Discover Catalonia’s 10 most disruptive companies of 2024

The Government of Catalonia, through ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment - the agency for business competitiveness - celebrated Exponential Day in Barcelona. This year, various sessions were organized to analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis and the tools available to address it positively.

The event featured a networking space for the attending companies and showcased real examples of sustainable projects and climate impact reduction initiatives implemented by Catalan companies, including CAYPI, Factor Energia, Mitiga Solutions, Pack2Earth, and Veritas.

The event also included a keynote speech by Harald Friedl, senior advisor to the United Nations Development Programme and an expert in reducing, recycling, and regenerating processes for businesses through innovation and the circular economy. Iván Bofarull, ESADE's Director of Innovation, also spoke at the event. A recognized expert and advisor on disruption and named a Top Futurist by Forbes, Bofarull focused his speech on strategies for organizations to develop more resilient mindsets, ready to turn disruptions into significant opportunities.

During Exponential Day, the most disruptive Catalan companies in 2024 have been awarded as 'Catalonia Exponential Leaders' for their ability to positively impact society, create unique value, foster a strong corporate culture, and achieve exponential growth across various business areas. These companies specialize in various sectors and areas, such as health and life sciences, mobility, energy, and food. They have integrated innovative and disruptive technologies into their business models, including artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, battery usage, and elements of the blue economy, among others.

The ten most disruptive companies in Catalonia for 2024, according to ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, are:

Blindstairs: This startup has developed a platform featuring proprietary AI models designed to anonymize professional profiles, eliminating any potential biases related to gender, age, or other sociodemographic factors.

Cuatrecasas: The firm has created the 'Harvey' platform, which allows lawyers to have an AI co-counsel for answering legal queries, generating legal documents, and creating comparisons and strategies. This tool is complemented by Cuatrecasas's private ChatGPT, which is designed to resolve non-legal issues.

Magnetika: This emerging company offers a wireless charging solution for electric vehicles, mobile robots, and drones, providing a more efficient and sustainable alternative to cable or contact systems. The technology can be scaled to wireless recharging systems, offering energy and operational cost benefits for urban mobility and robotics.

Navozyme: The company introduces blockchain to the maritime industry, offering pioneering, secure electronic certificates that can be verified in real-time. Using AI, they optimize the entry and exit of ships from ports, reducing waiting times and the resulting carbon footprint.

Ocean Ecostructures: This startup offers a solution to reduce the environmental impact of port and maritime structures and their effect on marine biodiversity. Their multi-technological devices restore and protect the ocean, using AI and robotics to monitor data, generate oxygen, and improve water quality, among other functions.

Oniria Therapeutics: The company has developed an oral drug that offers an innovative approach to the oncology market. In preclinical trials, it has proved to be highly effective as a tumor suppressor and as a modulator of tumor cells, reducing the chances of cancer persistence. It has shown promising results in individuals with melanoma, colorectal tumors, and acute myeloid leukemia.

Uobo: This startup offers a 100% plant-based egg substitute made from alternative protein. Their innovative formulation provides the same properties and versatility as traditional animal-based eggs. They are also conducting research projects with precision fermentation and other technologies to offer an even better product.

ScentXP: The company is developing an ecosystem of olfactory technologies that provide a more complete experience in both physical and digital realms. They use AI to optimize the visualization and representation of scents, creating an accessible and detailed catalog that helps both industry professionals and consumers understand the properties of each fragrance.

Suara Cooperativa: This third-sector entity has created a digital, open lab focused on user experience. It is dedicated to researching, developing, and testing technologies that provide solutions to common problems in social care. They use tools such as AI, immersive reality, and IoT to design and implement new protocols.

Timeisbrain: The startup has developed a plug-and-play medical device that, through a tablet, monitors in real-time the brain health of a patient who has suffered a stroke. This optimizes treatment efficacy, providing better prevention of potential side effects or relapses.