3M New Ventures

Smart Homes: Energy & Water Solutions

Energy Detective (TED) is a company that specializes in energy monitoring systems. Their products allow users to monitor and analyze their energy consumption, helping them identify opportunities to save on their electrical bills. The company's flagship offering is the TED 2.0 series, which installs directly into the breaker panel of a building. This system measures the flow of electricity by connecting two sensor clamps around the incoming power conductors. The collected data is then wirelessly transmitted to the user's smartphone through the TED Energy Monitoring App, available for iOS and Android devices. Users can access real-time data or export historical data to analyze trends and identify potential energy savings. Since its inception in 2001, Energy Detective has been a leader in the energy monitoring market, continually innovating its products to meet evolving technological demands and application requirements.

Flair is a company that specializes in smart vent systems designed to optimize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in residential and commercial buildings. Their flagship products are the Flair Smart Vents and Flair Pucks. The Smart Vents are motorized vents that can be opened or closed to control airflow into specific rooms, while the Pucks act as room sensors and controllers, communicating with the Smart Vents to maintain desired temperatures.
The Flair system aims to address common HVAC issues, such as uneven temperatures across rooms or the need for different temperature settings in different areas of a building. By strategically adjusting the airflow through the Smart Vents, the system can redirect heating or cooling to the rooms that require it, ensuring consistent and comfortable temperatures throughout the building.
Flair's Smart Vents come in various sizes to accommodate most residential and commercial vent openings, and they are constructed with durable metal grilles. The vents can operate on batteries, with a battery life of up to four years, or they can be wired for continuous power. The Pucks feature temperature, pressure, humidity, and occupancy sensors, enabling them to make informed decisions about airflow adjustments.
In addition to their core functionality, Flair's products offer advanced features like geofencing, which allows the system to detect when occupants are approaching or leaving the building and adjust temperatures accordingly. The Flair app provides extensive control and scheduling capabilities, allowing users to set customized temperature profiles for different rooms and times of day.
Key customers and partnerships
Flair's products are compatible with various smart home platforms and devices, enabling seamless integration into existing smart home ecosystems. The company has established partnerships with major brands like ecobee, Honeywell, and Samsung SmartThings, among others, enabling their products to communicate and interact with these platforms.
Additionally, Flair's Pucks are designed to control mini-split HVAC systems, making them compatible with over 250 brands of mini-split units. This feature expands Flair's customer base to include homeowners and businesses that rely on mini-split systems for heating and cooling.

Technologies and processes that revolutionize the traditional construction industry

Construction Tech

Aatmunn, formerly known as Guardhat, is an industrial technology company founded in Detroit in 2014. The company focuses on enhancing safety and efficiency for frontline workers globally through its software-based solutions. Aatmunn's core offering is an AI-powered Industrial internet of People (IIoP) platform that integrates with proprietary and third-party hardware to consolidate data for worker safety and operational optimization. The platform includes applications like Safety Inspection Manager, which utilizes artificial intelligence and a unifying data fabric to advance real-time safety, inspection, and compliance in industrial settings.
The company's technology aims to prevent major industrial accidents such as forklift incidents, gas leaks, and radiation exposure. In one instance, Aatmunn's system detected nearly 200 near-accidents and averted five potential fatalities in a single day. The platform has successfully digitized and automated over 2 million safety inspections, detected more than 1.8 million incidents, and reduced equipment loss by 80%. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Aatmunn's solutions helped prevent 18 plant shutdowns. The implementation of their technology has led to a 50% reduction in downtime and an 80% decrease in the time required to locate personnel during emergencies.
As of January 2024, Aatmunn manages more than 1,000 safety and operational checklists and oversees 350,000+ PPE assets with over 1 million inspections. The company has achieved significant growth, reporting a 100% year-over-year increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Aatmunn's efforts have been recognized with prestigious awards, including Time Magazine's Product of the Year in 2020 and OH&S Product of the Year in 2022.
Key customers and partnerships
Aatmunn serves over 200 Tier 1 customers worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies. Notable clients include SpaceX, PepsiCo, and Amazon. The company has also established partnerships with device manufacturers such as 3 million and RKI. Aatmunn's technology empowers more than 80,000 workers across various industries with its innovative safety solutions.

GrayMatter Robotics, founded in 2020, develops AI-powered robotic solutions for complex surface finishing tasks in manufacturing environments. The company's flagship products include Scan&amp;Sand, Scan&amp;Polish, Scan&amp;Buff, and Scan&amp;Grind - smart robotic cells that autonomously handle sanding, polishing, grinding, coating, and finishing operations. These systems utilize GrayMatter's proprietary GMR-AI technology, which enables robots to self-program and adapt to high-mix, high-variability manufacturing environments. The company's solutions are designed to work 2-4 times faster than manual operations, reduce consumable waste by 30% or more, and decrease energy consumption compared to traditional methods. GrayMatter's robots can process a wide range of materials including composites, metals, acrylics, and plastics, with the ability to handle parts ranging from one to 12 meters in size. The company offers its solutions through a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, providing turnkey systems that can be deployed in existing shop floor environments with minimal training required for operators. In June 2024, GrayMatter reported that its robots had processed over 7.5 million square feet of product surface area across North America.Key customers and partnershipsGrayMatter Robotics has deployed its solutions across various industries including aerospace, defense, specialty vehicles, marine, recreation, metal fabrication, and consumer products. Notable customers include Cirrus Aircraft, which recognized GrayMatter with an innovation award in December 2023, and Riddell, a sports equipment manufacturer. The company has also partnered with 3 million, collaborating on innovative solutions for manufacturing automation. In the aerospace sector, GrayMatter's technology has been adopted by companies like Lawrence Brothers Inc., a leader in battery tray fabrication. Additionally, BEGA North America, a lighting company, has implemented GrayMatter's Scan&amp;Sand system in its manufacturing processes.

