Investing in upstart companies has long captured the imagination of people who want more than the steady returns associated with blue-chip stocks and government bonds. Upstart companies that attract a lot of risk-willing investors are often ambitious businesses that aim to disrupt industries, create new markets, or bring fresh ideas into established sectors. For many investors, the attraction is two-fold: getting in early with the right company can mean returns far beyond what traditional investments deliver, and it is also exciting to be a part of something like this. Simply adding even more Chevron and Cocoa Cola shares to your portfolio does not provide the same feeling. Upstart companies are high-risk and potentially high reward. It is important to understand that so many upstarts fail before ever reaching profitability.
For individual investors, opportunities to back young businesses have expanded significantly. What was once the preserve of venture capitalists and angel investors, or people who were personally connected to the business owners, has begun to open up through online crowd-investing platforms, specialized funds, and brokers that provide access to early-stage opportunities. This change means ordinary individual investors can take part in a space that was previously restricted to wealthy insiders or people who made small investments within their own network or community.
As mentioned above, the appeal of investing in upstarts is not only financial. Many investors are drawn by the chance to support innovation, back new ideas, and play a role in shaping industries of the future. Unlike established corporations, where growth often means incremental improvements, upstarts can carry the potential for transformative change. For those who are willing to accept higher levels of uncertainty and long holding periods, investing in upstart companies can be a compelling, if volatile, part of a wider portfolio.
What Are Upstart Companies?
Technically speaking, we can call every fairly new but not completely new business an upstart company. If you have opened up your own plumbing business, is offering standard plumbing services, and your company has managed to get things rolling, you are running an upstart company. Within the world of investing, however, many people use the word upstart company in a much more narrow sense, largely limiting it to new businesses that enter markets with fresh ideas, lean operations, and ambitions to grow rapidly. They are often described with finance buzzwords such as “disruptive” or “re-imaging” because they aim to challenge established competitors with new technologies, alternative business models, or more efficient ways of delivering products and services.
We can also see how many investors and investment experts make a distinctions between startups and upstart companies. When this distinction is made, startups are usually at the very beginning stages of development and often still experimenting with ideas, while upstart companies have moved past the very earliest phase. The upstart company might already have a product in the market, a growing customer base, or early-stage revenue, but they remain small compared with established industry players.
For investors, the defining characteristic of an appealing upstarts is typically its growth potential. Investors are drawn to them because, while they lack the track records and resources of larger corporations, they can deliver outsized returns if they succeed. A company that begins with a handful of employees and limited funding may, within a few years, expand into new markets, secure major partnerships, or even move toward public listing. That trajectory from small beginnings to industry recognition is what makes them attractive but also inherently risky.
Upstart companies tend to emerge most frequently in sectors undergoing technological or cultural shifts. Technology is an obvious example, with software firms, app developers, and artificial intelligence ventures often starting small before scaling quickly. Renewable energy and clean technology have also become fertile ground for upstarts, as governments and consumers push for alternatives to traditional energy sources. Biotech and healthcare attract significant attention because breakthroughs in these areas can create entirely new markets. Even consumer goods and retail see waves of upstarts, especially when new brands connect with changing consumer tastes or social trends.
Compared with established corporations, upstarts operate with limited resources. They often rely on external funding rounds, e.g. from angel investors, venture capital, or (increasingly) from crowd-investing platforms that open doors to smaller investors. This reliance on outside capital makes them sensitive to changes in market sentiment and funding conditions. A downturn in investor appetite can slow or halt their growth entirely, regardless of how promising their ideas may be.
In essence, upstart companies sit between startups and fully established businesses. They have passed the stage of being just ideas on a drawing board but are still far from the stability of large corporations.
Why Invest in Upstart Companies?
For many invests, the choice of investing in an upstart company is not based on a single factor. Instead, it is the combined appeal of two or more factors, such as the potential for serious growth, exposure to innovation, diversification of an existing portfolio, and the joy of being present as a small company grow into something big. The risks are significant, but for those willing to accept them, the rewards can be equally compelling.
