Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

The World Economic Forum has announced the 2024 cohort of Technology Pioneers, a select group of 100 leading tech start-ups focused on applying new breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) to develop clean energy solutions, healthcare innovation, and progress in biotech, space and neurotechnology.

Among the companies selected this year is Nth Cycle, a participant in the second cohort of the “Innovation Crossroads” program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The now Boston-based start-up is transforming the outputs of metal scrap, electronics recycling, untapped mining resources, and waste from existing mines into high-purity critical minerals ready to be used in new production.

Motivated by recent breakthroughs in the field, this year’s cohort is harnessing AI and data to drive sustainability and more equitable decision-making in industries and governments. In today’s dynamic landscape of rapid technological development, the Technology Pioneers community exemplifies the transformative potential and entrepreneurial spirit essential for shaping a better future.

“The 2024 Technology Pioneers are revolutionizing industries on a global scale,” said Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities, World Economic Forum. “These innovators are leveraging the most advanced technologies to drive the radical changes needed to confront the world’s most urgent challenges. We are excited to see how their groundbreaking work will enrich Forum initiatives and how they will contribute to building dynamic partnerships between the public and private sectors to solve these critical global issues.”

This year’s Technology Pioneers cohort includes start-ups from 23 countries, with a third led by a woman chief executive. With a record number of applications, the focus this year is on companies with technology that made significant breakthroughs and are now on explosive growth trajectories.