Using data and automation to achieve 24/7 production.

Smart Factory

GrayMatter Robotics is a developer of AI-based smart robotic assistants that perform surface treatment tasks in manufacturing lines. Its key product offerings include Scan&amp;Sand, Scan&amp;Polish, Scan&amp;Buff, and Scan&amp;Grind—smart robotic cells that automate complex surface finishing tasks such as sanding, polishing, grinding, coating, and finishing. These systems use proprietary GMR-AI technology, which enables the robots to self-program and adapt to high-mix, high-variability manufacturing environments. GrayMatter Robotics’ products do not require complex programming, making its systems accessible and rapidly deployable for manufacturers.GrayMatter Robotics provides its solutions through a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.Key customers and partnershipsThe company’s customers include Patrick Industries, Bega North America, and Lawrance Brothers.

Membership-based, non-insurance healthcare companies helping maintain a steady state of well being.

Preventive Healthcare

Eko Health is a cardiopulmonary digital health company that aims to improve heart and lung care for patients using sensors and artificial intelligence. The company produces connected handheld digital stethoscopes with electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality to detect heart rhythm abnormalities using AI algorithms. The device also features noise cancellation and high-quality audio and color displays.Eko Health's technology aims to reduce diagnostic bottlenecks and enhance patient outcomes by facilitating early detection of cardiac and pulmonary diseases. With over 500,000 healthcare professionals utilizing its FDA-cleared platform worldwide as of June 2024, the company has established a substantial presence in the market.In 2020, the company obtained FDA clearance for multiple algorithms that help detect heart murmurs and atrial fibrillation, or AFib. These algorithms were used in 2022 to develop the Eko App, which pairs to the company's stethoscopes for report generation, information sharing and carrying out examinations. In April 2024, Eko obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for its AI-aided cardiac tool, Eko Low Ejection Fraction Tool (ELEFT).In June 2023, Eko Health launched its next-generation digital stethoscope, CORE 500, featuring advanced capabilities such as a full-color display, 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and TrueSound technology for optimal sound filtering. The CORE 500 received FDA 510(k) clearance and seamlessly integrates with the SENSORA platform.Key customers and partnershipsIn July 2023, the company partnered with pharmaceutical company Astellas to develop Z1608, a non-invasive device-DTx solution for heart failure patients.In November 2023, Eko Health announced a large-scale deployment of its AI-enabled technology through the TRICORDER program, an implementation initiative led by Imperial College London and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The program aims to deploy Eko's technology to 100 General Practitioner (GP) practices across the UK, assisting clinicians in evaluating heart failure, valvular heart disease, and atrial fibrillation.

More important now than ever, telehealth will long outlast the pandemic that drove its growth.

Telehealth

Eko Health is a cardiopulmonary digital health company that aims to improve heart and lung care for patients using sensors and artificial intelligence. The company produces connected handheld digital stethoscopes with electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality to detect heart rhythm abnormalities using AI algorithms. The device also features noise cancellation and high-quality audio and color displays.Eko Health's technology aims to reduce diagnostic bottlenecks and enhance patient outcomes by facilitating early detection of cardiac and pulmonary diseases. With over 500,000 healthcare professionals utilizing its FDA-cleared platform worldwide as of June 2024, the company has established a substantial presence in the market.In <a href="https://www.medtechdive.com/news/eko-fda-clearance-ai-stethoscope-heart-failure/712093/#:~:text=The%20FDA%20granted%20the%20regulatory,and%20heart%20murmurs%20in%202020.">2020</a>, the company obtained FDA clearance for multiple algorithms that help detect heart murmurs and atrial fibrillation, or AFib. These algorithms were used in 2022 to develop the Eko App, which pairs to the company's stethoscopes for report generation, information sharing and carrying out examinations. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/28111">April 2024</a>, Eko obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for its AI-aided cardiac tool, Eko Low Ejection Fraction Tool (ELEFT).&nbsp;In <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eko-health-launches-core-500-digital-stethoscope-with-heart-disease-detection-ai-3-lead-ecg-and-advanced-audio-capabilities-301863212.html">June 2023</a>, Eko Health launched its next-generation digital stethoscope, CORE 500, featuring advanced capabilities such as a full-color display, 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and TrueSound technology for optimal sound filtering. The CORE 500 received FDA 510(k) clearance and seamlessly integrates with the SENSORA platform.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20216">July 2023</a>, the company partnered with pharmaceutical company Astellas to develop Z1608, a non-invasive device-DTx solution for heart failure patients.In <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eko-health-announces-large-scale-deployment-of-ai-heart-disease-detection-technology-301978555.html">November 2023</a>, Eko Health announced a large-scale deployment of its AI-enabled technology through the TRICORDER program, an implementation initiative led by Imperial College London and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The program aims to deploy Eko's technology to 100 General Practitioner (GP) practices across the UK, assisting clinicians in evaluating heart failure, valvular heart disease, and atrial fibrillation.

Earth-friendly biotech solutions for the textile, packaging and construction industries.

