Top Hardware + Software Startups in 2026

As passionate scientists and engineers, we are well aware of the plethora of critical problems in the world that cannot be solved because humanity simply does not have enough computing power. To address this, Vorticity is developing a radically new silicon chip architecture and system to dramatically accelerate scientific computing problems. Vorticity’s mission is to expand human ingenuity. To do that we are building a team of exceptional people to work together on big problems. Join us!

KeyMe is an innovative, New York City based startup that is revolutionizing the way people manage their keys. We have created self-service kiosks that allow individuals to instantly duplicate keys, store digital copies of keys online, share keys with friends and family, and print out a stored key in the case of a lockout. We also have an iPhone app that allows you to scan keys from the comfort of your home and have them mailed and delivered to you. Available at key.me

Tombot makes robotic animals that transform the daily life of individuals, families and communities facing health adversities. Originally designed to meet the specific medical needs of seniors with dementia, Tombot Puppies have also been preordered for children with Autism, adults with high impact chronic pain, major depressive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, and for long inpatient stays and arduous outpatient treatments at hospitals. Peer-reviewed studies show that robotic animals positively affect some users’ ability to cope with stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression and pain, reducing their need for psychotropic and opioid medications. Key Milestones and Metrics: • Completion of our 5th generation prototype and 3rd round of customers studies with 100s of seniors with dementia • Over 3,900 preorder and waitlist customers • Member of StartX: Stanford-funded startup accelerator program • Member of the Canadian Creative Destruction Lab accelerator program • Member of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles accelerator program (CTIP) • Large-scale clinical trials in development with Children’s Hospital and the University of Southern California to demonstrate reduced stress, anxiety and pain for pediatric hospital inpatients • Large scale study in development with the LAC-USC Hospital Burn Unit to demonstrate reduced stress, anxiety, and pain for pediatric burn patients • Major national and international media coverage • Winner 2019 RoboBusiness Pitchfire competition • Filed multiple trademark, design and provisional utility patent applications • U.S. TAM: $9.0B (seniors with dementia plus mild cognitive impairment)

Clockwork is revolutionizing the $800B beauty industry with robots! We started with nails, and have developed and deployed the world’s first and only AI-powered, autonomous manicure robots. You can find our robot as an amenity in large corporate offices, such as at Rockefeller Center in New York or in the LinkedIn building in SF, as well as in airports like JFK and MIA. We’re at an inflection point and slated to grow 10x in 2023!

HAX is an SOSV program for hard-tech startups transforming industry. HAX started in 2012 with the goal to provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to solve the world’s problems through hardware. We’ve spear-headed the hardware renaissance and created the lean hardware movement, which led us to build the world’s largest community of hardware companies with our two-stage programs - Stage I in Shenzhen which helps startups build and ship products, and a Stage II program in San Francisco which is helping them scale worldwide. The 300+ startups HAX invested in have been tackling extremely important world challenges in consumer, health, enterprise and industrial environments, while impacting the world with amazing products such as Particle, Makeblock, Yeelight, Avidbots, Opentrons, Nura, Simbe Robotics, etc... Companies are hailing from the US at 60%, 20% from Europe and 20% from Asia.

Quilter is a physics-driven AI platform that automates printed circuit board (PCB) layout. Electrical engineers and PCB designers use it to turn circuit schematics into finished boards in hours instead of weeks.

HOLOPLOT is a pro audio company from Berlin, Germany. Since early 2011, we have been working on radically transforming audio technology, by re-thinking the underlying physics of sound reproduction. We wondered: What if sound could truly be controlled the way we can control light? What if we could create soundscapes that feel more real than reality? What if every seat in a venue could be made the best seat? Our solution is science-based, software-driven, and hardware-enabled: the HOLOPLOT Matrix Array. The sound system for a new era, a powerful tool that brings previously inaccessible capabilities to the world of audio. We believe when people experience better sound, they will enjoy more meaningful moments and create richer memories. At HOLOPLOT, it is our mission to redefine what is possible - enabling unparalleled and breathtaking experiences. A revolution in sound. Be part of it!

Alertus Technologies offers a customizable array of emergency notification products, including the wall-mounted Alert Beacon, computer desktop alerting, USB panic button, LED marquee display, text-to-speech interface for public address and giant outdoor speaker systems, fire alarm interface, VoIP phone alerting, digital signage and cable television override, and mobile phone alerting capabilities. We serve thousands of global customers in the higher education, K-12, industrial, corporate, healthcare, government, and military sectors.

Videri makes a digital CANVAS, the smartest and most energy efficient digital display on the market. A stunningly thin and beautiful device which is cloud connected and engineered for enterprise and commercial purposes. Our technology is on its third generation, deployed worldwide with leading brands. We invented a state-of-the-art digital Canvas—an elegant product that combines resilient hardware with paradigm-shifting cloud architecture, enabling our customers to manage their on-site content and deliver it remotely from anywhere in the world. Designed to scale infinitely, our intelligent Canvases do exactly what we envisioned: empower brands to re-imagine the way they promote their products, market their business, and engage their customers. At Videri, we believe that customer experience is paramount. We build things with meaning—for our customers. We hold ourselves accountable—for our customers. And, of course, we hire great people. We are diligent collaborators on a mission to inspire the world. If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.