ITMA start-up valley helps innovators move from visibility to scale

ITMA 2023 start-ups turned exposure into funding and industry adoption.

ITMA Start-Up Valley is emerging as a key platform for accelerating innovation in the textile and garment machinery industry, helping start-ups move beyond visibility and achieve real commercial progress. The experience of companies showcased at ITMA 2023 highlights how early exposure at the event has translated into industry adoption, partnerships and funding.

According to organisers, several start-ups participating in the 2023 edition were able to convert product demonstrations into measurable business outcomes. COLOURizd, which focuses on sustainable dyeing technologies, reportedly generated more than 300 meaningful business contacts during the show and progressed from prototype development to active mill trials and brand evaluations in collaboration with The Woolmark Company.

Meanwhile, sewts, an AI-based automation and robotics start-up, closed a €7 million Series A funding round within weeks of participating at ITMA 2023. The investment is expected to support the company’s rollout of AI-driven robotics solutions in textile manufacturing.

Another start-up, Haelixa, entered into a partnership with Barmag, part of the Rieter Group, to integrate its DNA-based traceability technology directly into global textile production systems, reflecting growing industry demand for transparent and verifiable supply chains.

The organisers noted that the pathway from concept to commercial implementation is becoming shorter, driven by increasing sustainability requirements and rising labour challenges. As textile manufacturers and brands look for scalable and proven solutions, start-ups that can demonstrate operational value are gaining faster traction.

Looking ahead, 20 promising start-ups will be selected for ITMA 2027 under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme. Selected participants will receive direct access to manufacturers, brands and technology partners, along with a fully subsidised specially designed exhibition stand and global visibility at the event.

Applications for ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley are currently open and will close on 22 May 2026.