Growth Potential
The main reason investors are drawn to upstart companies is the possibility of high returns. For investors, they represent a trade-off: higher risk due to uncertainty and volatility, balanced against the possibility of dramatic growth if the business manages to establish itself and scale.
Unlike large corporations, which may already dominate their industries and grow at a slower pace, upstarts can expand rapidly if their products or services gain traction. A small business that manages to capture even a modest share of a growing market can deliver exponential growth in both revenue and valuation. For early investors, this growth translates into returns that would be nearly impossible to replicate in more established investments.
Exposure to Innovation
Investing in upstarts also provides access to innovation at an early stage. These companies are often the first to adopt new technologies or respond to emerging consumer trends. By backing them early, investors can gain exposure to industries or products that may define the future. This is particularly appealing in sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, or digital finance, where disruptive players have the potential to reshape global markets.
Diversification
Another factor is the appeal of diversification. For investors with portfolios dominated by traditional assets like large-cap equities and government bonds, including upstart companies introduces exposure to higher-growth opportunities. While risk is undeniably higher, the presence of these investments can balance out a conservative portfolio and add potential for long-term wealth creation.
Personal
There is also a personal dimension to consider. Many investors enjoy the sense of being part of a company’s growth story, especially when supporting businesses that reflect their own values or interests. Unlike buying shares in a multinational corporation, investing in an upstart can feel more tangible and engaging, with investors often following developments closely and feeling a stronger connection to the success of the business.
Risks of Investing in Upstart Companies
Before you put any money on the line, it is important to understand the risks. Upstart businesses operate in uncertain environments, typically without the resources, experience, or stability of established corporations. Investors drawn in by the promise of high returns must also recognize that failure rates are high and investors often end up losing everything they put in.
This is the same psychology that makes high risk securities such as binary options are popular despite being banned. Greed makes people unable to correctly judge the risk. For a plain-English overview of binary options, why they are banned, their payout structures, loss profiles, and common pitfalls, see the BinaryOptions.net risk overview.
Examples of risks that need to be considered are limited financial history data, liquidity challenges, volatility, funding dependencies, regulatory uncertainty, and overvaluation. For investors, acknowledging these risks is essential before committing capital, and any exposure should be managed with caution and careful planning.
Many upstart companies never achieve profitability, and a large proportion close within a few years of launching. Even businesses with promising ideas can falter due to factor such as poor execution, lack of additional funding, regulatory issues, failure to attract the necessary employees to move along, or simply being overtaken by competitors with greater resources. For investors, this means that losses are not just possible but common.
Limited Financial History
Another concern is limited financial history. Unlike established firms that can provide detailed reports and years of audited performance, upstart companies may have little more than early-stage projections and a short track record. This lack of reliable data makes it difficult to assess financial health or long-term prospects. Investors are forced to make decisions based on meager information, which increases uncertainty.
Volatility and liquidity risk
Volatility and liquidity risks are also present. Shares in small companies, particularly those that are privately held or traded on secondary markets, may be difficult to sell quickly. If an investor wishes to exit their position, they may find there are few buyers, or they may be forced to accept a steep discount. Even when upstarts go public, their shares can experience sharp swings in price, reflecting the market’s uncertainty about their prospects.
Funding Pressures
Upstarts are vulnerable to funding pressures. Because many operate at a loss during their growth stages, they depend on raising capital through new funding rounds. Each new round may dilute existing investors’ stakes, reducing ownership and potential gains. Worse, if the company cannot secure new funding, operations may stall or collapse entirely.
Regulatory Risk
Regulatory risk should not be overlooked. Upstarts often operate in new or rapidly changing industries where rules are not yet well defined. Sudden changes in government policy or regulation can disrupt business models, as has happened in sectors like fintech, ride-sharing, and renewable energy.
Overvaluation
Finally, there is the risk of overvaluation. Excitement around disruptive businesses can drive valuations far above their current performance, leaving investors paying inflated prices for uncertain futures. When market sentiment cools, these valuations can collapse quickly, wiping out investor gains.
