengthened daily medical practice, reducing healthcare inequality.
360 Health Data hopes to act as an ally for clinical care in Latin America with the launch of its platform, Coralia Health. By transforming medical knowledge and resources into Spanish through tech-powered automations, physicians in the region now have rapid access to up-to-date, reliable, and relevant information.
Daniel Domingues, Founder and CEO, Planno
Domingues is the founder and CEO of Planno, an enterprise that offers AI-powered software for solar C&I Prospecting.
The entrepreneur is poised to make a significant impact on the energy sector, with the venture represents his commitment to driving innovation and business growth in the industry, leveraging the power of technology to accelerate the energy transition.
Planno offers AI-powered software developed by solar developers for solar developers. The platform identifies and pre-qualifies commercial & industrial rooftops at scale, helping solar companies be lean, close more deals, and grow their pipeline faster.
Born and raised in Portugal, Daniel has spent the last decade in the Middle East and is currently based in Dubai, UAE. He holds an MSc in Civil Engineering and a PgD in Corporate Management.
As the world collectively strives for a more sustainable future, Daniel is excited to contribute to this effort through Planno, working towards a world where technology and energy work hand in hand for the betterment of our planet.
Ibrahim Hasanov, Founder and CEO, MyUser
As the Founder of MyUser, Hasanov is the mind behind the AI-powered platform designed to make B2B cold outreach effortless.
At the core of Myuser is an intelligent AI engine that automates everything from finding leads, creating hyper-personalized emails, and answering questions to booking meetings and even building landing pages. There’s no setup, no mailbox management, and no technical expertise required. Businesses just chat with the AI, and it handles the rest, autonomously and at scale.
The company is on a mission to change how businesses grow by making high-quality customer acquisition accessible to anyone with a marketing budget. The platform is built for startups, SMBs, and enterprises looking to supercharge their outreach efforts without the overhead of a traditional sales process
Powered by proprietary AI, Myuser automates cold outreach at scale, combining hyper-personalization with seamless automation to help businesses to connect with their audiences effortlessly.
Hari Vasudevan, Founder and CEO, KYRO AI
Vasudevan is a serial entrepreneur and engineer at the forefront of AI, utilities, and construction management. As Founder & CEO of KYRO, he drives transformative advancements in construction, vegetation, utility, and field services. KYRO provides AI-powered software that helps construction, vegetation, utility, and field services companies digitize operations, reduce risk, and maximize profits.
He is also the Founder and former CEO of Think Power Solutions. Under his leadership, Think Power Solutions grew to over 400 employees, expanded into 14 states, and earned consistent recognition as a top workplace in the US for culture, safety, and employee well-being.
Beyond these corporate roles, Vasudevan serves as Vice Chair & Strategic Advisor for the Edison Electric Institute’s Transmission Subject Area Committee, shaping the future of technology and infrastructure.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, along with professional engineering licensure in multiple states. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Vasudevan delivered the 2019 commencement address at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Arlington.
Gaku Ueda, CEO, MODE
Ueda is the CEO of MODE, a leader in integrating GenAI technology into enterprise IoT solutions, and has held leadership roles in some of the most prominent technology firms in Silicon Valley. His unique talent lies in driving the engineering of services that run on a massive scale.
Prior to founding MODE, Inc., he was Director of Engineering at Twitter. At Google, he led the team that launched Google Maps in Japan and grew the service into a market leader.
Founded in 2014 in Silicon Valley, MODE is the creator of BizStack, an all-encompassing IoT application tailored for businesses. Their mission is to enable workers around the globe to connect with their data and gain valuable insights seamlessly.
The company he founded is leading the new industrial revolution by integrating Generative AI technology into enterprise IoT solutions with a growing international team operating out of the San Francisco Bay Area and Tokyo.
Asparuh Koev, CEO and Founder, Transmetrics
Koev is the CEO of Transmetrics, a Bulgarian enterprise that helps improve efficiency and profitability for logistics and trucking companies, including Matson, DB Schenker, Kuehne+Nagel and DPD.
The entrepreneur has worked in the transport and logistics sector for more than two decades. Over the years, he has established several companies, including Sciant, an engineering services company later acquired by VMware and IntelliCo Solutions, which delivers IT digitization for the transport industry. Koev co-founded Transmetrics in 2013 and, as CEO, he combines IT and domain expertise to grow a company that is bringing truly cutting-edge technologies to the sector.
Transmetrics is a state-of-the-art AI platform developed exclusively for logistics, including FleetMetrics Sales Navigator, an AI-Forwarder on Steroids that automatically suggests profitable and reliable orders for trucking fleets.
The company optimizes transport planning by leveraging the power of machine learning and predictive analytics. Transmetrics combines the strengths of humans and artificial intelligence, ensuring the highest operational benefits and reducing the environmental impact of logistics.
Stefano Pedrazzi, Cofounder and Co-CEO, Liffo
Pedrazzi is an entrepreneur and manager with more than 15 years of experience in Information Technology, Digital Transformation, and Innovation. After graduating in Economics and Network and Innovation Management, he began his career at Accenture, working on Process Improvement projects for major high-tech multinationals.
