Europe’s Industrial Entrepreneurs Focus on AI and the Environment
The 2025 Under 30 Europe Manufacturing & Industry list, compiled by Forbes, has been released, highlighting the top industrial entrepreneurs in Europe who are making significant contributions to the industry. This year’s list features 30 young entrepreneurs under the age of 30 who are leading innovative companies that are transforming the manufacturing and industry sectors.
According to a 2024 McKinsey report, European industry accounts for 20% of global CO2 emissions. The European Union has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy by 2050. One of the companies featured on the list is Intergrid, a Helsinki-based technology company founded by Olli Kangas, 28, and Pasi Hakulinen, 29. Intergrid provides software solutions to help industrial companies replace fossil fuels with clean electricity. As Kangas explains, "What the customers need is an easy way out of fossil fuels. So we need to bring it to the level that it’s a no-brainer for companies to switch."
Intergrid has raised $13 million in funding and has scaled to a team of over 20, serving 40 factories across Finland and the Netherlands. The company’s technology offers custom simulations to show companies the best ways to power their plants, source the right equipment, and AI-powered analysis to minimize costs. Kangas believes that his company’s solution can help reduce carbon emissions and make a significant impact on the environment.
The 2025 Under 30 Europe Manufacturing & Industry list was compiled by a panel of expert judges, including Axel Lorenz, CEO of process automation at Siemens; Marina Bill, president of the International Federation of Robotics; Romy Schnelle, managing director of pre-seed and seed investment company High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF); and Abhilash Borana, a 2022 Under 30 alum and founder and chairman of Fáilte Solar. The list features founders across various industries, including robotics, drones, offshore wind turbine operators, and more.
Other companies featured on the list include Vilje Bionics, which has raised $4 million to develop VilPower, a full-arm exoskeleton. The company’s technology has the potential to help the 60 million people with arm and hand paralysis worldwide. Angsa Robotics is another company featured on the list, developing AI-powered robots for autonomous trash removal on grass and gravel surfaces. The Munich-based company has deployed its technology in over 20 German cities and has removed more than 30,000 trash items.
Ascento, a Zurich-based company, provides autonomous outdoor robot patrols for industrial sites. The company’s wheel-leg design robots can navigate complex environments like rough terrain and stairs, addressing the high turnover rate in human security personnel. Akhilesh Goveas, 29, cofounded SpectX, which uses synchronized drones to inspect offshore wind turbines, bridges, power lines, and oil and gas pipelines, and provides real-time data.
The 2025 Under 30 Europe Manufacturing & Industry list also features Marco Bertone, 27, who cofounded Syntetica to transform synthetic textile waste into 100% recycled nylon. The Paris-based startup has raised $4.5 million in funding and secured $500,000 in brand contracts with Victoria’s Secret, ETAM, and DIM, among others.
According to Forbes, "This year’s honorees include founders across robotics, drones, offshore wind turbine operators and beyond. All candidates must have been 29 or younger as of April 9th, 2025, and never before named to a Europe, North America or Asia 30 Under 30 list." The list highlights the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of young people in Europe who are making a significant impact on the manufacturing and industry sectors.
The 2025 Under 30 Europe Manufacturing & Industry list is a testament to the creativity and innovation of young entrepreneurs in Europe. As the list editors, Igor Bosilkovski, Hannah Hall, and LaVonne Roberts, note, "Together, these founders sketch a future where automation, sustainability and human-centered design are the standard. What unites them is a belief that change at scale is possible, and already underway."
