The entrepreneurship ecosystem in textile technologies is no longer limited to projects at the idea stage. Particularly in the fields of sustainability, automation, digitalisation and traceability, newly developed solutions are evolving into systems that attract investment, integrate into production lines and reach commercial scale.
The Start-Up Valley platform, introduced for the first time during ITMA 2023, has become one of the key centres of this transformation. The start-ups participating in the platform not only gained visibility, but also had the opportunity to bring their technologies into real industrial applications through direct contact with manufacturers, brands, investors and technology partners. Following ITMA 2023, many start-ups accelerated their investment processes, initiated mill trials and moved towards industrial deployment.
Technologies move into production
Among the start-ups highlighted during the exhibition, next-generation dyeing technologies, AI-powered automation systems and DNA-based traceability solutions attracted particular attention. Companies such as COLOURizd, sewts and Haelixa demonstrated how early-stage technologies can rapidly evolve into commercially viable industrial solutions. ITMA’s Start-Up Valley platform served not only as an exhibition space for start-ups, but also as a meeting point where technologies were tested against real industry demands.
A new era in dyeing
COLOURizd, headquartered in North Carolina and Hong Kong, emerged as one of the start-ups achieving rapid growth after ITMA. The company’s QuantumCOLOUR™ technology stands out as a next-generation dyeing system that eliminates harmful chemicals while significantly reducing water and energy consumption. Following ITMA 2023, investment discussions accelerated, production line trials began and the technology was evaluated across different fibre categories. Initially developed for cellulosic yarns, the system was later successfully tested on wool, synthetic and blended fibres as well. The company also announced positive results in recycled yarn applications. The first commercial installations of the QuantumCOLOUR™ system are expected within the next 12 months.
Automation powered by artificial intelligence
Munich-based sewts focuses on automating processes in industrial laundries that have traditionally been carried out manually for many years. The company’s Velum system uses artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision technologies to automate textile handling and feeding processes. After ITMA 2023, the company secured a €7 million Series A investment and accelerated efforts to expand the system across different facilities. The software infrastructure behind Velum is continuously updated to ensure compatibility with various textile types and operating conditions.
Traceability gains strength
Zurich-based Haelixa continues to attract attention with its DNA-based traceability technology. The system developed by the company enables textile products to be tracked throughout the production chain by embedding physical DNA markers into textile fibres. In February 2026, the company secured an additional €2 million investment to support its global expansion. One of the most significant developments following ITMA 2023 was the collaboration established with Barmag. Under this partnership, Haelixa’s DNA markers will be integrated into all products manufactured on Barmag systems. This development demonstrates that traceability technologies are no longer remaining at concept level, but are becoming directly integrated into industrial production processes.
The centre of a new era
Increasing sustainability pressures, labour challenges and tightening regulations in the textile industry are pushing manufacturers towards more scalable and validated technologies. As a result, visibility alone is no longer considered sufficient for start-ups. Greater importance is now placed on technological applicability, integration capability and commercial sustainability. ITMA is preparing to relaunch the Start-Up Valley platform in 2027. Within the scope of the programme, 20 selected start-ups will receive supported exhibition participation, dedicated pavilion exposure and global promotional opportunities. The outcomes achieved after ITMA 2023 clearly demonstrate that Start-Up Valley has evolved beyond being merely a showcase platform and has become a direct driver of commercial growth and industrial transformation for textile technology start-ups.
