Startups
Steven Evans
6
min read
AI is no longer confined to the data center. It’s moving fast, spilling into the real world, and pushing intelligence to the very edge of our networks. In fact, AI represents a significant turning point for the global telecom industry far beyond moving bits. At Khasm Labs, we believe the future belongs to companies that can deliver AI everywhere — securely, efficiently, and at scale.
That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce the seven startups of Batch #12, each solving critical challenges at the intersection of AI, edge computing, robotics, and secure infrastructure. From quantum-safe encryption and robotic skills platforms, to ultra-fast inference and next-generation semiconductors, these teams are building the foundations of tomorrow’s intelligent, connected world.
Meet the Batch 12 Startups
| Summary | Impact for Enterprises |
Defang Simplifying DevOps for Modern Enterprises | Defang is your AI DevOps agent that deploys any app to any cloud in a single step. | Why waste time on deployment infrastructure when you could be building? Defang does all the heavy lifting to ensure your deployment is secure, scalable, and cost-efficient, freeing you to focus on your app. |
DreamBig Semiconductor Breaking the AI Networking Bottleneck | Designing high-performance silicon and chiplets that remove data throughput limitations, enabling next-generation AI workloads. | Boosts AI inferencing speeds, optimizes resource utilization, and unlocks scalable deployments for compute-intensive applications. |
General Robotics Composable AI Skills for all Robots
| General Robotics is building a modular, safety-first platform for deploying general-purpose robot intelligence using composable AI skills in minutes. Their GRID platform allows developers to deploy, adapt and compose interpretable, verifiable capabilities — like perception, planning, and control — into scalable, reusable behaviors that work across any robot. | Accelerates robotic automation at scale by enabling quick deployment and adaptation of customizable, safety-verified intelligence for industries including logistics, manufacturing, energy, defense, and critical infrastructure. |
Nectar Edge Low-Latency AI at the Edge | Deploying immersion-cooled mini-GPU clouds at every 5G point of presence, enabling sub-20ms inference and up to 60% lower TCO. | Supports real-time video analytics, AI-driven IoT, and mission-critical edge workloads — where milliseconds make the difference. |
|
|
|
Patero Quantum-Proofing the Future of Security | Delivering quantum-safe encryption designed to defend against the next generation of cybersecurity threats. | Protects sensitive data, critical infrastructure, and regulated environments from post-quantum vulnerabilities. |
Mint Security A Stealth-Mode Cybersecurity Startup | A stealth-mode cybersecurity startup. | Tackling one of the leading challenges impeding modern enterprises. |
NimbleEdge Personal AI. Delivered On-Device. | A platform for running AI agents and workflows on-device that reduces latency, cuts | Empowers compliant, privacy-preserving and adaptive AI applications for healthcare, finance, retail, and workforce productivity at scale. |
Why They Matter Now
The timing couldn’t be more critical. As AI workloads shift from centralized clouds to edge-native environments, enterprises are facing new challenges: airtight security, low-latency processing, and scalable infrastructure. Hardware breakthroughs, network advancements, and AI-native platforms are converging — reshaping industries from logistics to defense to healthcare.
“These companies represent the next wave of AI operational excellence,” said Jim Brisimitzis, CEO of Khasm Labs. “They’re not chasing hype — they’re solving urgent, unsolved problems. From defending against quantum-era threats to delivering AI at the speed of thought, the world is ready for their solutions — and together with our global partners, we’re ready to accelerate them.”
Khasm Labs Evolution
Since our founding over six years ago we’ve been on a mission to building meaningful connections between startups, enterprises, and technology partners that accelerate the adoption of connectivity, AI, edge, and secure infrastructure. We’ve always believed that innovation moves faster when engineering leads the way. Hence, our approach of going beyond connecting startups with partners and instead roll up our sleeves. By working side by side with founders, enterprise teams, and technology leaders, we are helping to rapidly activate proofs-of-concept, experiment with new use cases, and validate solutions in the field.
Our engineering-led model allows us to help startups move beyond early ideas and get closer to production-ready solutions faster. By doing so, we serve as a force to narrow the “Khasm” between emerging innovation and current enterprise approaches, enabling organizations to adopt transformative technologies with greater speed and confidence.
Through our network of global technology partners — including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, Accenture, Amdocs, and Avanade — startups gain access to the expertise, relationships, and infrastructure required to scale solutions that address real-world challenges.
Batch 12 represents not just another milestone for Khasm Labs, but another step toward building the AI and Edge future, one startup at a time. The startups announced today are joining our trusted innovation hub with 153 startups that have collectively raised more than $3.5 billion in venture capital.
Time to roll up our sleeves and get at it!
