Technology Pioneers 2014 August 2013 TP2014_Brochure.indd 1 26.08.13 17:52 Published by World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise without the prior permission of the World Economic Forum. World Economic Forum 91-93 route de la Capite CH-1223 Cologny/Geneva Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 869 1212 Fax: +41 (0) 22 786 2744 [email protected] www.weforum.org TP2014_Brochure.indd 2 26.08.13 17:52 Contents Foreword 3 Foreword New technologies and innovations are constantly changing and improving the way we do things and approach problems. 4 Index Processes, institutions and industries that have been around and unchanged for decades are now being rethought and 5 Introduction redesigned with the aid of technology. Many of these 7 Company Profiles adaptions and approaches are not being developed by large, established industry leaders but rather by their smaller, 44 Selection Committee 2014 early-stage counterparts. As World Economic Forum “New Champions”, Technology Pioneer companies carry 46 Acknowledgements opportunities for growth, generate innovative technologies David Aikman and solutions for unresolved or longstanding problems and, Managing Director and ultimately, help redefine new possibility frontiers. Head of New This year, the World Economic Forum is pleased to present Champions 36 leading start-ups selected as Technology Pioneers 2014. The class is particularly diverse, providing new solutions to a number of challenges, including technologies for a greener and more sustainable planet; the deployment of precise and targeted therapies in the treatment of cancer and other diseases; the rethinking and redesign of how we deliver education; a robotics renaissance; the creation of a more personalized Internet experience; and the initiation of a “sharing” economy, to name a few. These companies have been evaluated by a committee of world-renowned experts and selected due to their demonstrative vision and leadership, potential for growth and Silvia Von Gunten innovative ideas, as well as their impact on society and Director, Head of business. The World Economic Forum would like to thank its Technology Pioneers Partners and the members of the selection committee for Programme and North their contribution in this process. Their knowledge and America Membership, diligence make it possible to identify and reward the most World Economic truly innovative start-ups from around the world. Forum USA Congratulations to the Technology Pioneers 2014! Technology Pioneers 2014 3 TP2014_Brochure.indd 3 26.08.13 17:52 Index Energy and Environment Life Sciences and Health Candidate companies are nominated by Members, constituents and Advantix Systems Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. collaborators of the World Economic Alphabet Energy Inc. BIND Therapeutics Inc. Forum, as well as by the larger public. A selection committee, comprised of top Bug Agentes Biológicos bluebird bio technology and innovation experts from EcoNation Cyberdyne Inc. around the world, reviews all candidate companies and makes a Kebony AS D-Rev: Design Revolution recommendation to the World Nest Labs Inc. Foundation Medicine Inc. Economic Forum, which then makes the final decision. Technology Pioneers Oasys Water Inc. Natera are chosen on the basis of the following OMC Power Second Sight Medical Products Inc. criteria: SunPartner Selecta Biosciences Inc. 1. Innovation: The company must be truly innovative. A new version or WiTricity Corporation SynTouch LLC repackaging of an already well- Thirty-six companies have been Information Technologies accepted technological solution selected as the World Economic and New Media does not qualify as an innovation. Forum’s Technology Pioneers 2014. The innovation and Adtelligence GmbH They are designing, developing and commercialization should be recent. deploying innovative products, creative Airbnb The company should invest processes or new business models. significantly in R&D. AppNexus Inc. 2. Potential impact: The company must Codecademy have the potential for substantial Coursera Inc. long-term impact on business and/or society. Data4 3. Growth and sustainability: The Dnevnik.ru company should demonstrate the GitHub potential to be a long-term market leader and should have well- Jana formulated plans for future Kaggle Inc. development and growth. Koemei SA 4. Proof of concept: The company must have a product on the market or Lenddo have proven practical applications of LiveU Ltd. the technology. Companies in “stealth” mode and with untested Rethink Robotics ideas or models do not qualify. TruTag Technologies Inc. 5. Leadership: The company must have Viki Inc. visionary leadership that plays a critical role in driving the company towards reaching its goals. 