13 Startups from Y Combinator Demo Day to Watch Closely

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 45 seconds

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Quick Read: Y Combinator’s Demo Day showcased promising startups from its latest cohort, with AI-driven solutions dominating the spotlight across industries from clinical trials to airport logistics.

Y Combinator kicked off its highly anticipated two-day Demo Day event, showcasing the latest batch of startups from its S24 cohort. As expected, AI-driven innovations took center stage, with startups applying artificial intelligence to diverse sectors such as estate planning, clinical trials, and customs clearance. Notably absent were traditional fintech and web3 companies that once dominated previous YC cohorts. Instead, a range of futuristic AI applications stood out, showing the direction tech is heading.

Here are 13 standout startups from Day 1 of Demo Day, many of which are leveraging AI to solve critical issues:

1. Azalea Robotics Corporation – Automates baggage handling at airports using robotics.
This startup’s solution could revolutionize airport operations by replacing dangerous manual labor with robots.

2. Baseline AI – Automates clinical trial documentation with AI.
By speeding up clinical trials, Baseline AI aims to reduce costs and accelerate the development of new treatments.

3. Elayne – AI-powered estate planning and settlements.
Elayne makes estate planning more accessible, using AI to simplify what can be a complex and emotional process.

4. Hamming AI – Automated testing for AI voice agents.
With customer service AI booming, Hamming AI helps ensure these systems are functioning optimally.

5. Lumen Orbit – Data centers in space powered by solar energy.
A futuristic approach to cloud storage, harnessing the sun’s power to drive data centers.

6. Ontra Mobility – Helps cities optimize public transit.
Ontra Mobility provides smarter solutions to improve city transit, addressing growing urban population needs.

7. Passage – AI-assisted customs clearance.
Passage eases the complex process of getting goods through customs with AI, a valuable tool for logistics companies.

8. Promi – AI-driven price optimization for e-commerce.
Promi uses real-time data to help businesses offer dynamic discounts, enhancing customer engagement.

9. RetroFix AI – TurboTax for government building rebates.
RetroFix helps unlock government rebates for contractors, promoting sustainable building practices.

10. SchemeFlow – Automates government approvals for construction projects.
SchemeFlow uses AI to drastically reduce the time it takes for construction companies to obtain technical approvals.

11. Simplex – Creates synthetic datasets for vision models.
By providing quality data, Simplex helps AI companies avoid legal issues related to unauthorized data scraping.

12. Spaceium Inc. – A network of in-space refueling stations.
As the space industry expands, Spaceium’s refueling stations are set to support the growing demand for in-space operations.

13. Village Labs – Helps companies transition to employee ownership.
Village Labs empowers businesses to become employee-owned, fostering wealth creation and mutual benefits.

What's new

Birmingham’s Get Well Soon Secures £402,000 to Revolutionise Private Healthcare

Birmingham-based health tech platform Get Well Soon has raised £402,000 in funding to enhance its service for comparing the costs of elective procedures in the private healthcare sector. The investment includes £201,000 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, matched by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

Launched earlier this year, Get Well Soon aims to simplify the patient journey by providing a platform where users can compare, choose, and book private healthcare consultations and surgeries. Inspired by consumer platforms like Airbnb and Uber, the platform guarantees quoted prices when bookings are made through its service, offering patients a seamless experience in securing self-pay elective procedures.

Empowering Patients with Choice

Led by colorectal surgeon and chief executive Simon Radley, Get Well Soon operates under the Medmin Group, headquartered in Quinton, Birmingham. With over 500 clinicians already on its roster, the platform connects self-pay patients with private hospitals, clinics, and surgeons for treatments in fields such as orthopaedics, urology, and general surgery.

The recent funding will enable Get Well Soon to expand its range of services and onboard additional healthcare professionals to address the growing demand for self-pay surgeries across the UK.

Photo: Simon Radley, Credit: Medmin Group

Radley highlighted the platform's mission, saying:

“We’re thrilled to have closed this funding round and are deeply grateful to Midven for supporting Get Well Soon’s vision. With this investment, we’ll continue enhancing the healthcare industry by providing an accessible, transparent, and patient-centric platform that empowers individuals with choice. Since launching, we’ve made a significant impact, helping people navigate and book self-pay diagnostics and surgeries with ease. Now, we’re set to help even more patients make informed decisions about their healthcare.”

Support for Innovation in Healthcare

The West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, managed by Birmingham-based venture capital firm Midven, was established by the West Midlands Combined Authority and the West Midlands Pension Fund to support SMEs with high-growth potential in areas like digital and green technology. Notably, Medmin, the parent company of Get Well Soon, was the first recipient of the fund, securing a £1.45 million deal last year.

Daniel Gaize, investment associate at Midven, commended the platform’s potential to transform private healthcare:

“Get Well Soon offers an exciting opportunity to disrupt the delivery of elective private healthcare in the UK. By focusing on information, speed, and convenience, their direct-to-consumer model is positioned to facilitate faster and more accessible medical procedures, addressing the rising demand from self-pay patients.”

The new funding marks a critical milestone for Get Well Soon, as it continues to shape the future of patient-centric healthcare and expand its footprint across the UK.

By Anushka Malhotra

10 Dec