How to Invest in Upstart Companies
Investing in upstart companies can be approached in several ways, and which approach that makes most sense depends on several factors, including whether the businesses are privately held or traded on a secondary market, and on the size of capital an investor is prepared to commit. While direct investment has traditionally been limited to wealthy individuals and institutions, newer models like equity crowdfunding have opened the door to broader participation. Understanding the available avenues is key to choosing the right approach.
Direct Investment
A conventional method of investing in upstarts is through angel investing or venture capital funds. Angel investors provide early-stage funding in exchange for equity, often while the business is still refining its product or expanding its market. Venture capital funds typically pool money from multiple investors to back a portfolio of upstarts, spreading risk by having equity in many different companies.
In some jurisdictions, direct investment in this form requires being an accredited investor, which in turn is only a possibility if you meet specific requirements and thresholds. This requirement exists because of the high risks and complexities involved. While the potential returns can be significant, so too is the possibility of total loss.
Crowd-Investing Platforms
The advent of crowd-investing platforms online has changed the accessibility of early-stage investments (including upstart investments) for individual, small-scale and mid-scale investors. In the past, it was usually venture capitalists, private equity funds, and wealthy angel investors who participated in funding rounds for upstart companies. Today, the rise of crowd-investing platforms and specialized funds has opened the door to much smaller investors. This democratization of access means more people can now share in the growth potential of businesses once reserved for major players.
In recent years, equity crowdfunding has become a popular route for startup and upstart businesses to attract funding. There is now regulated platforms available that allow individuals to invest relatively small amounts of money into private businesses in exchange for equity stakes. Examples include Seedrs and Crowdcube in the United Kingdom, and StartEngine and Republic in the USA.
These platforms have lowered barriers to entry, making it possible for a wider audience to back early-stage businesses. Investors can choose from a range of companies, often in industries with strong growth potential, and participate without needing the large sums required for angel or venture capital. Also, for mid-size investors, the platforms has made it easier to attain a degree of diversification from day one, since they do not have to pour all their available capital into a single opportunity.
It is important to remember, that unlike public stocks, shares bought through crowdfunding platforms can usually not be sold easily, and investors may need to wait years for a company to be acquired or go public before realizing gains.
Public Markets
Some companies are still considered upstarts even though they have become listed on a stock exchange, usually as small-cap or micro-cap stocks. These businesses may not be as young as those found on crowdfunding platforms, but they are still in early growth phases compared with large-cap corporations. Investing through public markets provides greater liquidity and transparency than private deals, though risks remain high due to volatility and limited financial stability.
Accessing IPOs (initial public offerings) or even SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies) also provides entry points into younger businesses. However, competition for IPO shares can be fierce.
Mutual Funds and ETFs
For those who prioritize diversification, there are mutual funds and ETFs that focus on early-stage or innovation-driven companies. These provide exposure to multiple upstarts at once, spreading risk across a portfolio rather than concentrating it in one business. While returns may be diluted compared with investing in a single successful upstart, this approach reduces the risk of total loss from one company’s failure.
The downside is that you will not own any shares in your own name. You can not attend shareholder meetings and you have no voting rights. You own shares in the fund, and the fund owns shares in the upstart companies.
What is the difference between conventional mutual funds and ETFs?
ETF is short for Exchange-Traded Fund. This means that the fund shares are listed on an exchange (e.g. NYSE) and traded in a manner very similar to stock trading. You can trade throughout the trading day.
With a conventional mutual fund, the shares are not listed on any exchange, and you can normally only buy and sell fund shares once a day.
The Role of Brokers in Upstart Investing
Brokers play a central role in connecting investors with opportunities in upstart companies, particularly once these businesses enter public markets or begin raising funds through regulated channels. While crowd-investing platforms have created direct access to private deals, brokers remain essential intermediaries for those looking to participate in small-cap stocks, IPOs, and specialized placements. Reputable, regulated brokers provide safeguards for client funds and ensure fair trading practices, see Brokerlistings broker directory for a vetted overview before you open an account.
