Step into the future

Next20 startup program

The Next20 startup program gives startups the chance to exhibit and pitch to a jury of experts on a global stage at TM Forum’s DTW23 - Ignite from 19-21 September in Copenhagen, showcasing how they help to address some of the following challenges:

Energy Challenge: How can our industry lead the world towards carbon neutrality, and in doing so cut our energy consumption by at least 25% by 2025?
Metaverse Challenge: How can connectivity providers create and capture value in the metaverse, using immersive technologies, (Generative) AI, or Web3 to help unlock benefits for small/large enterprises, government, and society?
Future Telco: Provide solutions to help build the telecommunications sector of the future and be part of the transformation wave to help any TelCo become a real TechCo.

Meet the Next20:

Aizatron IoT Pty Ltd

Aisatron built a multi-tenanted white-labeled IoTaaS platform in the cloud for telecommunication companies to use to develop their own IoT ecosystem.

ConnectedYou

ConnectedYou offers next-generation award-winning connectivity orchestration solutions for the IoT industry across all verticals.

CTHINGS.CO

CTHINGS.CO develops Edge IoT solutions that allow enterprises to leverage the data hidden in their processes and assets into efficiency and better decisions.

Dione Protocol

Dione Protocol leads the eco-friendly blockchain revolution. We're introducing the world to the first climate net-positive blockchain, powered by renewable energy and our resilient Orion validator.

flexiWAN

flexiWAN is the world's first (and only) open-source SD-WAN & SASE.

Halleyx

Elevate your BSS-Stack with Halleyx, the disruptive AI-driven SaaS BSS solution.

Kenmei

Kenmei offers cloud-native solutions that enhance efficiency by automating network processes and ensuring an optimal customer experience. Our solutions are specifically designed to support operators throughout their digital transformation journey.

Locatium

Locatium.AI uses mathematical optimization and machine learning to optimize CSPs RAN and fixed rollouts (smart CAPEX), retail footprints, pricing plans, and geo-marketing campaigns— generating EBITDA gains of hundreds of millions of $US.

MiClient

MiClient is a CPQ solution that enhances the quote-to-cash process of an organization. MiClient product implementation solves excessive deal cycle times, manual errors, out-of-date information, and a lack of visibility in the sales process.

Microamp Solutions

Microamp Solutions enables the digitization of the most sophisticated processes by providing customers with innovative 5G & 6G mmWave Private Network deployments.

Monal Tech

MonalTech is dedicated to fostering the cyber-security field of Nepal by providing solutions, training, and overall infrastructure with best-practice tools for conducting various cyber incident forensics, and providing monitoring services and products.

OryxGateway

Oryx Gateway offers an easy-to-use toolkit for both Telecom providers and software providers to easily integrate any software, and make sure all systems keep working when another one goes offline. Our toolkit supports all available OpenAPIs and is fully ODA compliant.

Neutroon

Neutroon revolutionizes connectivity with its cutting-edge NaaS platform that enables enterprise, cities, and private venue IT teams to deploy and manage multi-tenant private cellular networks along with edge applications.

Phanofi

Phanofi specializes in developing advanced transceiver technologies for data centers. Our goal is to address the growing demand for high-speed and energy-efficient connectivity solutions.

Phanofi

PHYTunes is focused on providing ubiquitous coverage of high-frequency mobile solutions, such as 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 7, indoors where 80% of data traffic occurs.

RevComm

RevComm provides AI-powered self-coaching tools called MiiTel Phone, MiiTel Meetings (web conference analysis), and MiiTel RecPod (F2F analysis).

Sixfab

Recognizing the growing need for a fully connected edge platform, we embarked on a journey to create an end-to-end solution that combines hardware, software, and seamless mobile connectivity integration.

Therminer

Therminer contributes toward a circular economy by harvesting waste heat from data centers to power the heat demand.

WAN-AI

WAN-AI has developed a groundbreaking technology that combines an ultrafast computational engine that calculates the exact operation of Internet protocols with AI that reasons the best allocation of resources on the Internet.

ZIM Connections

ZIM Connections is the UK's first eSIM marketplace. The revolutionary eSIM technology allows users to activate a cellular plan entirely digitally, making it convenient for travelers who want to be connected everywhere they go, at all times.

Next20 sessions:

Pitching Session: IoT & Data

Tuesday, 19 September

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

Discover startups working to shape the future of the Telecommunications industry by offering IoT, Data or Data Centers optimzation solutions.

Pitching Session: Networks

Tuesday, 19 September

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Discover startups working to shape the future of the Telecommunications industry by offering solutions to optimize, expand networks management and connectivity.

Pitching Session: Growth

Wednesday, 20 September

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

Discover startups working to shape the future of the Telecommunications industry by offering solutions for operations optimization and business growth

Catalyst & Next20 awards

Thursday, 21 September

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Join us in the Park to find out who will win Next20!

Meet the jury:

Tim Banham
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) & EVP, Membership
TM Forum

Jeanette Carlsson
Founder & CEO
Tech Nordic Advocates

Emelie Frisk
Group Strategy & Commercial Manager
Telia

Maria Hartikainen
5G Innovation Manager,
TDC Net & Ericsson 5G Innovation Hub

Irfan Goandal
Senior Partner
Promentum Equity Partners

Michael Lawrey
Chair Finance Committee and Director
TM Forum

Olga Martynov
Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer
TM Forum

Amer Ramzan
Managing Partner
Promentum Equity Partners

Nicolai Schaettgen
CEO
Match-Maker Ventures

Nok Suvithyasiri
Industry Advisor – Telco & Media
Microsoft

Lars Vestergaard
Venture Partner
Invenio Growth

Tom Winstanley
CTO & Head of New Ventures | R&D
NTT DATA UK&I

Meet the mentors:

Alex Bruce
TM Forum

Bronwynne Stoddart
CEO & Co-Founder
Ikue

Hugues Bardin
TM Forum

Lars Vestergaard
Venture Partner
Invenio Growth

Maria Hartikainen
5G Innovation Manager,
TDC Net & Ericsson 5G Innovation Hub

Nikolaj Grundtvig Binder
Head of 5G Innovation Hub, Net & Ericsson 5G Innovation Hub

Palle Riismøller
Interim manager and Investor
Return on Investment

Priya Kurien
Global Telecom Leader
IBM Institute for Business Value

What past participants say about the program:

"We've participated in Next20 at DTW 2022 and we had an awesome experience. Next20 accelerated our learning about the CSP space where we were able to quickly validate our thoughts and vision on how we could potentially work together. I was also amazed at how well organized all the players work together as part of the TM Forum. It felt like discovering a whole new world full of exciting new opportunities.

Nicholas Piël, CEO, Surfly

"One of the best decisions we took this year was to apply to the Next20 program. DTW was an inspiring and insightful event and we came home full of new ideas and potential partnerships.”

João Mestre, COOPTELCO

"Next20 is a great chance to meet techies from telcos and vendors alike, as well as get visibility for your product!"

Eren Soyak, Lifemote

Previous winners

DTW 2022 winner - Innovation

DTW 2022 winner - Intelligent Networks

DTW Asia 2023 winner

Questions? Contact Hugues Bardin.