Who are the South East tech companies of tomorrow? Our experts reveal their picks

Our regular feature focuses on the up-and-coming technology companies that are breaking into new markets through their innovative use of technology

TechSolent team

TechSolent aim to connect, develop and promote the technology communities within the Solent region. Contributed by Tech Solent Director Phil Clark and Partnerships Manager Rich Burn

Ocean Infinity are developing remote vessel piloting from their headquarters in Southampton. Essentially, they are pioneering technologies that enable pilots to navigate ships from anywhere in the world. This is huge in the industry in terms of managing human risk at sea but also creating huge cost savings in regards to onboard staffing. Although this may be seen as "tech taking jobs" they are actually creating a whole new job growth sector with new future world jobs as remote pilots.

Formed in 2013, Fareham-based Beyond Encryption offers a unique proposition in the tech world that is already making waves. Focusing on the niche market of Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs), the company offers encrypted email solutions that are redefining the way sensitive financial communications are handled. In an era where data breaches and cyber security are major concerns, Beyond Encryption provides a much-needed layer of security for IFAs, ensuring client data is protected. Their USP lies in tailoring encryption technology specifically for financial communications, a critical need in the finance sector.

As a net-zero engineering startup, Caldera, also based in Fareham, addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time: sustainable energy solutions. Their innovative alternative to gas-powered hot water systems involves an electrically heated stone placed within a large tank. This system, which can be charged overnight or via solar power, provides hot water throughout the day, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for households. Caldera's unique selling point (USP) lies in its simple yet effective approach to reducing carbon footprints, making sustainable living more accessible to the average consumer.

In the realm of healthcare and wellness, Hampshire-based Paincation is a standout AR/VR startup. They are developing an app for headsets that offers alternative pain relief solutions and physiotherapy instructions. This approach combines the latest in AR/VR technology with healthcare, providing users with an immersive experience that can aid in pain management and physical rehabilitation. Paincation’s USP is its innovative use of AR/VR technology to address physical health issues, offering a novel and potentially more engaging alternative to traditional pain relief methods.

Steve Northam, Founder and CEO of Northamtec Investments & Holdings and founder and CIO of business incubation space IncuHive

Steve Northam is an independent judge at The Business Magazine’s South Coast Tech Awards

I recently met one of the founders of Southampton-based Novatura, who build bespoke web applications, while I was guest speaking at the University of Southampton to their cohort of student start-ups.

I have a passion for supporting students as they venture into the world of business and was particularly impressed with Novatura who are taking the skills in coding and web development they have, as a team of students, and launching that into the marketplace. They have already won several contracts and no doubt will rapidly grow their start-up going forward, going beyond the normal web development agency type offering.

I met one of the founders of Southampton’s Labl.it, which provides a labelling solution for commercial kitchens, at the University of Southampton. Like VapeGuardian, who have developed a system which detects vaping, I love the “spot a problem and solve it” attitude. This one is a simple issue and solved with an elegant solution. It’s often these types of tech businesses which really take off and fly.

Spring Agriculture came on to my radar when visiting one of our IncuHive sites while on the hunt for space and support for their innovative start-up.

They are developing state-of-the-art machine learning linked with autonomous in-field robotics to change the face of farming, aiming to reduce the reliance on heavy machinery and agrochemicals which is helping with the push towards increased sustainability. This push seems to be something which I see crop-up (no pun intended) more and more now, no doubt we will see armies of robotic machines farming the land without human intervention in the not-too-distant future.

Expert: Jeroen Bergmann, Director of Oxford Healthtech Labs

RegMetrics is based in Oxford and is changing how companies engage with medical device regulations.

Complying with these regulations is essential, as it ensures that relevant safety and performance requirements are met.

This means that no medical device can be sold without the approval of the regulatory authority.

These medical devices range from glasses, plasters and certain toothpastes all the way to surgical robots and AI-driven digital diagnostics.

Interestingly, most regulatory compliance is still paper based which is very time consuming and prone to mistakes.

Innovators that have no experience with these regulations do not know what to do, where to start and what the next steps are.

RegMetrics is one of the first companies in the world that has developed an innovative online solution that can revolutionise the way innovators deal with regulations.

Oxford's Ivy Farm Technologies uses bioengineering technology to make sustainable meat and wants to want to become the UK’s leading producer of cultivated meat. They use breakthrough technology in their mission to lead the world in meeting the challenges of sustainable meat production in the 21st century.

It is essential that we find sustainable ways of dealing with the challenges we are facing in our food production. The ongoing demand for meat makes this a company to watch, as it aims to tackle this head on.

Lumia, also based in Oxford, is aiming to unlock the full potential of next-generation AI with fully optical computing that can compute at much faster speeds and at greater scales than ever before, all whilst consuming far less energy than traditional electronics.

Britain has been at the forefront of the computer age and this company provides a promising glimpse of what might be possible in the future. Their ideas can help meet the ever-growing demands in our digital age.

GaitQ is developing wearable medical technologies for mobility enablement in Parkinson’s.

This Oxford company provides real-world solutions to patients in an elegant and patient-centered manner. It is great to see the positive change that this technology can have on the quality of life of people.