For investors focusing on publicly listed upstarts, brokers provide the infrastructure to buy and sell shares in small-cap and micro-cap companies. These stocks often trade with lower liquidity and wider spreads than large-cap equities, making broker expertise and execution quality especially valuable. Brokers with strong research capabilities can also help investors identify promising opportunities among the many young businesses competing for attention.
In the case of initial public offerings (IPOs), brokers act as the gatekeepers for allocation. Institutional investors typically receive priority access to shares at the offering price, but some brokers extend limited IPO allocations to retail clients. For investors seeking early entry into companies transitioning from private upstarts to public markets, working with a broker that offers IPO access can be an advantage.
Certain brokers also operate in private markets, arranging placements or connecting accredited investors to early-stage opportunities. These services are generally aimed at wealthier clients, but they provide access to deals that might otherwise be restricted to venture capital firms. In some regions, brokers now collaborate with equity crowdfunding platforms, blurring the lines between traditional brokerage services and newer models of democratized investing.
The choice of broker is particularly important when investing in upstarts because of the risks and volatility involved. Reputable, regulated brokers provide safeguards for client funds and ensure fair trading practices. While they can not do anything about the inherent risks present when you invest in upstart companies, they can decrease surrounding risks and provide a safe trading environment. They also often supply research tools, analysis, and educational resources tailored to higher-risk investments. By contrast, unregulated brokers or platforms without oversight expose investors to additional layers of risk, compounding the inherent uncertainty of early-stage businesses.
In short, brokers not only provide access but also act as filters, guides, and protectors in the process of investing in upstart companies. Selecting the right broker can make the difference between a speculative gamble and a structured approach to participating in early-stage growth.
Evaluating an Upstart Company Before Investing
Because upstart companies often lack long track records, investors must rely more on other elements to carry out their analysis. A careful analysis of points such as structure, strategy, and execution is recommended, as you need to judge whether a company is worth the risk or not. While evaluation is never foolproof, certain factors can provide a clearer view of an upstart’s strengths and weaknesses, and it is much better than backing an upstart company based on nothing but enthusiasm for a new idea or excitement about disruptive potential. By examining the business model, leadership, market, financials, and warning signs, investors can make more informed decisions about whether a young company is worth the risk or not.
Business Model
The first step is to look closely at the business model. An upstart must have a clear and credible plan for generating revenue. Investors should ask whether the company is solving a real problem, whether its product or service has a viable market, and whether customers are willing to pay for it. A business built only on hype or trends without solid demand is unlikely to survive once competition increases or consumer interest fades.
Market Potential
Market potential should also be assessed. Even the most innovative company will struggle if its target market is too small or already saturated. Investors should consider the size of the market, its growth rate, and how the upstart positions itself against existing competitors. A company that identifies a niche with significant expansion potential or that can disrupt an established sector has a stronger case for investment.
Leadership Team
The leadership team is another critical factor. Many upstarts rise or fall based on the experience, vision, and resilience of their founders and executives. A strong management team with relevant industry knowledge and a track record of execution provides greater confidence that the company can navigate challenges. Conversely, weak leadership often results in poor decision-making and wasted resources, regardless of how promising the idea may be.
Financial Health
Evaluating financial health is challenging because many upstarts are not yet profitable and they tend to have short histories. Investors can still review available financial statements, focusing on revenue trends, cash flow, and burn rate (the pace at which the company is spending its capital). A high burn rate without a clear path to additional funding is a warning sign, while steady revenue growth and efficient capital use indicate stronger prospects.
Funding History
Funding history also matters. Upstarts that have attracted backing from credible investors, such as established venture capital firms, often benefit from a combination of financial support, strategic guidance, and access to exclusive networking opportunities.
On the other hand, repeated difficulties raising capital from credible investors may suggest structural weaknesses.
Red Flags
Finally, investors should watch for red flags, such as overvaluation based on hype, inconsistent reporting, or lack of transparency. While no investment in upstarts is risk-free or even low-risk, avoiding companies with clear warning signs helps reduce the probability of total loss.