Bio-based Materials

Ecovative Design produces advanced packing materials using mycelium-based fungus. The company produces macrostructures, which have tunable characteristics that allow the company to manufacture solutions such as packaging materials, makeup foam, insulated jackets, thermal lines, and structures for plant-based meat.&nbsp;Ecovative operates four platforms: 1) MycoFlex, which converts the macrostructures into pure mycelium foam that can be applied in the textiles, skincare, and apparel industries, 2) MycoComposite, which uses mycelium to bind agricultural byproducts together to produce bio-based, durable, and 100% compostable materials and, 3) Atlast Food Co, a plant-based meat arm producing bacon made from mushroom material and 4) Forager,<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8080"> launched in January 2022,</a> for Mycelium based hides and foams for the automotive and fashion industries.&nbsp;Ecovative has a 35,000 sq ft production and research facility located in New York. In addition, its AirMycelium manufacturing platform, announced in March 2021, is capable of producing 100,000 lbs of Mycelium per year. During mid-2023, the company reported that it has made significant strides over the year in scaling its mycelium technology by investing in new manufacturing facilities (120,000 sq ft), partnering with over 15 global brands, and acquiring a new raw material facility in the Netherlands.Key customers and partnershipsThe MycoComposite platform is patented and has been licensed out by UK-based Magical Mushroom Company, a mycelium-based packaging producer, US mycelium packaging producer Paradise Packaging, and Grown.bio, a producer of mycelium packaging, insulation panels and interior design products based in the Netherlands. Forager expects to secure partnerships with leading brands as a part of the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7392">Fashion for Good Cooperative initiative </a>, offering mycelium hides and foams necessary for the development of sustainable products.In April 2011, Dell announced the launch of a pilot project involving patented mushroom packaging for its computers, called EcoCradle. Dell’s packaging team worked with Ecovative Desgin’s mushroom engineers to develop the packaging materials. In 2019, media reports stated that IKEA had made the switch from Styrofoam to mushroom-based packaging via Ecovative Desgin’s MycoComposite platform, across all its products.&nbsp;Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19189">May 2023</a>, the company raised over USD 30 million in Series E funding led by Viking Global Investors. Prior to this in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/3303https://sp-edge.com/updates/3303">March 2021</a>, Ecovative Design raised USD 60 million in Series D funding led by Viking Global Investors. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19189">June 2023</a>, the company raised USD 30 million in Series E funding&nbsp; to support its MyForest Foods Co. subsidiary, while the rest will be used to scale its sustainable textile and foam products in its Forager business.

Clear the air on carbon capture, reuse, and storage

Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)

Canada-based Svante provides carbon capture solutions for industrial operations. Svante’s technological focus is on carbon absorbents; it believes that conventional adsorbents lack the sophistication and properties required for economical and scalable carbon capture. Svante claims that its patented “structured absorbents” are engineered to capture and release carbon dioxide in less than 60 seconds, compared to hours taken by conventional technologies.Key customers and partnershipsSvante has forged significant partnerships to advance its carbon capture solutions, including collaborations with large industrial players like LafargeHolcim, OLCV, and Total Energies. These partnerships focus on implementing Svante’s technology in sectors like cement production, which are crucial for achieving large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) implementations.In April 2023, Svante signed an MoU with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18205">Pilot Energy Limited</a>, an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company, to offer carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions in Western Australia. In May 2023, Svante teamed up with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18572">Carbon America</a>, a similar carbon capture startup to deploy commercial CCUS projects in the US. In August 2023, the company entered into a partnership with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21124">Deep Sky</a>, a Canadian carbon removal project developer, to evaluate the feasibility of carbon sequestration in the St. Lawrence River Valley in Southern Quebec. In October 2023, Svante signed an MOU with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22501">Samsung Engineering</a> to develop commercial carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects in Asia and the Middle East. This collaboration was followed by Svante signing a commercial supply agreement for Svante's proprietary sorbent material, CALF-20 with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22601">BASF</a>. In the same month, the company signed an MOU with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22815">Storegga</a> Geotechnologies to develop CCUS projects by combining Svante's carbon capture and removal filter technology and Storegga's CO2 transportation and storage expertise.In January 2024, Svante partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25643">Rescale</a> to advance its carbon capture technology with the latter’s high-performance computing (HPC) platform to run extensive simulations and analyze large datasets. Following that, the company agreed to supply its contractor blocks for <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26117">Climeworks’</a> US projects. In February 2024, Svante announced a collaboration to deploy a first-of-its-kind commercial-scale carbon capture plant at <a href="https://www.svanteinc.com/press-releases/svante-to-deploy-first-of-a-kind-commercial-scale-carbon-capture-plant-at-delek-uss-texas-refinery-with-doe-support/">Delek US</a>'s refinery in Texas.&nbsp;

