The transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy depends on bold innovation—particularly in sectors where decarbonisation is most complex. From heavy industry to logistics and energy, so-called “hard-to-abate” sectors require not only incremental improvements, but entirely new technological approaches. This is where the Hard2Scale Accelerator Programme comes in.
Designed to support high-potential deep-tech startups tackling industrial challenges at scale, Hard2Scale brings together innovators, industry leaders, and investors to accelerate the deployment of breakthrough solutions. The programme focuses on ventures capable of delivering tangible impact across energy-intensive industries, helping to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and real-world application.
Following a highly competitive selection process, the first cohort brings together outstanding startups from across Europe. These companies are pioneering solutions ranging from AI-driven engineering and digital twins to clean fuels, advanced robotics, and next-generation logistics. Together, they represent a new wave of industrial innovation—one that is not only ambitious in scope, but also grounded in practical pathways to scale and impact.
In this article, we introduce the selected startups that will shape the inaugural Hard2Scale cohort and explore how their technologies are contributing to the future of sustainable industry.
Engineering simulation is broken: it is complex, expensive and inaccessible to most industrial companies. Advanced Material Simulation (AMS) solves this with AI-driven simulation agents that automate the full modelling and optimization workflow — enabling engineers to reduce material usage by up to 30% and cut design time dramatically. AMS combines physics-based simulation (Finite Element Methods and multiscale modelling), optimization algorithms, machine learning, and Large Language Models (LLMs) to create AI-driven engineering tools capable of automatically generating, running and optimizing complex engineering simulations. These agents allow engineers to explore thousands of design alternatives and identify optimal solutions that reduce material usage, energy consumption and development time. This is particularly relevant for sectors such as construction, advanced manufacturing and materials engineering, where inefficient designs lead to significant economic and environmental costs.
AREYLight AI Solutions
Poland
AREYŞAH is an AI powered smart site operations platform built for construction and heavy equipment environments. They connect cranes, forklifts, generators, site lighting, and critical field assets through IoT sensors and gateways, then turn raw telemetry into real time operational visibility and actionable decisions. Their mission is to eliminate hidden losses on job sites by making operations measurable, predictable, and controllable. Construction sites still suffer from avoidable downtime, unsafe conditions, fuel and energy waste, manual checklists, and delayed fault detection. AREYŞAH addresses these challenges by providing a unified operating layer: live dashboards, anomaly and fault alerts, utilization tracking, energy and fuel monitoring, location and activity insights, and AI driven recommendations for preventive maintenance and safer workflows. Instead of reacting to issues after they happen, site teams can detect risks early, reduce unplanned stoppages, and improve productivity with minimal operational friction. What makes AREYŞAH different is its end to end approach: hardware agnostic sensor integration, scalable multi site deployment, and a modular architecture that adapts to different asset types and contractor needs. This enables fast pilots, measurable KPIs, and a clear path to scale across multiple sites and partners.
BraveX
Romania
BraveX.Aero is a Romanian deep-tech startup designing and manufacturing fixed-wing and VTOL drones – from raw composite materials to proprietary piloting software. Their drones are engineered for endurance missions: up to 4 hours of autonomous flight, 250 km range, 7 kg payload, operating from -10°C to +55°C. They can serve operators in transport, logistics, border security, infrastructure monitoring, environmental compliance, and civil intervention – where existing ground-based or short-range aerial systems fall short.
ICODOS
Germany
ICODOS is building cost-competitive, scalable clean methanol production for shipping—one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Their patented hybrid process merges CO₂ capture and methanol synthesis into a single unit, cutting CO₂-capture energy demand by >70% and enabling dynamic operation on intermittent wind/solar power. They have scaled from lab (TRL 4) to an operating pilot (TRL 6) in <3 years and are building a 150 t/y demo plant (target TRL 7 in Q3 2026) as the step toward their first commercial FOAK plant.
Infinite Foundry
Portugal
Infinite Foundry develops advanced real-time Digital Twin software that helps industries monitor, simulate, and optimise complex operations. Their platform integrates 3D models, real-time data from sensors and operational systems and physics-based AI to create a live virtual replica of infrastructure and industrial processes. This enables predictive maintenance, operational optimization, and improved energy efficiency without replacing existing assets. They are joining the Hard2Scale Accelerator to expand our technology into transport and logistics infrastructure and accelerate the deployment of solutions that improve efficiency and reduce emissions in energy-intensive sectors.
PhoMyx
Netherlands
Their Solution: 70% Efficiency Architecture. They have engineered a proprietary, non-combustive Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) platform integrated with a cascading thermodynamic recovery cycle. Protected by two provisional patents, their architecture captures high-grade thermal energy to drive a secondary power cycle, achieving a breakthrough 70% net electrical efficiency—nearly double the industry standard. Their product is delivered via 30 kW modular “Power Racks” designed for rapid, stackable retrofitting into existing engine rooms. This allows shipowners to switch to green ammonia today, reducing OpEx by 35% without the weight penalties of batteries or the emissions “slip” and N2O production of ammonia-burning engines.
PowerUP
Estonia
PowerUP design hydrogen fuel cell generators that are zero-emission, silent, and low-maintenance. Designed for off-grid and backup applications, their systems provide clean, resilient, and reliable power, helping customers reduce environmental impact while securing uninterrupted energy in a changing grid landscape.
RedGet
Bulgaria
RedGet.io is a maritime cleantech startup building an AI-powered SaaS platform that automates Scope 3 vessel GHG emissions calculation and reporting for ports and terminal operators – a compliance-by-design solution for the hard-to-abate shipping sector.
Storming Universe
Portugal
Storming Universe is developing a long-range unmanned cargo aircraft designed to transport up to 100 kg of cargo over distances of up to 2,000 km, with short take-off and landing capability from unpaved runways of approximately 70 meters. The aircraft is designed for middle-mile logistics, enabling regional hubs and airports to move essential goods quickly and reliably between remote locations.
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