The Innovation of the Year Award celebrates the most daring and visionary startups exhibited at Vivatech 2025. Open to all participating companies, the award is awarded to those that drive boundaries and redefine the industry. Startups are rated on innovation and creativity, market disruption and scalability. From hundreds of applicants, there are 30 short lists.
The top five will be broadcast live on Vivatech on June 11, and the winner will be revealed at the Vivatech Global Awards Ceremony on June 12. Tone slots at the ceremony, free startup corner for Vivatech 2026, and a coveted position in TechCrunch startup Farterfield 200. The award not only recognizes great ideas, but also recognizes that the team turns a bold vision into a game-changing reality.
Applicants this year blow us away. From turning glasses into self-driving guide dogs, to building photon chips that can redefine computing, to converting mining waste into carb sinks - this short list is full of groundbreaking thinking in the real world. We see micro-robot populations used for space exploration, where AI reads your mind to control devices, and bioelectronic implants that fight brain cancer.
These startups take science, design and engineering to new heights, especially in areas such as sustainability, human-machine interfaces, advanced diagnostics and accessible healthcare. The most prominent one is boldness. These teams not only have to solve problems, but also build the future from scratch. Choosing five finalists – not to mention one winner – would be very tough. Every startup in the top 30 has already gained serious bragging rights.
This is Vivatech's 2025 Innovation Award, the top 30 startups, selected by Vivatech and TechCrunch:
If you plan to be in Paris from July 11 to 12, make sure to keep your Vivatech pass right away!