Today, we’re sharing some predictions on what the startup ecosystem might look like in 2025. In no particular order, here are some of the key themes we anticipate:

• Corporate Engagement in Startups – We’ve seen a rise in large corporations interested in startups, not just through monetary investments, but by actively supporting new innovation. We expect to see more corporations open accelerator programs, spin out R&D into new ventures, and increase partnerships with other corporations, like our collaboration with Nvidia’s Inception Program.
• AI in Everything – Undoubtedly, AI has greatly influenced the startup landscape, enabling companies to make things faster with fewer resources. It is becoming ubiquitous across companies we work with and increasingly integral to development teams. We are committed to building the tools that simplify AI integration for startups while staying at the forefront of evolving regulation conversations.
• Blue Technology – The blue economy has been a big topic lately as new companies work on solutions to address climate challenges. This sector of startups utilizing the ocean at their core will expand rapidly with increased investment from governments and corporations for new sustainability technology and water-based innovations.
• Multipurpose Drones – We noted a big uptick in drones last year. In particular, we have seen many startups using Unreal Engine for UAV simulation and testing. We expect this trend to continue with startups expanding the drone industry to additional applications, including logistics, surveillance, and agriculture.
• A Steady Investment Market – We hope to see the expected investment rebound following the post-Covid decline. Many agree that this year will see a resurgence of IPOs for companies with proven scalability. Early-stage startups will see a wider variety of investors, like corporations as mentioned earlier, focused on tangible technology (increasing the importance of showcasing viable models) in high-growing sectors like blue tech and AI.

What do you think will drive startups in 2025? We’re excited to be along for the ride.