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

Dispelix, based in Finland, designs and manufactures single-layer, full-color waveguide displays, a thin (about 1mm) transparent element that takes in a projected image and relays it to the eye, using a nanophotonics-based approach catering to AR applications (e.g., smart glasses). It uses laser beam scanning technology to render laser-sharp images with a gamut of color palettes, which are displayed using beam-combiner technology. Its patented and proprietary approach includes diffractive surface relief gratings, which are elements used for high-power laser applications, fabricated on high refractive index glass wafers that enhance field-of-view and image quality.The company had a total of more than 40 granted or pending patent families as of November 2021. Its product line, Dispelix DPX, includes Dispelix DPX - Ohut, Dispelix DPX - Selva, and Dispelix DPX - Sade with a varying degree of field of view, form factor, and weight. According to Co-Founder and CTO Juuso Olkkonen, its displays are the lightest and thinnest in the market.Key customers and partnerships 1) Collins Aerospace: to integrate Dispelix's advanced AR displays into Collins Aerospace's products (November 2024)2) Foxconn and Pegatron: to create reference designs for AR glasses based on its Selvä waveguide display (October 2023)&nbsp;3) VividQ: created a “waveguide combiner” which accurately displays variable-depth 3D content in a user’s environment (January 2023)4) ColorChip and Maradin: To further Light Beam Scanning (LBS) solutions for AR glasses (October 2022)5) Jade Bird Displays: To develop multiple reference designs for AR devices (June 2022)6) AAC Technologies: To improve waveguide displays for the AR and MR industry (March 2022)7) OQmented: for the development and commercialization of MEMS-based LBS technology (November 2021)8) Coretronic: To develop a range of AR optical module solutions (December 2020)9) Hoya Corporation: To improve quality of waveguide displays (November 2020)Funding and financialsIn its most recent funding round (November 2021), Dispelix raised USD 33 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Atlantic Bridge, CCB Trust, and Flashpoint with participation from Lifeline Ventures, VTT Ventures, and 3M Ventures. The funds were allocated to product development. It revealed that several OEM customers were slated to integrate its technology into their consumer offerings by 2023.&nbsp;

Enabling the health systems to seamlessly connect, exchange, and interpret shared data

Hospital Interoperability

Moxe Health, based in Madison, WI, is a healthcare interoperability company that utilizes innovative technology to simplify and improve the secure exchange of clinical data and crucial insights between healthcare payers and providers. Through its API-enabled solutions compatible with leading electronic health records (EHRs), Moxe fosters meaningful collaboration within the healthcare ecosystem by connecting various stakeholders and facilitating faster, more cost-effective data exchange.
The company's digital release of information (ROI) product automates requests for medical charts, enabling providers to securely fulfill such requests in seconds, eliminating manual processes, paper, faxes, and phone calls. Additionally, Moxe's convergence product allows payers to input their insights directly into the EHR for providers to access. By streamlining data sharing, Moxe empowers providers and payers to optimize operations, improve accuracy, and deliver better financial and clinical outcomes.
As of June 2022, Moxe's network connected major health systems, national health plans representing over 75 million lives, leading third-party requestors, and more than 60 hospital systems. The company aimed to accelerate its mission of advancing interoperability and making healthcare more affordable by eliminating administrative waste through its patient-centric solutions.
Key customers and partnerships
Moxe Health partners with leading healthcare organizations, including Allscripts, whose Allscripts Sunrise EHR users can leverage Moxe's Digital ROI solution for efficient data exchange between health systems, payers, and third-party requestors.

Pushing the envelope in MedTech with emerging technologies

Next-gen Medical Devices

Eko Health develops products and software to aid healthcare professionals in the early detection and monitoring of heart and lung diseases. The company's flagship offering is the CORE 500 Digital Stethoscope, launched in June 2023. This device combines AI software, a high-fidelity audio experience, a full-color display, and a three-lead electrocardiogram to provide healthcare professionals with an essential patient assessment tool. When supported by Eko Health's FDA-cleared AI products, the stethoscope can flag abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, and tachycardia within seconds, assisting in patient evaluations. The advanced audio capabilities featured in the device include up to 40x sound amplification, active noise cancellation, and Eko's proprietary TrueSound technology for optimal sound filtering and noise reduction.Eko Health has also developed the SENSORA cardiac disease detection platform, an advanced machine-learning software that doubles the detection sensitivity of cardiac murmurs indicative of structural heart disease. This platform aims to help health systems optimize downstream care and improve patient outcomes.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsEko’s products are used for diagnostic purposes by hospitals and healthcare facilities across the US, as well as by individuals. As of July 2024, the company provided solutions to over 0.5 million healthcare providers.&nbsp;In September 2023, Eko Health partnered with FIGS, a D2C healthcare apparel brand, to launch the Eko CORE 500 Digital Stethoscope. Further, in July 2023, the company partnered with pharmaceutical company Astellas to develop Z1608, a non-invasive device-DTx solution for heart failure patients.

From counting steps to saving lives and beyond

Wearable Tech

Aatmunn, formerly known as Guardhat, is a Detroit-based industrial technology company established in 2014. The company focuses on enhancing safety and efficiency for frontline workers through its software-based solutions. Aatmunn's core offering is the Industrial internet of People (IIoP) platform, which integrates artificial intelligence and a unified data fabric to advance real-time safety, inspection, and compliance in industrial settings. The platform consolidates data from proprietary and third-party hardware, serving as a safety control center and feeding predictive analytics and machine learning models to study worker behavior and optimize operations.Aatmunn's technology has demonstrated significant impact in preventing industrial accidents, including forklift incidents, gas leaks, and radiation exposure. In one instance, the system detected nearly 200 near-accidents and averted five potential fatalities in a single day. The company has digitized and automated over 2 million safety inspections, revolutionizing safety protocols in industrial environments. Aatmunn's tracking solutions have reduced lost or stolen safety equipment incidents by 80%, a notable achievement in an industry where typically 10% of such equipment is written off. The platform has detected more than 1.8 million incidents, showcasing its effectiveness in industrial safety. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Aatmunn's technology played a crucial role in preventing 18 plant shutdowns, helping to sustain critical supply chains. Implementation of Aatmunn's solutions has led to a 50% reduction in downtime and an 80% decrease in the time required to locate personnel in emergencies.As of January 2024, Aatmunn manages more than 1,000 safety and operational checklists and oversees 350,000+ PPE assets with over a million inspections. The company has achieved remarkable growth, reporting a 100% year-over-year increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) as of April 2024. Aatmunn's efforts have been recognized with prestigious awards, including Time Magazine's Product of the Year in 2020 and OH&amp;S Product of the Year in 2022.Key customers and partnershipsAatmunn serves over 200 Tier 1 customers worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies. Notable clients include SpaceX, PepsiCo, and Amazon. The company has also established partnerships with device manufacturers such as 3 million and RKI. Aatmunn's technology currently empowers 80,000+ workers with innovative safety solutions across various industries.

