Here are Altos Labs, Holiverse, Universal Quantum and other deep tech startups that can revolutionize entire industries. In this article, based on the provided examples we will analyze what “deep technologies” are, what they are based on, and what breakthrough solutions are expected from companies in the next 10 years.
Deep tech is often confused with regular technology startups. Sometimes it is mistaken for high-tech. It is important to understand the difference: “high-tech” is about technologies that are available to most people and used almost everywhere. While “deep tech” focuses on deep scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Imagine a company developing something that changes the foundations of our lives: treats diseases with the help of genetics, creates artificial intelligence, or develops quantum computers. This is the kind of company deep tech is.
Deep tech goes deep into science, and there you can’t do without research, complex calculations, and experiments. This is not about trendy gadgets or applications on your smartphone, but about big, global breakthroughs that can affect the entire world.
How and why the deep tech market is growing
The global deep tech market is actively growing, according to experts from Future Market Insights. In 2023 its estimated volume was almost $600 million, whereas this year the capitalization has reached $700 million. And this is just the beginning: analysts predict that the demand for technologies will continue to increase every year by about a quarter.
The growth of the deep tech market is due to a number of factors:
- Technologies based on scientific discoveries solve complex and global problems. For example, some companies find new methods for cancer treatment, some improve environmental sustainability in polluted areas, and others develop new models of artificial intelligence.
- The government and large companies are actively investing in research and development, realizing that deep tech is the driving force of future innovation, especially in areas related to quantum computing, biotechnology, robotics, and materials of the future.
- Companies are looking for new solutions to improve efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness.
Thus, deep tech growth is the result of a combination of scientific progress, investment, and the desire to create something new that makes our world smarter, safer, and better.
Rick Klausner of Altos Labs in Search of Longevity
Altos Labs is an American deep tech startup focused on biotechnology and life extension. It was founded in 2022 by Rick Klausner and Hal Barron.
The company develops innovative approaches to cellular rejuvenation and anti-aging. Altos Labs’ main research focus is on partially reprogramming cells so that they return to a younger, healthier state.
Reprogramming at the cellular level can lead to new ways to combat disease, injury, and disability.
Lado Okhotnikov launches a simulation of the human body in the Holiverse metaverseÂ
Тhe biotechnology company Holiverse, led by Lado Okhotnikov, is developing a digital twin of a person — a virtual model of the body controlled by artificial intelligence.
At the initial stage, Holiverse wants to make it so that everyone can quickly understand what is happening to their body and what changes are possible at all. The point is to make everything accessible, because complex models and biosimulations are of no use — people without special training will simply get confused. Therefore, at first, a basic version that will help everyone easily understand their health is created.
Then Holiverse plans to include personal health reports, make forecasts, and also give recommendations on nutrition and supplements. In the future, there will be constant monitoring of the state and even tools for improving memory and brain function.
Universal Quantum creates a million-qubit quantum computer
Universal Quantum is a British startup from Brighton, founded in 2018 and specializing in quantum computers. Their ambitious goal is to be able to solve problems in seconds that currently take thousands or millions of years.
The company uses a modular and practical approach that makes its system robust and scalable. Universal Quantum actively collaborates with researchers to adapt and improve its technology taking into account the users’ needs.
The startup has already made significant progress in improving error correction and has published scientific papers on its unique quantum architecture.
Aircohol turns carbon dioxide into alcohol with vitamins
Finnish startup Aircohol has developed an innovative way to produce alcohol using carbon dioxide generated during alcohol fermentation. Instead of traditional potatoes, grains or beets, the company uses COâ‚‚, which makes the process more environmentally friendly.
First, the carbon dioxide from fermentation enters a special Aircohol system, where biomass is created using a plant-based bioprocess and a bioreactor. This biomass is then sent back to the plants for further fermentation to produce more COâ‚‚.
This method helps breweries and distilleries reduce their dependence on agricultural ingredients, save resources and significantly reduce emissions.
As the company states, “Alcohol can be made literally out of thin air, so we help the planet and give alcohol producers new opportunities to reduce production costs. In addition, important nutrients — proteins and vitamins — appear in the process, which can be used for food and other industries….”
Resilience saves businesses millions of dollars annually
With the help of Climate Resilience, it is possible to predict the impact of climate conditions, model different weather scenarios and adjust data to specific business strategies.
How exactly does forecasting work? Let’s take Indonesia, for example, one of the rainiest countries in the world. Here they grow “kopi luwak” — a rare and expensive type of coffee. Its beans undergo a special fermentation in the stomachs of civets, which gives the drink a unique taste and aroma that is difficult to find anywhere else.
If a business knows in advance when heavy rains will start in Indonesia, it can plan its work wisely: arrange deliveries, choose optimal periods to harvest, thereby minimizing the costs of recovery after bad weather. As you see, this makes companies sustainable and helps them avoid unnecessary expenses.
This is how deep tech works. Companies in this field do not chase quick results — their goal is fundamental changes that can turn the world upside down.
