CB Insights has released its annual AI 100 list, featuring the 100 most promising private AI companies globally. These startups are engaged in various innovative areas, including generative AI infrastructure, emotion analytics, general-purpose humanoids, and more.
Among this year’s winners, around one-third are focused on AI applications in specific industries such as media and entertainment, fashion and retail, offering solutions like visual dubbing and textile recycling. Forty companies are working on cross-industry solutions like AI assistants, digital twins, climate tech, and smell tech.
Furthermore, 27 companies in the cohort are developing tools like vector database tech and synthetic datasets to support AI development.
The selection process involved CB Insights’ research team utilizing their platform to identify these 100 companies from a pool of nearly 9,000 applicants and nominees. Criteria considered included R&D activity, proprietary Mosaic scores, business relationships, Yardstiq transcripts, investor profiles, news sentiment analysis, competitive landscape, and team strength. The team also reviewed thousands of Analyst Briefings submitted by applicants.
The companies are categorized based on their primary focus area and client base, with the market map showing non-mutually exclusive categories.
Noteworthy trends from the AI 100 cohort include diverse funding stages and levels of maturity. The companies have collectively raised nearly $22 billion, driven significantly by OpenAI’s $13 billion investment from Microsoft. The list includes 15 unicorns valued at over $1 billion.
Fifty percent of this year’s winners are in early fundraising stages, working on innovative solutions such as vector search and cancer cell behavior simulation. Some winners, including Talka and Midjourney, have not yet received external equity funding.
The AI 100 cohort covers 14 industries, 19 cross-industry applications, and 11 categories of AI development tools. Healthcare and media & entertainment are the most represented sectors, with applications ranging from AI-powered drug discovery to visual dubbing and generative AI-powered chatbots.
The winners span 13 different countries, with the majority headquartered in the US, followed by the UK and Canada. Other countries with winners include the Netherlands, Sweden, China, and Germany.
Several companies on the list are working on novel applications where the use of AI is not yet widespread. For instance, Osmo, a Google spin-off, is developing a “map of odor” to enhance computers’ understanding and interpretation of smell. Ello is creating a reading coach for children using speech recognition and generative AI, while Refiberd is developing a textile waste sorting system for recycling purposes.