Startups

LG announces the first 50 participants in its LG Nova program

Comment

Image Credits: LG Nova

LG’s innovation center — LG Nova among friends — today announced that it has selected the first 50 companies for its Mission for the Future global challenge competition. From 1,300 applicants, the company picked its first cohort to start building opportunities with the startups. Nova itself is a counterpoint to profit-focused corporate venture capital outfits, and is instead focusing on abilities to collaborate with the LG conglomerate across the board, in a few key verticals: the metaverse, connected healthcare, smart homes, electric vehicles (EV) and the wonderfully fuzzily named tech for good.

The first official “First 50” group represents innovations “in industries that will have the most immediate impact on society now and in the future,” as LG describes it. 

“These companies represent the top of the diverse pool of innovative ideas and companies who applied to our Mission for the Future challenge to address the challenges facing our community. In these companies, we see great potential opportunities to explore transformative changes that will take our commitment of innovating for a better life to the next phase,” said LG Nova head Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, senior vice president for innovation at LG Electronics. “Our work with these companies will be guided by our role as a leading global innovator of next-generation products, technologies and services as we help them accelerate their growth and deliver positive impact to the world.”

I spoke with Dr. Rhee in great detail earlier this year, to figure out how startups can work with LG Nova:

LG and the hunt for the next-gen corporate incubator

Here’s the full list of companies that made the cut:

Connected Health

  • AcceXible – Platform for the early detection and monitoring of mental conditions through speech analysis.
  • Attune Neurosciences – Improves human health and performance with clinically proven, non-invasive neurostimulation products.
  • CurieAi, Inc. – Tech-enabled, virtual respiratory care provider that makes it easy to take the unknown and unmanageable out of respiratory illness and give control back to the patients suffering from it.
  • LifeNome – Award-winning precision (biology-personalized) health enterprise platform powered by genomics and AI.
  • MayaMD – Conversational digital human-AI health assistant.
  • medZERO – Employer-sponsored buy now, pay later financial wellness platform that gives employees a smarter way to pay for healthcare.
  • Mindset Medical – Delivers a portfolio of proprietary virtual technologies that advance the full continuum of patient care.
  • NousLogic Telehealth – Connective health technology delivering home solutions for wellness, acute care and smart lifestyle services at the point-of-need.
  • PyrAmes – Enhances health and wellness through continuous and non-invasive monitoring of blood pressure and other vital signs.
  • Selfit – Digital robotic care focusing on the aging population, physical and cognitive health.
  • Somatix, Inc. – Artificial intelligence-powered remote patient monitoring wearable technology.
  • TRIPP, Inc. – XR wellness platform pioneering innovative health and wellness technologies that deepen connection to self through fully immersive alternate realities.
  • XRHealth Virtual Clinic – Integrates VR/AR, licensed clinicians and real-time data analytics
  • Zeit Medical – AI-powered sensing technology for immediate stroke detection at home.

The Metaverse

  • Bigthinx – AI technology focused on fashion retail, wellness and the metaverse with products for body scanning, digital avatars and virtual fashion.
  • BrandXR – No-code AR platform and award-winning XR creative studio.
  • ByondXR – Provides retail 3D virtual experiences that are fast, scalable and in line with the latest metaverse technologies.
  • echo3D – Cloud platform for 3D/AR/VR that provides tools and network infrastructure to help quickly build and deploy 3D/metaverse apps, games and content.
  • EKTO VR – Transforms workforce training by simulating the world’s most complex and hazardous environments with wearable technology.
  • HEXA – Unique immersive OS with 3D tech stack to create, manage, display and analyze 3D projects.
  • I3M – Provides “experience-as-a-service” for brands to rapidly create and deploy hyper-realistic interactive and immersive metaverse experiences that exponentially increase user engagement and revenue.
  • iQ3Connect – Provides a no-code platform to enable enterprises to create, deliver and consume complex 3D enterprise applications in the metaverse in a web browser on any AR, VR or 2D device.
  • Kabuni – Metaverse education platform focused on providing the safest place in the metaverse for kids to explore, learn and grow, both within a classroom environment and at home.
  • NeuroTrainer, Inc. – Virtual reality brain training company that helps reclaim focus in an increasingly distracted world.
  • Snickerdoodle Labs – Uses blockchain to build agnostic data-sharing layer that enables individuals to control and even monetize their personal data through a tokenized data architecture.
  • swIDch – Provides secure, next-generation authentication for every digital identity environment, even off-the-network.
  • Xplorit Virtual Travel – Real-world metaverse platform that offers experiential virtual travel and immersive storytelling experiences.
  • YBVR – Virtual reality technology that brings live event emotions closer to fans through personalized, immersive and interactive experiences.

