Pitchday 2026
645 entries, 84 countries, 9 finalists
Congratulations to the nine innovative startups invited to pitch at the third Future of Capitalism Competition on 3 February 2026.
WINNER: Tandem Repeat
Region - US
A DeepTech innovator that aims to redefine the $3T materials industry through scalable biomanufacturing. They have developed an innovative, agricultural approach using plants to produce sustainable, animal-friendly, and cost-effective textiles. Offering competitive, high-performance alternatives to traditional natural fibres such as wool, cashmere, and cotton, and mitigating critical supply constraints inherent in natural production. Inspired by nature, perfected by science.
RISING STAR: Octavia Carbon
Region - Kenya
An EnergyTech startup that’s transforming the carbon removal frontier in Kenya through pioneering Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, for secure storage underground. Helping to reverse the effects of climate change while advancing green growth and local industrial development in the region. Creating a sustainable future for all by transforming how the world manages carbon.
RISING STAR: Shifted
Region - France
A EnergyTech startup that’s redefining how the world stores energy with a new compressed air battery. It provides long-duration, low-cost, location-independent renewable energy storage, delivering a reliable source of 24/7 clean power for micro-grids and independent networks. Designed to ensure energy security, resilience and price certainty, the system can also provide heat and cooling for industrial processes. Making electricity storage sustainable and affordable.
RISING STAR: Lambda
Region - UK
This AgriTech innovator have unveiled a groundbreaking light-changing spray for greenhouse panels that can boost crop yields by an impressive 20%. A cutting-edge active material, that can easily be retrofitted or applied to new greenhouses, it transforms unused ultraviolet light into the red light essential for photosynthesis. This scalable solution, which is low-cost and runs on natural sunlight, could be a game-changer in a world where 800 million people are starving, and climate change is putting food security at risk.
Peris.ai
Region - Singapore
This CyberTech startup has developed an AI-CISO platform powered by coordinated multi-agent automation. They connect to cloud, infrastructure, endpoints and business systems, continuously monitoring controls, collecting audit-ready evidence and detecting threats in real time. By automating work that normally requires a large security and compliance team, Helping organisations in emerging and developed markets stay secure, meet regulations and scale with confidence.
Kisui
Region - Japan
An AgriBot startup that develops AI-powered autonomous robots. Their core platform, Adam, inspired by lunar rover technology, helps farmers work more efficiently, reducing physically demanding labour in aging farming communities. Improving safety, accelerating sustainable agriculture and helping farmers work smarter, not harder.
WeavAir
Region - Singapore
This tech startup has created AI-driven digital twinning software that transforms building and infrastructure operations. Leveraging satellite imagery, IoT sensor networks, and advanced predictive models, to reduce operational costs, improve energy efficiency and accelerate decarbonisation, empowering enterprises to make smarter, data-driven decisions while achieving measurable environmental impact. Enterprise intelligence software delivering sustainability & net zero goals.
Otermans Institute
Region - UK
A research-led AI organisation specialising in human-centered AI and digital learning with a keen focus on underserved communities. They pioneer ‘voice-first’ and ‘offline-first’ platforms that bridge literacy and connectivity gaps serving learners in 19 countries. Their participatory co-creation approach with users, NGOs and governments ensures cultural relevance, capacity building and sustainable adoption. Helping to democratise learning through AI.
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Phyll
Region - US
An InsurTech startup that is building a real-time intelligence layer for the built world, without the requirement for any new hardware. They turn existing video streams (dashcams, CCTV, phones, drones) into a live map of roads, utilities, and critical infrastructure assets, helping utilities, cities, and insurers surface risk, degradation, and early signs of failure. Making large scale, continuous monitoring affordable and scalable. Preventing failures, avoiding disasters, and keeping people safe.
2026 Judging Panel
Stephen Bediako OBE
Partner
DELOITTE
Stephen is a serial social entrepreneur (US/UK) with extensive experience of working with government, philanthropic organisations, and corporations to deliver impactful social change across the UK, USA, Canada and Africa. Stephen is a Partner working in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services team out of London. His expertise spans strategy, innovation, impact measurement, and strategic client engagement. He has been awarded an OBE in the UK, the Freedom of the City by the Corporation of London, an Honorary Fellowship by Social Enterprise UK, The Freedom of Skinners Livery Company, and a Visiting Fellowship by Stanford University for his work.
Christy Cardenas
Founder / General Partner
IRIS INVEST
Christy is Founder and General Partner of Iris Invest, investing her time in innovation and impact. Christy has managed funds in deep technology venture capital, investing in AI, robotics, and energy, alongside her career in energy infrastructure private equity. Her expertise spans technology commercialization, venture financings, public private partnerships, project financings, securitizations, and more.
Paul Collier
Professor of Economics
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
A world renowned economist and the author of several books on social and economic reform including ‘The Future of Capitalism’ which inspired the competition and more recently ‘The Future of the Left Behind. Paul is an advocate for “an ethical capitalism that meets standards that are built on values, honed by practical reasoning, and reproduced by the society itself.”
Duro Oye
CEO & Founder
20/20 LEVELS
A long-time champion of social impact, Duro is committed to driving meaningful change through his work as the founder and CEO of award-winning charity, 20/20 Levels. Willing to take on the risks and challenges of innovation, he leads initiatives that create lasting social and economic opportunities. The organisation’s evolving business model now integrates business development mentorship for aspiring entrepreneurs while staying true to its core mission of personal and professional growth.
Simon Lancaster
Founding General Partner
OMNI VENTURES
Simon is the Founding General Partner of a specialist pre-seed venture firm focused on the digital transformation of engineering, manufacturing, and industrial technology. Prior to founding Omni, he spent over a decade in product design and R&D leadership roles at Apple as well as other deep tech organisations, holds 50+ patents, and speaks regularly on venture capital and innovation. His technical depth and investment insight will be a huge asset to the judging panel.  Simon is also the author of Unlocking Alpha: The Rise of Niche VC, a well-regarded book that explores how early-stage venture capital can succeed by developing deep domain expertise, focused theses, and founder-led networks rather than pursuing broad, generalist strategies. The book is widely read among emerging fund managers and operators, and reflects Simon’s long-term, conviction-driven approach to investing.
Nina Ho
Former Executive Director
LAUNCHPAD - UT AUSTIN
Nina is an executive strategist, multi-disciplinary creative, and former entrepreneurship educator at The University of Texas at Austin. She's passionate about supporting early stage impact startups, especially in education, with customer discovery, product-market fit, and brand strategy. She is also an Advisory Board Member for SXSW Pitch.
David Tosh
Director, Relationship Management
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
A Director at the Royal Bank of Canada, Wealth Management in the UK. Based in London, David is responsible for providing integrated wealth management solutions mainly for Ultra High Net Worth Business Owners and Entrepreneurs.
Deniz Ucbasaran
Professor of Entrepreneurship
WARWICK UNIVERSITY
Deniz teaches and researches all things entrepreneurship and is the incoming Director of the PhD programme in the business school. Most of her research focuses on individuals and teams. She is widely published in a range of academic and practitioner journals which include the Harvard Business Review.
Peter Hood
Counsel
KING AND SPALDING
Peter is a lawyer specializing in ESG and business and human rights. He has acted in some of the leading cases in the field, advised States on aligning their laws with international human rights standards and designed human rights and environmental due diligence programs for some of the largest companies in the world.