Building a Strategy Around Upstart Investing
Investing in upstart companies should never be approached as an all-or-nothing exercise. These businesses are inherently volatile, and while the rewards can be substantial, so too can the risks. For most investors, the sensible way to approach upstarts is to treat them as one part of a broader portfolio, with clear rules in place for how much capital to commit and how to manage exposure. Since investments in upstarts can be difficult to get out of quickly and prematurely, especially without taking a big hit, you might not be able to easily re-balance your portfolio, and this must be taken into account.
Building an appropriate strategy around upstart investing means managing risk carefully. Position sizes should remain modest, investments should be diversified over multiple upstarts, portfolios should be balanced with safer assets, and expectations should reflect long timelines. For those who combine patience with discipline, exposure to upstart companies can add valuable growth potential without adding outsized risk.
Position Sizing
The most important principle is position sizing. Because the probability of failure among upstarts is high, it is unwise to allocate a large share of a portfolio to a single company, even if it is a company or product close to your heart. Many experienced investors cap their exposure to individual upstarts at a small percentage of total assets. This way, even if an investment fails completely, it does not jeopardize long-term financial stability. For a practical walkthrough of risk caps and %-of-equity rules, see DayTrading.com risk management framework.
Be aware that as an early investor, you might be invited to multiple additional rounds of funding attempts, and it can be difficult to decide if you should put more money into a project or not, especially if the upstart is struggling to attain the additional funding required to keep moving forward. Having rules in place for position sizing and overall exposure can help you when it is time to make difficult decisions.
Diversification Across Multiple Upstarts
Another aspect of strategy is diversification across multiple upstarts. It might only take one successful investment to generate meaningful returns, but predicting which upstart company that will succeed is extremely difficult. By spreading investments across several upstart businesses, whether through direct participation, funds, or equity crowdfunding platforms, investors reduce the risk that a single failure wipes out their capital.
Time Horizon
Time horizon plays a central role as well. Upstart investments often require patience. Companies may take years to achieve profitability or reach a good exit point such as an acquisition or initial public offering (IPO). Investors must be prepared for long holding periods and should avoid using funds that may be needed in the short term.
Discipline
Discipline is critical. The excitement surrounding upstarts can lead to overconfidence, especially when media attention or social buzz creates the impression of guaranteed success. A sound strategy requires consistent evaluation, a willingness to walk away from unsustainable valuations, and a commitment to sticking with allocation rules even during volatile periods.
Overall Portfolio Diversification and Balance
Balancing high-risk upstarts with safer, more stable assets in your overall portfolio is essential. Portfolios that combine early-stage investments with blue-chip stocks, governmental bonds, index funds, and similar, can create a suitable blend of growth potential and stability. This balance allows investors to pursue large gains without relying to much on uncertain ventures.
The Future of Upstart Investing
The way investors access upstart companies is changing rapidly. What was once a closed world dominated by venture capital firms and wealthy angel investors is becoming increasingly open to ordinary individuals. This shift is being driven by technology, regulation, and growing demand for alternative investments that go beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
One of the most important developments is the rise of equity crowdfunding and crowd-investing platforms. These platforms have expanded opportunities for retail investors to participate in early-stage companies with relatively small amounts of capital. Instead of needing hundreds of thousands of dollars to join a funding round, individuals can now invest far smaller sums while still gaining ownership stakes. As regulation matures and platforms grow in credibility, this democratization of access is likely to accelerate.
Brokers are also evolving in response. Some are beginning to provide access to early-stage placements or to collaborate with crowdfunding platforms, while others are building research tools to help clients evaluate young businesses. This blending of traditional brokerage services with alternative finance is a sign that upstart investing is becoming a more accepted part of mainstream financial markets.
The crowd-investing platforms are not the only example of how technology is reshaping upstart investing, as other types of tech is currently impacting how individual investors are finding and evaluating opportunities. Data-driven analysis and artificial intelligence are making it easier to compare upstarts and spot potential risks. At the same time, digital platforms are creating communities of investors who share research, pool capital, and provide early analysis of emerging companies.