Next-gen Displays

Dispelix is a leading developer and manufacturer of see-through waveguide displays for extended reality (XR) applications. The company specializes in designing and producing advanced waveguide combiners, particularly single-layer, full-color waveguides for augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) wearables. Dispelix's flagship product is the Selvä, a thin and light waveguide that delivers bright and sharp full-color images while maintaining visual comfort for users. The Selvä is compatible with various projector types, including DLP, MicroLED, and LCoS.
Founded in Finland, Dispelix leverages the country's strong optics expertise and heritage. The company's technology is based on nanophotonics and diffractive waveguide design, allowing for the creation of compact and lightweight AR displays suitable for everyday use. Dispelix has developed patented DPX waveguides that offer high image quality, performance, and visual fidelity. As of 2021, the company had 43 granted or pending patent families, demonstrating its commitment to innovation in the field.
Dispelix's waveguides are designed to overcome one of the major challenges in AR adoption: the bulkiness of optical components. By creating thin and lightweight waveguides, the company aims to enable the development of AR glasses that are comfortable and socially acceptable for all-day wear. The large eyebox of Dispelix's waveguides ensures users can easily keep virtual content in their field of vision, while the bright image allows for comfortable use both indoors and outdoors.
In addition to waveguide development, Dispelix collaborates with various partners to create reference designs for AR glasses. These designs serve as complete concept versions that can be quickly put into mass production, allowing OEMs and ODMs to enter the AR market more efficiently.

A new generation of building blocks for emerging tech

Next-gen Semiconductors

Ayar Labs is a Silicon Valley-based company developing optical interconnect solutions for chip-to-chip communications. The company's core technology replaces traditional copper-based electrical interconnects with silicon photonics-based optical I/O, enabling significantly higher bandwidth, lower latency, and reduced power consumption in data transfer between chips. Ayar Labs' flagship products include the TeraPHY optical I/O chiplet and the SuperNova light source. The TeraPHY chiplet integrates alongside host processors to convert electrical signals to optical, allowing data transmission via fiber optics. As of March 2024, Ayar Labs demonstrated a 16 Tbps bi-directional bandwidth solution, capable of driving 256 optical carriers - a level of performance crucial for AI workloads. The company's technology aims to address bandwidth bottlenecks in various applications, including artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, data centers, and telecommunications. Ayar Labs utilizes a chiplet architecture, designed to be packaged with compute tiles from other chipmakers using open standards like Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCI-express). The company's optical I/O technology is manufactured by GlobalFoundries using its GF Fotonix platform.
Key customers and partnerships
Ayar Labs has secured strategic partnerships with several industry leaders. The company is collaborating with NVIDIA to develop next-generation AI infrastructure based on optical I/O technology. This partnership aims to address the increasing bandwidth demands of AI and machine learning workloads. Ayar Labs is also working with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to enhance future versions of HPE's Slingshot interconnect switching systems. The collaboration focuses on developing high-performance networking solutions and novel disaggregated system architectures. Additionally, Ayar Labs has partnered with Corning Incorporated to create an optical leadership solution by coupling Ayar Labs' TeraPHY optical I/O chiplets with Corning's glass waveguide module. Ericsson is also involved in this AI-driven solution as part of their technology exploration for future mobile systems. Furthermore, Ayar Labs is working with Teramount to showcase a concept for the next-generation TeraVERSE detachable connector, designed to meet the infrastructure demands of next-generation AI.

Redefining hospital care with the comfort of home

Hospital-at-Home

Propeller Health develops a digital health platform for managing chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. The company's platform consists of small sensors that attach to patients' inhalers and pair with a mobile app to automatically track medication use. The sensors capture unique signals that record events such as medication usage and respiration, which is then transmitted to the Propeller app to deliver insights and reminders. The technology has received eight FDA 510(k) approvals and has demonstrated significant clinical outcomes, including a 58% improvement in medication adherence, 48% increase in symptom-free days, and 53% reduction in emergency room visits. The platform leverages machine learning and AWS services to provide patients with health forecasts based on local weather conditions, recent medication use, and other factors. In December 2018, Propeller Health was acquired by ResMed for USD 225 million and continues to operate as a standalone business while maintaining its product solutions and partnerships. The platform is used across the US, Europe, and Asia. The company's technology has been integrated with multiple leading Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, including Cerner Millennium and Epic, to enable streamlined provider workflows and seamless data transmission.
Propeller's platform also includes Air, an open API that uses machine learning and data collected from environmental sources to predict how asthma may be affected by local environmental conditions. The company has scaled to serve more than 100,000 patients across three continents.
Key customers and partnerships
Propeller Health has established several key pharmaceutical partnerships. In 2017, the company collaborated with Novartis to develop a custom add-on sensor for their Breezhaler inhaler for COPD treatments. In 2015, they began working with GlaxoSmithKline to develop a smart add-on for its Ellipta inhaler. The company has also expanded its sensor availability for AstraZeneca's Symbicort, a leading inhaled prescription for COPD and asthma in the U.S. In October 2023, UC Davis Health partnered with Propeller Health to offer personalized treatment for high-risk patients with asthma and COPD. The company's platform is used by patients, physicians, and healthcare organizations globally. A notable implementation of the platform was in Louisville, Kentucky, where 140 asthmatic individuals used the sensors, leading to policy changes to improve emissions standards and clean the air.

