In the previous feature, we examined how start-ups at ITMA 2023 Start-Up Valley initially gained visibility and recognition within the global textile ecosystem.

However, visibility is only the first step.

The real measure of success lies in what follows—how quickly emerging companies transition from early attention to real-world implementation, integration into industrial systems, and sustained commercial expansion.

The next cohort of start-ups from ITMA 2023 illustrates how early-stage exposure can evolve into meaningful industry collaboration and measurable business growth.

Applications for Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 are now open.

Learn more.

How textile start-ups progress from exposure to industry adoption

Turning innovation into real-world application

Innovations such as advanced dyeing technologies, AI-driven laundry automation, and next-generation fibre traceability were key highlights at ITMA 2023 Start-Up Valley.

Companies including COLOURizd, sewts, and Haelixa demonstrate how early-stage solutions can move beyond concept development to attract industry attention, build partnerships, and advance toward practical deployment.

Their progress reflects a clear transition—from visibility to validation, and increasingly, toward commercial adoption.

“Participating in the ITMA 2023 Start-Up Valley was definitely one of the best decisions we’ve made as a company,” says Jennifer Thompson, CEO of COLOURizd, the developer of QuantumCOLOUR™, a patent-pending technology for dyeing fabrics that eliminates harmful chemicals while significantly reducing water and energy consumption.

“For a technology like ours, a capital equipment investment that changes how mills colour yarn, being on that floor, in that room, with the right people, is irreplaceable,” Thompson adds.

“You can’t close those kinds of conversations over email, and we came away with over 300 meaningful contacts from mills, brands and industry partners.”

Her experience highlights how ITMA Start-Up Valley functions not only as an exhibition platform but also as a powerful catalyst for validation, investment, and industrial adoption by connecting innovators directly with decision-makers.

For start-ups aiming to scale through partnerships, funding, or industrial validation, such exposure can be transformative.

Rethinking dyeing at industrial scale: COLOURizd

COLOURizd, with operations in North Carolina and Hong Kong, was among 15 start-ups supported by CEMATEX at the inaugural Start-Up Valley. While initial exposure was valuable, its long-term impact has been even more significant.

Following ITMA 2023, investment discussions gained momentum, partnerships were formalised, and the technology moved from prototype to industrial testing.

For early-stage companies evaluating growth routes—from venture capital to grant-based funding—such momentum can strengthen scaling opportunities.

“Our conversations at ITMA 2023 in Milan evolved into active mill trials, inline production runs and brand evaluations across multiple fibre categories,” Thompson says. “That progression simply wouldn’t have happened at the same pace without that initial exposure.”

This reflects a broader trend among Start-Up Valley participants, where visibility leads to validation and ultimately to commercial implementation.

Automating textile handling: sewts

Munich-based sewts secured €7 million in Series A funding shortly after ITMA 2023, enabling rapid expansion of its Velum system.

Velum integrates artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics to automate complex manual handling tasks in industrial laundries—an area that has remained largely untouched by automation.

While washing and drying processes are already highly mechanised, textile handling steps such as feeding fabrics into folding machines still rely heavily on manual labour.

By automating these processes, sewts addresses one of the final inefficiencies in industrial laundry operations.

“Even though there is special machinery for almost every manufacturing step in a laundry, complex handling tasks between them are still predominantly manual,” explains sewts co-founder and CTO Tim Doerks. “Automation has not yet made significant headway in this area, which is what we are now effectively addressing.”

Velum has quickly moved from demonstration to industrial deployment, with continuous software enhancements improving its adaptability across textile types and production environments.

ITMA provided sewts not just visibility, but direct access to global customers and partners, accelerating both investment and implementation.

Advancing traceability in textiles: Haelixa

Zurich-based Haelixa, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, has followed a longer but equally impactful growth path.

In February 2026, the company secured €2 million in funding to expand its DNA-based traceability solution globally.

Its technology embeds a physical marker into fibres, enabling full traceability back to the source—an increasingly important capability as brands face rising regulatory and consumer demands for transparency.

A key milestone following ITMA 2023 was industrial integration. Barmag, now part of Rieter Group’s Manmade Fibres Division, announced that all products manufactured on its systems will include Haelixa’s DNA markers.

“The unique Haelixa DNA carries the ‘roots’ of the fibres into the everyday life of the end consumer,” says Barmag CTO Jochen Adler. “Once integrated, it becomes irremovable and enables a new level of traceability within existing production systems.”

This demonstrates how Start-Up Valley innovations can transition from concept to embedded industry solutions when aligned with market demand.

From validation to commercial readiness

For COLOURizd, one of the most significant outcomes of ITMA 2023 was validation from The Woolmark Company, which played a pivotal role in accelerating its commercial journey.

“Start-Up Valley put us in front of an audience that understood what we were showing them,” Thompson says. “Woolmark’s validation changed the trajectory of our company.”

Originally focused on cellulosic fibres, QuantumCOLOUR™ has since been successfully applied across wool, synthetics, and blended materials without requiring fibre-specific chemical adjustments.

This expansion has significantly widened its commercial potential.

Testing has also shown strong performance in recycled yarns, where fibre integrity is often difficult to maintain. The process not only preserves strength but can enhance it, aligning with both sustainability and performance goals.

“We are now fully commercialised and QuantumCOLOUR™ is an industrial-scale production system, not a lab prototype,” Thompson says. “Active mill trials are ongoing across multiple fibre categories and geographies, and we expect our first installations within the next 12 months.”

A platform driving real industry transformation

Across all cases, a common pattern emerges: increasing pressure for sustainability, rising labour challenges, and stricter traceability requirements are driving demand for scalable textile innovations.

In this environment, ITMA Start-Up Valley acts as a convergence platform—connecting start-ups with manufacturers, brands, and investors, and accelerating the path from innovation to industrial adoption.

The next phase is already underway.

Start-Up Valley returns at ITMA 2027

Start-ups working in advanced materials, automation, digitalisation, or sustainability will have the opportunity not only to showcase their technologies but also to be evaluated, adopted, and scaled globally.

20 selected start-ups will be featured at ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley.

They will gain direct access to manufacturers, brands, and technology partners actively seeking innovative solutions.

With subsidised exhibition space, dedicated pavilion visibility, and global marketing support, the platform continues to serve as a launchpad for start-ups moving from early visibility to industrial deployment.