Looking ahead, the appeal of upstart investing is likely to remain closely tied to innovation cycles. As industries like renewable energy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and fintech continue to expand, the number of promising young businesses entering the market will increase. Investors seeking growth beyond the slow pace of established corporations will continue to look toward these upstarts as a source of opportunity.
Yet, the risks will remain. High failure rates, volatile valuations, and liquidity challenges will continue to define the space. What will likely change is how those risks are managed, e.g. through better tools for analysis and access to new investment vehicles that package multiple upstarts into diversified funds.
We believe that the future of upstart investing is one characterized by greater accessibility and integration. The barriers that once kept ordinary small-scale investors out are falling, and as platforms and brokers adapt, participation will expand. For those willing to accept the risks, the coming years may provide more opportunities than ever to invest in businesses that could become the leaders of tomorrow.
Examples of Upstart Companies in 2025
Below, we will list a few examples of companies that, at the time of writing, can be considered to be in their upstart phase. They are challenging more established players and growing fast.
1X Technologies
Norwegian USA company building humanoid robots for home environments (assistants, helpers). At the time of writing, they have shifted from industrial use to domestic robots and service robots, secured Series B funding, and is seeking large investment to scale manufacturing.
The company was founded in 2014 under the name Halodi Robotics, with the Norwegian roboticist Bernt Øivind Børnich as one of the co-founders. Originally headquartered in Norway, it is now based in Palo Alto, California, USA, but its main manufacturing takes place in Moss, roughly 60 km south of Oslo.
The early work of Halodi Robotics was focused on designing safe actuation systems, full body control, etc., for industrial or healthcare robotics contexts. Their first wheeled humanoid robot (named EVE) was released in 2018. EVE was designed for logistics, security, and medical/institutional settings. Halodi also developed the Revo1 servo motor; a high torque to weight actuation system.
In 2022, the company shifted focus to domestic robots and changed its name to 1X Technologies. This was also the year when the first larger commercial deployments of EVE took place in real customer facilities. The company raised over 23 million USD in its Series A2 funding in 2023, from investors such as OpenAI Startup Fund and Tiger Global. The following year, its Series B raised about 100 million USD from investors such as EQT Ventures and Samsung NEXT.
The NEO Gamma, a bipedal robot suited for home use, was introduced in 2025, as early home trials commenced. 1X Technologies also acquired the startup Kind Humanoid.
As of 2025, 1X Technologies is seeking larger scale funding to scale up deployment. Examples of issues that potential investors should take into account are bipedal robot challenges, manufacturing costs, and regulation/liability. NEO Gamma is bipedal, which means it has to handle the complexity involved with walking and balancing, in complex and non-standard home environments. Examples of major competitors within this field are Tesla (Optimus) and Figure AI.
Aspora
Aspora is a fintech company that is building cross border banking & financial services aimed primarily at diaspora communities, with a focus on non resident Indians (NRIs). Its goal is to make managing money across countries easier, cheaper, and more transparent. That includes remittances, exchange rates, investment products, and eventually broader banking, credit, and insurance services that work well across national borders.
Aspora, then named Vance, was founded by Parth Garg in 2022. Parth was born in India, grew up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and was studying physics at Stanford University in the United States when he dropped out to focus on the startup. His experiences navigating financial systems across multiple countries, and observing how difficult it was to get financial products when moving or returning to India, served as the spark.
Since 2022, Aspora has grown rapidly. According to mid-2025 numbers released by the company, the business then served 250,000 users and had processed $2 billion in transactions in the preceding months.
In a 2025 Series B round, Aspora raised 53 million USD, bringing the total funding up to roughly 99 million USD. The round was co-led by Sequoia Capital and Greylock, with participation from Quantum Light Ventures and others.
A major obstacle to Aspora moving forward is competition, as the remittance and neobank space is littered with startups, upstarts, and more established players. Aspora will need to offer value not provided by competitors such as Wise, Remitly, Revolut, etcetera, while also competing indirectly with the growing cryptocurrency blockchain transfer industry. Remittances are often low margin businesses, and offering zero or very low fees in some corridors means the company must make money elsewhere. Aspora´s expansion into mature markets such as the United States, Canada, and Australia will test the company´s ability to scale operations and handle multi-national regulatory compliance.