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

Ayar Labs develops optical interconnect solutions using silicon photonics to replace traditional copper-based electrical interconnects. Its core products, the TeraPHY optical I/O chiplet and SuperNova light source, enable higher bandwidth, lower latency, and reduced power consumption for AI, HPC, data centers, and telecom applications.&nbsp;Notably, the TeraPHY claims to be the industry’s first in-package optical I/O. It claims to have 5x–10x higher bandwidth, is 4x–8x more power-efficient, and has 10x lower latency than traditional interconnect solutions. The company also utilizes Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology to increase the amount of data transmitted over a single optical fiber by using multiple wavelengths (or channels) of light.&nbsp;Ayar Labs' chiplet architecture integrates with compute tiles using open standards like UCI-express and is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on its GF Fotonix platform.Key customers and partnershipsNotable customers leveraging Ayar Labs solutions included Intel, NVIDIA, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (December 2024).Notable customers leveraging Ayar Labs solutions included Intel, NVIDIA, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (December 2024).In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/37499">December 2024</a>, Ayar Labs partnered with Sivers Semiconductors to focus on manufacturing readiness of Sivers' high-precision laser arrays for Ayar Labs' in-package optical interconnect solution, aimed at addressing bandwidth bottlenecks in AI infrastructure.In&nbsp;<a href="https://ayarlabs.com/resources/revolutionary-optics-glass-waveguide-redefine-ai-telecom-data-center-infrastructures/">March 2024</a>, Ayar Labs and Corning, with Ericsson as a partner, developed an integrated optical solution combining Ayar's TeraPHY chiplets and Corning's glass waveguide module for low-latency, energy-efficient connectivity in AI, 6G, data centers, and compute-intensive applications. Ayar Labs also partnered with Teramount in&nbsp;<a href="https://ayarlabs.com/news/ayar-labs-to-showcase-optical-interconnect-solutions-to-redefine-ai-at-ofc-2024/">March 2024</a> to showcase a concept for the TeraVERSE detachable connector to meet the infrastructure demands of GenAI workloads.&nbsp;Earlier, in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lumentum.com/en/media-room/news-releases/lumentum-and-ayar-labs-announce-strategic-collaboration-supply-external">2022</a>, it partnered with Lumentum to secure high-volume CW-WDM lasers for its energy-efficient optical I/O solutions.

Ayar Labs develops a monolithic in-package optical I/O (MIPO) solution for applications that require high bandwidth, low latency, and power-efficient short-reach interconnects. The company disrupts the traditional performance, cost, and efficiency curves of the semiconductor and computing industries by driving improvement in interconnect bandwidth density at lower power. Its patented approach uses industry-standard cost-effective silicon processing techniques to develop high speed, high density, low power optical-based interconnect “chiplets” and lasers to replace traditional electrical-based I/O. Ayar’s flagship product is a chip called TeraPhy that implements its optical technology on compact silicon die. The chip can be integrated directly into a central processing unit, graphics card, or another processor to give it optical data transmission capabilities.

TactoTek, Oy (Oulu, Finland), is the world leader in developing and licensing injection-molded structural electronics (IMSE®) technologies. Automotive, aviation, connected home, industrial control and medical brands use TactoTek innovations to create next-generation user experiences that are compelling, differentiated, and more sustainable. Designers use TactoTek IP to integrate circuits and components directly into plastic parts, transforming conventional structures into smart interactive surfaces. TactoTek licenses its intellectual property, including over 280 patents and critical know-how developed over a decade of intensive R&D and quality testing, to global manufacturers who use reliable, standardized manufacturing processes to produce curved-shape and conformal electronics

GrayMatter Robotics is a company that solves the most difficult surface treatment and finishing challenges faced by high-mix, high-variability manufacturers. They offer advanced robotics and proprietary AI technologies, designed into smart robotic cells that assist humans in tedious and ergonomically challenging tasks.

Svante is a leading carbon capture and removal solutions provider specializing in the development and manufacturing of novel solid sorbents, structured adsorbent filters, and rotary contactor machines for post-combustion industrial carbon capture and direct air capture.  The company’s leading-edge solid sorbent-based technology is environmentally responsible, and scalable, and can be applied to heavy industries with hard-to-avoid emissions, including cement, hydrogen, oil & gas, steel, and more.  Svante has developed partnerships across the global CCUS value chain to scale the industry and make it easy for customers to execute source-to-sink carbon capture and removal projects.

Metalenz develops optical elements that exploit structured Huygens' surfaces (metamaterial structures) for controlling wavefronts, polarization, and other properties of light. It provides ultra-thin planar optics for high-resolution full-color imaging and makes the lenses used by mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices smaller that enable businesses using the optical lenses to get miniaturized, lighter alternatives to established lenses.

Flair makes smart vents and wireless thermostats and advanced software for residential heating and cooling. The company builds smart hardware and software for HVAC controls focused on efficiency, comfort, electrification, and smart grid integration. The company's products are sold through multiple channels including direct to consumer, HVAC distribution, and utilities.