He joined OT Consulting in 2008 and met Massimiliano Delsante, with whom he formed a partnership that continues to this day.
Pedrazzi first became an Equity Partner and then CEO from 2013 to 2017. In 2018, he became VP Sales & Marketing of myInvenio, the Process Mining company founded by Delsante, until its sale to IBM in 2021.
Today is a founding partner of Robomagister, the company that created ‘Liffo,’ the first AI autonomous cooking robot and has led the team as co-CEO since 2022.
Christian Struve, CEO, Fracttal
Struve is the CEO and Co-founder of Fracttal®, which is revolutionizing the asset maintenance industry for a remote, sustainable, safe, and efficient world.
The company he leads empowers companies to manage every aspect of maintenance operations, including equipment, providers, technicians, maintenance schedules, spare parts, costs, emergencies, warranties, and much more.
Its platform is 100% cloud-based and mobile and is equipped with machine learning and IoT capabilities. It seamlessly integrates with any ERP system and is user-friendly and easy to implement.
The company’s products help customers to: avoid unplanned downtime and optimize production with IoT monitoring and predictive AI; ensure the reliability of critical equipment and continuity of production; optimize your operations, reduce risks and maximize the availability of assets with an intelligent and connected solution; and turn maintenance into a competitive advantage, among other areas.
Arda Ecevit, Co-Founder and CEO, Nexstrat.ai
Evevit is the Co-Founder of Nexstrat, and is a former management consultant with 15 years of experience in leading consulting firms such as Bain & Company, Strategy&, PwC, Deloitte, as well as strategy and transformation leadership experience at global companies.
Today Arda is the CEO of NexStrat AI, an agentic AI platform and co-pilot specialized in strategy and transformation, that enables enterprises to go from diagnosis to action to tracking in minutes rather than months.
Compared to traditional consulting or strategy workflows with lengthy timelines and static outputs, the platforms’ agent Nex lets businesses co-create instant strategies, action plans, and more, utilizing state-of-the-art agentic AI-powered business analysis and planning tools.
NexStrat AI is already the trusted strategic AI solution for several enterprises at the forefront of AI transformation, from major banks to tech players within EMEA, and is scaling globally.
Nate MacLeitch, CEO, Quickblox
MacLeitch is the founder of Quickblox, and is a seasoned technology leader whose career spans telecom, media and software industries. After beginning as a Trade Representative for the State of California in London, he held senior roles including Head of Sales at WIN Plc (now Cisco) and COO of Twistbox Entertainment (now Digital Turbine).
Today, he is the CEO of QuickBlox — a global real-time communication platform that enables apps and websites to embed chat, video and generative-AI capabilities.
Under his leadership, the company has expanded into industries such as healthcare, finance and education, responding to the accelerating need for smart, embedded communication.
Pedrazzi is also an active advisor and investor in early-stage ventures, including Whisk.com, Firstday Healthcare and TechStars. He holds a B.A. from UC Davis and an MSc from LSE, and continues to publish and speak on topics at the intersection of AI and communication — for example, how ChatGPT-style assistants are transforming healthcare and virtual consultation.
Mike Hoey, Founder and CEO, Source Meridian
Hoey is an accomplished entrepreneur and technology leader with extensive experience in the software industry, particularly in health tech and big data solutions. As the owner of Source Meridian, he has successfully merged his passion for technology with a commitment to improving healthcare services by leveraging AI.
His insights into the health tech sector have been featured in publications including Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine. Beyond his professional achievements, Mike’s leadership style emphasizes innovation and collaboration, making him a sought-after speaker in technology and entrepreneurship. His diverse experience also includes serving on advisory boards and contributing to various educational programs, highlighting his commitment to community engagement and mentorship.
This includes his work organizing key industry events such as TECH SPERE 2025, which was held at the University of Antiquia in Medellin, Colombia, earlier this year, bringing together business execs, researchers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across sectors and backgrounds to explore how AI can be practically applied to solve real challenges and scale impactful solutions.
Hoey’s academic background includes a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University, where he specialized in parallel processing and neural networks. He has been recognized as a mentor at institutions such as Stanford, Yale, and the University of Cambridge, showcasing his dedication to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Growson Edwards, CEO, BlueGenAI
Edwards is the Co Founder and CEO of BlueGen.ai, and previously worked at Emagine IT as the President and Chief Operating Officer.
The CEO is a seasoned entrepreneur who has led growth for startups and enterprises with a focus on customer success, who earlier scaled a SaaS startup from $1M to over 100M in revenue, which was acquired by Tyler Tech. Edwards co-founded CIPIO with a mission to help companies grow exponentially using the power of community influencers aided by AI.
Now, he is the CEO of BlueGenAI, a company that specializes in Case Management and Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, enhancing these critical areas with advanced artificial intelligence.
BlueGen.ai mimics real data and generates privacy-safe synthetic data to accelerate data-driven innovation to bring these benefits to areas like the public sector, where they were previously inaccessible. In this way, the company is fostering greater efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.