6. Finally, the company must not currently be a Member of the World Economic Forum. This criterion applies to the parent company; thus, wholly owned subsidiaries of large 4 Technology Pioneers 2014 firms are not eligible. TP2014_Brochure.indd 4 26.08.13 17:52 Introduction Technology Pioneers in previous years have Foundation Medicine and Natera have pioneered technologies to make diagnostic testing more precise – proved a strong indicator of upcoming respectively, helping cancer patients to identify the most trends, and this year’s selection of 36 is promising treatments, and giving prospective parents the likewise expected to point the way towards best chance of a healthy, viable pregnancy. products and services that will gain Smarter products and services prominence in the coming years. The broad Some products and services promise a quantum leap towards new and smarter ways of doing things. Wireless trends identified below reflect not only the electricity, being developed by WiTricity, will mean everything final selection of winners but also the much from mobile phones to floor lamps and electric cars can operate without needing to be plugged in. TruTag is larger pool of nominees. developing tiny, edible tags that can be embedded in products to identify them, promising to assure supply chains and undermine trade in counterfeit goods. Greener tomorrow The “sharing economy” is another potentially revolutionary Many of this year’s Technology Pioneers are developing trend: from broadband connections to do-it-yourself products that make both environmental and economic equipment to their own time and skills, many people own sense: Alphabet Energy can generate power from waste things they don’t use all the time. The Internet is making it heat in chimneys and exhausts; Oasys Water can desalinate possible to monetize such spare capacity. This trend is water at energy-saving low temperatures; air conditioners by represented this year by Airbnb, which is transforming the Advantix Systems cool and dehumidify air more efficiently in travel sector by enabling people to rent out rooms in their humid climates; and EcoNation’s new-generation skylights homes or entire properties. enable electric lights to be switched off. Transparent photovoltaic cells developed by SunPartner will Enabling greater access soon enable windows, billboards and device screens Emerging and developing countries are increasingly generate electricity, while Nest Labs’ thermostat is helping important marketplaces, and several Technology Pioneer consumers to cut their heating and cooling bills. Kebony can companies are focused on widening access to products and make softwood into a replacement for tropical hardwood by services taken for granted by many on higher incomes: treating it with natural biowaste, and Bug Agentes is reducing D-Rev is pioneering affordable prosthetics and other medical the need for pesticides in Brazil through mass production of devices for those living on under US$ 4 a day; OMC Power is parasitic wasps which target pests that prey on crops. scaling solar-powered electricity for off-grid Indian villages; and Lenddo is using social media profiles to build credit Precise and targeted therapies ratings that enable the emerging middle classes to access Technology Pioneers from the health sector are making loans and other financial services. breakthroughs in nanomedicine and genetics that promise to Jana is pioneering a new way for companies to engage with revolutionize the treatment of cancer and other diseases. emerging market consumers by offering rewards in the form can target drugs to diseased cells; BIND Therapeutics of prepaid mobile airtime. LiveU’s technology allows outside nanoparticles designed by Selecta Biosciences can broadcasting from handheld cameras over cellular networks, heighten or dampen immune system response; bluebird bio with no need for satellite vans. is tackling genetic diseases by using a virus to rewrite patients’ DNA; and Agios is targeting enzymes to starve diseased cells of the nutrients they need. Technology Pioneers 2014 5 TP2014_Brochure.indd 5 26.08.13 17:52 Robotics renaissance This year’s Technology Pioneers herald a new age of robotics. Rethink Robotics has developed an easily trainable robot that can work alongside humans in warehouses and on factory production lines, while SynTouch has invented a robot finger with the sensitivity of human touch, promising to make robots much more dexterous and versatile. Cyberdyne has developed a robot suit that helps the elderly and disabled to walk, and can assist workers with heavy lifting. Also using technology to remedy a disability,