Moxe Health streamlines the bi-directional exchange of clinical data between health plans and provider systems. The company provide solutions for risk adjustment, HEDIS and Star ratings, claims denial management, HCC reconciliation, patient summary, ADT notifications, and care gap management. Plans seamlessly send back data and insights while never straying from clinicians’ EHR workflows. Moxe’s clinical data clearinghouse allows health plans to easily receive information from health systems. Health plans can then seamlessly send back data and insights. With automated solutions for risk adjustment, quality, and care management programs, Moxe facilitates access to the information essential to your success in the market shift to value-based care. Moxe’s neutrality in providing data connectivity lets you realize the full potential of your existing investments in population health, quality, and analytics solutions.

CelLink is an early-stage hardware startup that is developing a flexible conductive backplane for power electronics, including batteries, light-emitting diodes, wire harnessing, solar cells, and other devices requiring power transmission.

Aatmunn, meaning ''soul,'' is an industrial technology company with a clear mission: to revolutionize the lives of over 2 billion frontline workers globally. In 2023, over 2 million frontline workers tragically lost their lives, despite a $1 trillion investment in safety and productivity improvements. The adoption of technology among these workers has been inconsistent, leading to stagnant or declining outcomes. Aatmunn aims to change this narrative with its AI-powered data fabric and applications, already trusted by 150+ marquee customers like SpaceX, PepsiCo, and Amazon, as well as device manufacturers such as 3M and RKI. We've achieved remarkable growth, with a 100% YoY increase in ARR.

Eko Health is a leading digital health company advancing how healthcare professionals detect and monitor heart and lung disease with its portfolio of digital stethoscopes, patient and provider software, and AI-powered analysis. Its FDA-cleared platform is used by hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide, allowing them to detect earlier and with higher accuracy, diagnose with more confidence, manage treatment effectively, and ultimately give their patients the best care possible. Eko Health is headquartered in Emeryville, California, with over $125 million in funding from Highland Capital Partners, Questa Capital, Artis Ventures, DigiTx Partners, NTTVC, Morningside Technology Ventures Limited, Mayo Clinic, Sutter Health, and others. For more information visit www.ekohealth.com.

Phylagen, Inc. is a data analytics company leveraging artificial intelligence to harness the vast, unseen world of microbes. Phylagen uses DNA sequencing and machine learning to turn the largest untapped dataset on the planet, the environmental microbiome, into insights for customers across numerous industries.

Dispelix develops and delivers see-through waveguide combiners that are used as transparent displays in extended reality (XR) devices. Our elegant, high-performance XR waveguides seamlessly combine the virtual and the real. We are a trusted and visionary partner for the industry leaders in XR, enabling them to redefine the form, function, and feel of XR wearables. Dispelix is headquartered Finland, with subsidiaries in the United States and China.

Propeller Health is a mobile platform that offers sensors, mobile apps, analytics, and services to support respiratory health management. The HIPAA compliant platform stores users’ data in a cloud computing infrastructure.   The Propeller sensor and mobile application help users learn more about and better manage their asthma, COPD, and respiratory disease. The Propeller sensor attaches to users’ inhalers and wirelessly syncs with their smartphones. It tracks their triggers and symptoms and sends personalized feedback and education to their phones based on the symptoms. Users can see how often they use the medication, and set up medication reminders and alerts.   Propeller community enables users to share their Propeller data with their physician and family members.   Propeller Health is backed by Safeguard Scientifics, The Social+Capital Partnership, California HealthCare Foundation, and other investors.  The platform works with organizations such as Dignity Health, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Amerigroup Florida, and the City of Louisville. The system has been featured in The Economist, Washington Post, Fast Company, Wired, and Scientific American.  Propeller Health has received TEDMED Innovation Showcase, White House Champion of Change, and Bluetooth Breakthrough Product awards.  Propeller Health was launched by David Van Sickle, Greg Tracy, and Mark Gehring and its operations are based in Wisconsin, United States.

Varentec provides products and solutions that achieve smarter power delivery for its customers. Funded by Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures, Varentec is also the recipient of support from the Department of Energy.  Smart power delivery means thinking out of the box, taking new approaches, and breaking old barriers.

Impel Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage pharmaceutical company focused on utilizing its proprietary technology to develop and commercialize transformative therapies for people suffering from diseases with high unmet needs, with an initial focus on diseases of the CNS. The Company’s strategy is to rapidly advance its product candidate pipeline that pairs its proprietary Precision Olfactory Delivery (POD) system with well-established therapeutics, including TRUDHESA™ for the acute treatment of migraine, INP105 for the acute treatment of agitation and aggression in patients with autism, and INP107 for OFF episodes in Parkinson’s disease.

StrongArm Tech is a safety science company that develops data collection, assessment, and safety solutions for the industrial worker. It offers a risk monitoring device that uses machine learning to capture and analyze physiological and environmental risk; and FUSE Risk Management Platform which is a cloud-based IoT enabled software informed by an array of motion-interpreting sensors that allow organizations to monitor, assess, and intervene.  The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Smart Energy Instruments (SEI) develops game-changing, ubiquitous measurement technologies for the burgeoning Smart Grid to address today's global energy-environment challenges.

VZ Autonomous Sensor is an All-In-One solution to improve factory performance, availability, and product quality. With the simplicity of installing applications and groundbreaking SMI laser technology, factories reduce waste, automate manual tasks, increase yield, and prevent machine downtime. Autonomous Sensors provide direct insights, saving the need for complex integrations and IT upgrades. The SMI laser technology removes the barrier of design complexity and robustness typical to existing laser technologies, enabling versatile industrial sensors at a fraction of the cost.

