16 tech startups advance to finals of $1 million Constructor Start program

16 startups from nine countries have advanced to the finals of Constructor Start following a pitch-perfect performance at the program’s first-ever Online Demo Day on July 3. The finalists impressed a live jury of investors and venture capitalists during a high-speed pitch contest featuring 35 startups from the latest cohort of the flagship training and mentorship program for early-stage tech startups. The final 16 will  have the opportunity to compete for $300,000 in prizes and up to $1 million in equity-free funding from Constructor Capital at an in-person Demo Day set for September 22 at Constructor University in Bremen. More than 2,000 startups from 70 countries applied to take part in the fourth and latest round of Constructor Start, bringing the total applications to over 7,000 in the program’s two-year history. 

Online Demo Day challenged its 35 participants to distill eight weeks of intensive business training and one-on-one mentoring into a single, one-minute pitch to investors, followed by two minutes for follow-up questions.“Every successful company once started with a single minute that changed everything,” said Constructor Start CEO Dmitry Kurin during his opening remarks at the event. “Today, 35 entrepreneurial teams are taking that step by sharing their vision with investors and experts from around the world. Constructor Start exists to create these moments—where talent meets opportunity, feedback accelerates growth, and bold ideas begin their journey toward becoming impactful companies.”

Nearly 400 visitors tuned in to Online Demo Day, including 30 official jury members comprising investors and venture capitalists. The first-ever fully virtual version of the event gave participating startups the chance to engage directly with investors from across the world who could help take their businesses to the next level.

“Today our startups faced their toughest challenge yet: selling investors on their idea and fielding hard-hitting questions in a matter of minutes," said Kurin. "Those who rose to the occasion have taken one large step closer to winning one of the $100,000 prizes up for grabs at Demo Day this September.”

One such finalist is Bremen-based causal AI startup CAUSENEX, whose Founder and CEO Pouria Seyedi is currently completing a Master's of Data Engineering at Constructor University. Seyedi described the Demo Day experience as an exhilarating cap to a journey that has seen his startup transform from concept to company.

"Delivering a convincing pitch in just one minute was a real challenge, so advancing to the finals is a proud achievement for us," said Seyedi. "What makes this milestone especially meaningful is that many startups entered the program with established teams, while we essentially started with just an idea. Everything we’ve achieved—from building a confident team to reaching this stage—has happened during the program, and it’s an honor to be among the outstanding finalists."

Rewatch Online Demo Day on YouTube.

See you at Demo Day

Registration for the September 22 in-person Demo Day has officially opened, with Kurin encouraging investors, entrepreneurs, and all enthusiasts to attend the free, flagship event at Constructor University's campus in Bremen, Germany. Click here to learn more about Demo Day and register to attend (in-person or via livestream).

“Our 16 finalists now have three months to refine and strengthen their pitches using the knowledge, resources, and world-class mentoring they've gained through Constructor Start," said Kurin. "It’s time to aim for the stars, because September 22 will be launch day for at least one of these startups.”

Meet the finalists

16 finalists spanning nine countries and three continents were chosen for their cutting-edge ideas for AI, biotech, deep tech, and EdTech. In a milestone for local representation, the finalists include two Bremen-based startups with connections to Constructor University.

The finalists are:

• CAUSENEX (Bremen, Germany): causal AI-powered end-to-end predictive maintenance for industrial assets.
• CYTOKYN M (Bremen, Germany): biotech startup combating “inflammaging" (age-related inflammation) and chronic conditions lik what wase Long COVID.
• DealBooster (USA): AI-powered solution that replicates winning sales behavior to turn top-seller performance into an organizational capability.
• Explaino (Germany): AI platform to capture, structure, and scale company knowledge.
• FerroptoCure (Japan/USA): first-in-class, oral anti-cancer drug candidate.
• Hi Holo (Georgia): deterministic AI engine with no black boxes, hallucinations, or GPU
• Litero AI (UK): AI writing platform designed for students and academic settings.
• MemStera (Netherlands): ultrafast non-volatile photonic memory that lets next-generation AI accelerators compute without waiting on electronic memory.
• NBlick (France): platform for measuring and improving brand visibility and perception in AI answer engines.
• Neology (Switzerland): ammonia-to-hydrogen systems for clean power generation and hydrogen supply.
• PolaSight (Switzerland): AI-powered optical polarimetry imaging platform for 60-second label-free intraoperative tissue assessment.
• Query Machines (Netherlands): quantum native AI models and architectures for advanced reasoning.
• Spaceborne (Uzbekistan): ground-powered microwave thermal rocket concept.
• Splatica (UK): pipeline and library for robot-ready, structured, 3D environments for physical AI training and deployment.
• The Lithium Company (USA): battery restoration technology that restores depleted batteries to full capacity.
• Tortin (Switzerland): teaching OS that brings live lessons, course delivery, assessments, analytics, and student support into one place.

About Constructor Start

Constructor Start is a comprehensive online program to support aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups innovating at the frontiers of AI, deep tech, EdTech, and software-plus. Designed to bridge the critical gap between innovation and market success, Constructor Start gives participants the opportunity to refine and build their scalable business through access to personalized mentorship from industry leaders, as well as the educational resources and research labs of both Constructor and Nexford University. In addition to the multiple $100,000 prizes awarded at the program's flagship Demo Day event, the most promising startups can receive up to $1 million in direct investment from Constructor Capital, with no fees or equity exchange.

The program is a cornerstone of Constructor University’s commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation both in the Bremen region and globally. Constructor Start complements the university's academic programs by providing real-world startup experience, connecting students and researchers with industry leaders, and strengthening partnerships between academia and the business world. By fostering a global community of entrepreneurs, Constructor Start contributes to a thriving startup ecosystem that extends beyond our campus, helping founders scale their solutions and make a lasting impact on society.