Energizing Mobility

  • BeChained Artificial Intelligence Technologies SL – Smart energy platform for reducing production energy cost and decarbonizing the energy system.
  • Driivz – Global provider of EV charging and energy management software platform.
  • DUCKT – Universal charging infrastructure solution dedicated to micromobility vehicles: bikes, e-bikes and scooters.
  • Eatron Technologies – Intelligent production-ready software solution for the automotive industry and mobility.
  • EVE (Electric Vehicle Ecosystem) – E-mobility analytics solution for assessing, tracking and improving corporate fleet electrification strategies.
  • Faction – Unique approach to driverless technology and light electric vehicles that will dramatically impact how goods and people are moved.
  • I-EMS Group, Ltd. – AI, blockchain and optimization-based software solutions provider for smart cities, smart homes and e-mobility
  • MET3R – Unique smart charging and energy storage services to bridge the gap between electric mobility and the smart grid to support the decarbonization of the energy sector.
  • SparkCharge – Affordable and convenient way for all-electric vehicle owners to charge their EVs at home or on the go.

Smart Lifestyle

  • AirSpeQ – Provides sensors for fine and ultrafine airborne particulate matter (PM) detection and monitoring.
  • allt – Brings together the world of entertainment and engagement by connecting apps on phones and devices in the home to movies, shows and music.
  • Chefling – State-of-the-art smart kitchen solution for planning, shopping and cooking for smart appliances and connected health applications.
  • Everykey – Universal smart key that unlocks phones, laptops, tablets, websites and other devices and applications based on proximity.
  • Fast Sense H2 – Nano-sized quantitative, mixed-gas sensor and analyzer for industrial, environmental and security applications.
  • Food Haven – Online platform dedicated to reducing food waste by partnering with local food businesses to sell surplus food at discounted prices.
  • Roving Blue – Develops products featuring Power of EO3®, a new way to dissolve ozone into the water, to kill unwanted microorganisms in water, foods and surfaces.
  • Tanvas, Inc. – Haptics innovation company pioneering multi-touch surface haptic technologies for automotive, industrial and consumer electronics.

Innovation for Impact

  • A.kin AI – Virtual assistant technology to support daily living activities for people living with disability and neurodiversity.
  • Alteria Automation Smart Sensor – Advanced IoT technology that monitors air quality providing traceability on the cloud and automated actions to building management systems.
  • Digbi Health – Gut microbiome, genetic-based virtual care platform to equitably treat polychronic mental and physical illnesses.
  • Jara – Ensures K-12 students and teachers in low-connectivity/low-electricity communities globally can access distance learning anytime, anywhere, through the Jara Unit, an award-winning off-grid charging education solution.
  • Hygge Power – Ensures everyone is comfortably powered with clean, reliable energy through proprietary software that accelerates electricity decarbonization and empowers renters, homeowners and businesses.
  • Sanctuary – Creates technology applications for Activated Experiential Environments.
  • Sovrinti – Provides machine learning-driven activity change detection for healthy aging and person-centered care in the comfort and privacy of home.

More TechCrunch

Tags

Apple Tuesday unveiled Apple Intelligence, its long awaited, ecosystem-wide push into generative AI. As earlier rumors suggested, the new feature is called Apple Intelligent (A.I., get it?). The company promised…

Apple Intelligence is the company’s new generative AI offering

While you can already use your iCloud account to store and sync passwords across your devices, it wasn’t easy to figure out. Passwords were available from the Settings app on…

Apple is launching its own password manager app

Apple announced at WWDC on Monday that iPadOS 18 will include a new “Smart Script” feature that will clean up your handwriting when using an Apple Pencil to write in…

Smart Script in iPadOS 18 will clean up your handwriting when using an Apple Pencil

iOS’ perennial tips calculating app is finally coming to the larger screen.

Calculator for iPad does the math for you

The new OS, announced at WWDC 2024, will allow users to mirror their iPhone screen directly on their Mac and even control it.

With macOS Sequoia, you can mirror your iPhone on your Mac

At Apple’s WWDC 2024, the company announced MacOS Sequoia.

Apple unveils MacOS Sequoia

“Messages via Satellite,” announced at Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote, works much like the SOS feature did.

iPhones will soon text via satellite

Apple says the new design will lead to less time searching for photos.

Apple revamps its Photos app for iOS 18

The TechCrunch the team runs down all of the biggest news from the Apple WWDC 2024 keynote in an easy-to-skim digest.

Here’s everything Apple announced at the WWDC 2024 keynote, so far

Users will be able to lock an app when they hand over their phone.

iOS 18 will let you hide and lock apps

Today’s WWDC 2024 keynote has been packed so for, including a number of key new updates for iOS 18. One of the more interesting additions is Tap to Pay, which…

Tap to Cash lets you pay by touching iPhones

In iOS 18, Apple will now support long-requested functionality, like the ability to set app icons and widgets wherever you want.

iOS 18 will finally let you customize your icons and unlock them from the grid

Apple is sharing the first details for the upcoming major release of iOS, its operating system specifically designed for the iPhone. The company is holding its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)…

Apple unveils iOS 18 with a myriad of AI-powered features

Apple today kicked off what it promised would be a packed WWDC 2024 with a handful of VisionOS announcements. At the top of the list, is the ability to turn…

VisionOS can now make spatial photos out of 3D images

The Apple Vision Pro is now available in eight new countries.

Apple to release Vision Pro in international markets

VisionOS 2 will come to Vision Pro as a free update later this year.

Apple debuts VisionOS 2 at WWDC 2024

The security firm said the attacks targeting Snowflake customers is “ongoing,” suggesting the number of affected companies may rise.

Mandiant says hackers stole a ‘significant volume of data’ from Snowflake customers

French startup Kelvin, which uses computer vision and machine learning to make it easier to audit homes for energy efficiency, has raised $5.1M.

Kelvin wants to help save the planet by applying AI to home energy audits

A last call and a major shoutout to any and all early-stage founders. It’s time to dig deep and take advantage of an unparalleled opportunity at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 —…

Only hours left to apply to Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt

Privacy watchdogs in the U.K. and Canada have launched a joint investigation into the data breach at 23andMe last year.  On Monday, the U.K,’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the…

UK and Canada privacy watchdogs investigating 23andMe data breach

Dubai-based fractional property investment platform Stake has raised $14 million in Series A funding.

Stake raises $14M to bring its fractional property investment platform to Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi

“We were motivated to fundraise because we think the ’24 vintage is going to be a good one,” founder Craig Shapiro said.

After hits like Reddit and Scopely, Collaborative Fund easily raised a $125M fund to tackle climate, health and food

The merger has yet to close due to extended due diligence amid ongoing restructuring and macroeconomic headwinds across multiple countries.

Sources: Wasoko-MaxAB e-commerce merger faces delays amid headwinds in Africa

The keynote will be focused on Apple’s software offerings and the developers that power them, including the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS and watchOS.

Watch Apple kick off WWDC 2024 right here

Featured Article

What to expect from WWDC 2024: iOS 18, macOS 15 and so much AI

Apple is hoping to make WWDC 2024 memorable as it finally spells out its generative AI plans.

8 hours ago
What to expect from WWDC 2024: iOS 18, macOS 15 and so much AI

While funding for Italian startups has been growing, the country still ranks eighth in Europe by VC investment, according to Dealroom. Newly created Italian Founders Fund (IFF) hopes to help…

With €50 million to invest, Italian Founders Fund looks for entrepreneurs with global ambitions

William A. Anders, the astronaut behind perhaps the single most iconic photo of our planet, has died at the age of 90. On Friday morning, Anders was piloting a small…

William Anders, astronaut who took the famous ‘Earthrise’ photo, dies at 90

You’re running out of time to join the Startup Battlefield 200, our curated showcase of top startups from around the world and across multiple industries. This elite cohort — 200…

Startup Battlefield 200 applications close tomorrow

New York’s state legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit social media companies from showing so-called “addictive feeds” to children under 18, unless they obtain parental consent. The Stop…

New York moves to limit kids’ access to ‘addictive feeds’

Dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S.: 65.1 million households have one, according to the American Pet Products Association. But while cats are not far off, with 46.5…

Cat-sitting startup Meowtel clawed its way to profitability despite trouble raising from dog-focused VCs