TaKaDu is a leading provider of Integrated Water Network Management, enabling water utilities to improve efficiency and make smarter decisions. Using advanced statistical and mathematical algorithms, TaKaDu harnesses utility data, translating it into actionable insights and transforming the way water networks operate. The solution offers a comprehensive decision-making platform that can be integrated across the utility from the analyst monitoring the network to the executive team considering long-term strategic investments.

7AC Technologies develops revolutionary Ultra Efficient Liquid Desiccant HVAC systems for Commercial and Industrial (C&I) buildings delivering a 50%+ reduction in energy costs over conventional HVAC units.

Zephyr™ is a global leader in real-time physiological and biomechanical monitoring, or “Physical Status Monitoring” (PSM) solutions for mHealth, Defense, First Responder, Training and Research markets.  Founded in 2003, Zephyr Technology is a US based business, with headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland. Zephyr™ is a pioneer in the use of PSM in training and high stress operational environments. The company’s ongoing collaboration with fire departments, NASA Ames Research Centre, National Guard Civil Support Teams, and multiple US Special Forces contracts has been invaluable in the development and validation of Zephyr™’s technology, and its application in the most extreme operating environments.  Zephyr™ strategic partners include Motorola, Department of Defense / Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), UCLA Medical School Stanford University Sports Medicine Dept, NASA Ames.  Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Zephyr™ leverages a world class team of engineers, scientists, physiologists and business experts. Local universities and government labs augment Zephyr™’s internal development in specialized areas such as materials science, garment and textile design, sports science, medical monitoring and software / web applications.  In addition to the US, Zephyr™ has distributors and representatives in key markets such as the UK, Germany and Singapore.

HydroNovation has been established to manufacture ElectroConditioning modules of various sizes for a variety of commercial and residential applications. Their primary business goal is to partner with companies that supply complete water treatment systems for these applications. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in La Palma, California.

Pixel Qi Corporation, is based in San Bruno, California and with principal offices in Taipei, Taiwan, and aims to design innovative LCD screens which solve problems not addressed by conventional screens. Its first products are sunlight-readable, low-power LCD panels aimed for mobile device applications. Operating as the industry's first fabless display house, Pixel Qi designs all layers of the LCD, including each and every mask, the liquid crystal mode and material, the optical films, the driving scheme and the backlight. Pixel Qi is a spinoff of One Laptop Per Child, the creator of the $100 laptop, where Pixel Qi CEO and founder Mary Lou Jepsen was chief architect and chief technology officer.

txtr is building products and services for digital reading, such as ebook shop websites, apps, as well as reading devices and tablets. txtr partners with device makers, mobile operators, and retailers to build the largest ebook distribution platform in Europe.

Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre are fascinated by mushrooms growing on wood chips and observing how the fungal mycelium strongly bonds the wood chips together. This inspired them to think of new ways of using mycelium as a resin. In a class at Rensselaer called Inventor's Studio, they applied this new process for binding together insulating particles, creating Greensulate. Rather than just decreasing the environmental impact of conventional polystyrene foams, this invention creates a whole new paradigm where composite materials are literally grown, harnessing the incredible efficiency of nature. Shortly after founding the company, they won small grants from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA). This funding was used to create initial samples of the material. This proof of concept enabled the company to win bigger grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further develop the products. Since then, Ecovative has won many more awards and grants that have enabled the company to continue to grow and accelerate the production of these revolutionary eco-friendly materials. At Ecovative, they are passionate about sustainability. That is why they are working with nature to replace unsustainable plastics and foams with natural composites. Using innovative new materials and radical new technologies, their products perform at least as well as current state-of-the-art synthetics, but at a lower cost to both you and the environment.

The motionID technologies AG, a company of the Barkawi group, subsumes the long lasting know-how of the different divisions in the area of tracking & tracing, profound RFID competence as well as innovative ePayment systems. The Barkawi Group provides highly specialized professionals and makes large capacities available, for instance, in the field project management. Already today there are weekly about two million measuring points for tracking & tracing in several projects summarized. That emphasizes the experience and mightiness of the technology.

Printechnologics is today’s leading technology developer in printed functionalities, creating electronic systems produced entirely by a common printer. Printechnologics introduced its first commercially viable product –Touchcode, an electronic data tag method – in 2010. Touchcode technology can be integrated into any printable material, and is completely recyclable, invisible and flexible. Touchcode allows data to be instantly accessed by any touchscreen device, including smart phones and tablets.  Furthering the evolution of printed paper, Printechnologics ensures every kind of printed product, from advertising leaflets to labels and forgery-proof packaging, is ready for the digital age. These first production products have the potential to inspire a series of inventions that will change everyday life. Printechnologics is a 3M New Venture Company since 2010. For more information, visit www.printechnologics.com and www.touchcode.de.

Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and released its flagship product, The Energy Detective (TED) in 2005.  Energy, Inc. has since partnered with Google and 3M. Energy, Inc.'s primary product is a hardware device called The Energy Detective (TED). This consumer device monitors electrical energy consumption, generally in a residential setting with 120V/240V power. This information can be displayed locally and/or logged to various Internet systems, depending on which exact model is in use. The original 1000-series hardware can only monitor data locally, where the 5000-series hardware adds Internet abilities.

3M New Ventures was created to strengthen 3M's position at the leading edge of global innovation by complementing 3M's holistic innovation strategy with a focus on disruptive, early stage innovations outside of the company's existing portfolio. 3M New Ventures identifies and invests in the most promising new-to-3M technologies, services and business models with long term strategic relevance to 3M.

3M New Ventures

Portfolio

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless