NextGen Tech 30 Announces 2026 Class as Asia’s AI Companies Move Beyond Software Into the Real World

Almost half of this year's honourees are Singapore-headquartered, spanning autonomous drones, warehouse robotics, cancer diagnostics, satellite imaging, underwater inspection, and humanoid robots.

● 30 growth-stage companies honoured across AI in Industry, Agentic AI, and Core Technology
● Nearly half are Singapore-headquartered, a third are from Japan, and two-thirds earn revenue globally
● Top 30 companies are growing revenue at more than 100% year on year

Singapore, 30 September 2026 - Granite Asia today announced the NextGen Tech 30 Class of 2026, honouring 30 growth-stage technology companies across Asia. Now in its third year, the initiative is Asia's first public-private program to recognise and support the region's top growth-stage companies, convening sovereign funds, institutional investors, government agencies, and industry leaders to surface companies with the potential to scale globally from Asia. The honourees were revealed at the Singapore Exchange, where founders struck the SGX gong to open the trading day.

Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, attended the event as Guest of Honour and joined the founders at the gong-striking ceremony. This marked the opening of both the trading day and a new chapter of growth for the companies on stage.

What stands out this year is how far the cohort has moved beyond enterprise software. This year's honourees are deploying AI in wind farms, warehouses, pharmacies, construction sites, operating theatres, underwater pipelines, and low-Earth orbit. They are building custom silicon, humanoid robots, hyperspectral satellites, and sustainable aviation fuel systems. More than half of the top 30 are applying AI to physical industries - a marked shift from the software-first cohorts of previous years.

Singapore is emerging as a launchpad for these AI infrastructure and application companies; almost half of this year's honourees are headquartered here. The top 30 are growing revenue at more than 100% year on year. A third of the honourees are from Japan, producing category leaders in legal AI, cancer diagnostics, healthcare software, and warehouse robotics. Two-thirds of the cohort earn revenue globally.

The NextGen Tech 30 - Class of 2026

Acrab - Singapore - Edge AI computing infrastructure and custom 5nm silicon
Akool - Japan - Enterprise AI video creation and personalisation
ANDPAD - Japan - Cloud project management for construction
ArkEdge Space - Japan - Microsatellite development and space mission operations
ASUENE - Japan - Carbon emissions measurement and ESG reporting software
ATC Globe Holdings - Singapore - Precision treatment for aerospace and semiconductor components
BeeX - Singapore - Autonomous underwater drones for subsea inspection
Channel Corporation - South Korea - AI-powered customer service and messaging platform
Clobotics - Singapore - Autonomous drone inspection for infrastructure
Craif - Japan - Urine-based cancer screening using microRNA and AI
EvoluteIQ - India - Enterprise automation connecting people, data and systems
FlyORO Technologies - Singapore - Modular sustainable aviation fuel blending infrastructure
Groundup.ai - Singapore - Predictive maintenance for industrial equipment
Hummingbird Bioscience - Singapore - AI-driven antibody discovery for cancer and autoimmune diseases
k-ID - Singapore - Global age-assurance and child-safety compliance
KAKEHASHI - Japan - Integrated pharmacy operations and patient management software
LegalOn Technologies - Japan - AI-powered legal contract review and workflow
Menlo Research - Singapore - Open-source humanoid robotics platform
OpenCSG - China - Enterprise platform for private AI model deployment
PixAI - Japan - AI platform for anime and character art creation
Pixxel Space Technologies - India - Hyperspectral satellite imaging and analytics
Rapyuta Robotics - Japan - Cloud-connected warehouse robotics and automation
RisingWave Labs - Singapore - Real-time streaming database for live analytics and AI
SENSYN ROBOTICS - Japan - Drone and robot-based infrastructure inspection
Shield - Singapore - Real-time device fraud detection and prevention
SkyeChip Berhad - Malaysia - Semiconductor IP and custom chip design
Soft Space Holdings - Malaysia - Mobile point-of-sale payment technology
SUD - Singapore - Platform for building and monetising interactive digital experiences
Tookitaki - Singapore - AI-powered anti-money laundering and financial compliance
VeloDB - Singapore - Real-time analytics database for dashboards and AI

Momentum Awards

This year also marks the second year of the Momentum Awards, recognising alumni from the 2024 and 2025 classes who have demonstrated exceptional growth since their selection. One in three alumni from previous classes applied for the new Momentum Awards, with standout performers including Toku, which completed its SGX Catalist listing in January 2026. The five recipients are:

● Advance Intelligence Group
● Cloudsway AI
● Polyverse Entertainment
● ShopBack
● SynaXG Technologies

Companies are listed alphabetically. For more information, visit https://www.nextgen.graniteasia.com.

About NextGen Tech 30

NextGen Tech 30 is Asia's first public-private initiative to recognise and support the region's top growth-stage technology companies. Powered by Granite Asia in partnership with SGX Group, the program convenes sovereign funds, institutional investors, government agencies, and industry leaders to elevate companies with the potential to scale globally from Asia.

About Granite Asia

Granite Asia is a leading private capital platform in Asia, partnering with visionary founders and leaders to build industry champions.

With US$11 billion in assets under management and co-managed capital, the firm has invested in 121 companies valued at over US$ billion and supported 70 IPOs worldwide.

Investing across private equity, private credit, and public capital, Granite Asia combines deep technology expertise with flexible capital solutions to help ambitious companies scale, navigate inflexion points, and unlock long-term value across global markets.

For more information, visit https://www.graniteasia.com.