Neura Robotics
Founded in 2019 as Han´s Robot Germany, NEURA Robotics GmbH is a Germany-based company focused of developing cognitive robots that are collaborative; so called “cobots”. The company was established by David Reger and is based in Metzingen, near Stuttgart.
The first reveal event for the robots MAiRA, MAV, and LARA took place in late 2020, and these early products laid the foundation for NEURA´s product line. When MAiRA was officially launched in February 2021, it was labeled “the world´s first cognitive robot”. MAiRA is a cognitive robot arm with sensors.
In July 2023, NEURA raised roughly €50 million in funding from a European investor round to expand production capacities in Germany (to move production from China to Germany) and push into markets such as the USA and Japan. In October, the company secured additional funding through the U.S. Based InterAlpen Partners.
NEURA´s Series B funding round in early 2025 brought in €120 million, from investors such as Lingotto Investment Management, InterAlpen Partners, BlueCrest Capital Management, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, Vsquared Ventures, HV Capital, Delta Electronics, C4 Ventures, L Bank (State bank of Baden-Württemberg), and David Reger himself.
In June 2025, NEURA premiered their 3rd generation humanoid robot 4NE1 and launched their household robot MiPA. 4NE-1 is a humanoid robot under development, intended for work in both industrial and domestic settings. MiPA is an intelligent assistant robot for mixed tasks, including household and work.
A major challenge for NEURA right now is to handle the move of production from China to Germany, as it is expensive.
Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is a mobile app that connects consumers with local restaurants, cafes, and stores to purchase surplus food at discounted prices, helping to reduce food waste. The app allows users to buy “surprise bags” of unsold food that would otherwise go to waste.By tackling food waste with an app-based marketplace, Too Good To Go aims to disrupt how food supply and demand are managed.
The company Too Good To Go ApS was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2015, and the app was first launched in Denmark in early 2016. The founding team was composed of five Danish entrepreneurs: Thomas Bjørn Momsen, Stian Olesen, Klaus Bagge Pedersen, Brian Christensen, and Adam Sigbrand.
During three venture rounds in 2018, 2019 and 2021, respectively, the company raised €6 million, €6 million, and €25.7 million. The lead investor for the 2021 round was the Paris/New York City venture capital firm Blisce, who contributed roughly half of the money. In March 2021, Too Good To Go conducted a Series C round.
Examples of investors in the company are Preben Damgaard, Mike Lee, Jesper Lindhardt, Birgit Aaby, and co-founder Klaus Bagge Pedersen. The Danish investment firm Lind & Risør and the abovementioned Blisce are also notable contributors.
As of mid-2025, Too Good To Go operated in the United States, Canada, and 17 European countries, and the app had roughly 100 million registered users. If we look only at the U.S. market, the user base exceeded 15 million by the end of July 2015.
For the year 2024, the company reported $162 million in revenue, but only $8 million in operating income (before one-time costs). The chief source of revenue was commissions on Surprise Bags and annual retailer membership fees. The company has yet not achieved consistent profitability, and is reinvesting its earnings into expansion and innovation. According to CEO Mette Lykke, profitability will become a focus as the business matures.
Examples of businesses that sell surplus food through the app:
- Breads Bakery (New York City)
- Bagel Factory (UK & Ireland)
- Starbucks (Europe)
- Carrefour (France), this is a major supermarket chain in France
- Morrisons (UK), this is a major supermarket chain in the UK
Some customers have expressed concerns about the quality and freshness of the food offered through the app. For example, complaints have been made regarding products arriving in poor condition, which can affect customer trust and satisfaction. Additionally, customers finding food made form lower-quality ingredients in the surprise bags has raised questions about the company’s commitment to food quality. Ensuring compliance with varying food safety regulations across different regions is a significant challenge, and the company must work closely with local authorities and food establishments to ensure that the surplus food distributed through the app meets all safety standards. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in legal issues and damage to the company’s reputation.