Date:

November 19, 2021

Next Big Things in Tech 2021

Technology is the backbone of every company today. For the first time, Fast Company is recognizing the tech breakthroughs that promise to define the future of industries, from healthcare to agriculture to artificial intelligence.

Some of the world’s most intriguing innovations are so new that their full impact is yet to be felt. This is what we’re highlighting in the inaugural edition of Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech. The 65 honorees on our list, which includes global giants as well as intrepid startups, often harness research that’s fresh from the labs, applying cutting-edge tech to solve real-world problems in unexpected ways.

Our winners, which were selected by a team of 14 Fast Company writers and editors, cover a lot of ground, from financial tech to robotics to sustainability. There’s an affordable tractor that drives itself and uses sensors to improve crop yields. The first at-home COVID-19 test that uses CRISPR technology to deliver results that are both rapid and reliable. A dashboard that helps companies gain new insights into their diversity, equity, and inclusion progress based on hard data. A technology for keeping payments safe from quantum computing attacks that could instantly crack current encryption standards. And a streaming platform that turned a billion people watching a live BTS concert into a community. Other honorees take on equally ambitious challenges—and are poised to improve our lives at home, at work, and beyond.

These products, services, and technological breakthroughs may not all be on the market yet, but they’re real, and they’re reaching important milestones along the way toward availability. Their potential for the future is what excited us the most as we assessed candidates for this list.

MONEY

Anchorage Digital

FOR SOLVING CRYPTO'S CUSTODY PROBLEM

Grabango

FOR LETTING ESTABLISHED STORES DITCH CHECKOUT LINES

Mastercard

FOR PROTECTING PAYMENTS FROM QUANTUM COMPUTING ATTACKS

Orum

FOR MOVING MONEY INSTANTLY

Zest AI

FOR MAKING CONSUMER LENDING LESS RACIST

SMART MACHINES

Azumo

FOR BUILDING SCREENS THAT STAND UP TO SUNLIGHT

Diamond Foundry

FOR CREATING A MATERIAL THAT CAN OUTPERFORM SILICON

GelSight

FOR HELPING ROBOTS DEVELOP A NEW SENSE

IBM

FOR GIVING MOORE’S LAW NEW LIFE

Lightmatter

FOR MAKING AI FASTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE

Monarch

FOR AUTOMATING FARMS WHILE PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

MTEK

FOR BRINGING NEW EFFICIENCY TO FACTORY FLOORS

Rapid Robotics

FOR TEACHING ROBOTS TO DO EVERYDAY WORK

Relativity Space

FOR 3D PRINTING ROCKETS IN MERE DAYS

SambaNova

FOR LETTING COMPANIES TRAIN AI MODELS IN THE CLOUD

Skylo

FOR SENDING THE INTERNET OF THINGS TO SPACE

Tactile Mobility

FOR ALLOWING VEHICLES TO FEEL THE ROAD BENEATH THEM

SUSTAINABILITY

Anuvia

FOR PRODUCING FERTILIZER FROM FOOD WASTE

Automotus

FOR HELPING CITIES UNDERSTAND—AND MONETIZE—VEHICLE TRAFFIC

Bowery Farming

FOR DESIGNING AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR CROPS

Desktop Metal

FOR SAVING TREES THROUGH 3D PRINTING

Farther Farms

FOR FIGHTING FOOD WASTE WITH CO2

Form Energy

FOR CREATING THE BATTERY OF TOMORROW

GAF

FOR CLEANING UP OUR ROOFS

FOR CREATING A PRACTICAL—AND SCALABLE—ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY

Li-Cycle

FOR KEEPING BATTERIES OUT OF LANDFILLS

MagniX

FOR ELECTRIFYING SHORT FLIGHTS

MycoWorks

FOR REPLACING LEATHER WITH MUSHROOMS

Nuvve

FOR TURNING SCHOOL BUSES INTO BATTERIES

PepsiCo and Wint

FOR GETTING SMART ABOUT WATER CONSUMPTION

Sama and Orbisk

FOR USING AI TO REDUCE RESTAURANT FOOD WASTE

Turntide

FOR REDESIGNING MOTORS TO RUN MORE CLEANLY

Upside Foods

FOR MAKING CELL-GROWN MEAT A REALITY

AI & DATA

ADP

FOR TURNING DATA INTO NEW DEI INSIGHTS

Arkose Labs

FOR FOILING BOTH HUMAN FRAUDSTERS AND BOTS

Beyond Identity

FOR FINDING A WAY AROUND PESKY PASSWORDS

Keyavi

FOR GIVING DATA A MIND OF ITS OWN

Microsoft and InfernoRed

FOR SECURING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

NeuTigers

FOR CUTTING AI DOWN TO SIZE

PwC

FOR NIPPING AI BIAS IN THE BUD

Spherex

FOR MAKING TV AND MOVIES MORE CULTURE-AWARE

HEALTH

Biospectal

FOR MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE THROUGH SMARTPHONES

Brightseed

FOR MAPPING PLANTS’ CHEMICAL DIVERSITY AND USING IT FOR MEDICINE

Caption Health

FOR ADDING INTELLIGENCE TO ULTRASOUNDS

ClosedLoop AI

FOR GIVING DOCTORS NEW INSIGHT INTO HEALTH OUTCOMES

Microsoft and Adaptive Biotech

FOR USING DATA TO CREATE A TEST FOR PAST COVID-19 INFECTION

Outset Medical

FOR MAKING DIALYSIS LESS OF A BURDEN

Sherlock Biosciences

FOR APPLYING CRISPR'S POWER TO COVID-19 TESTING

Synchron

FOR GETTING PEOPLE WITH PARALYSIS ONLINE

Tivic Health

FOR REDUCING SINUS PAIN THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

TruTag

FOR PREVENTING PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY-CHAIN FRAUD

EXPERIENCES

Adobe

FOR PERFORMING MAGIC WITH MEGAPIXELS

Amazon

FOR DEMOCRATIZING SPECIAL EFFECTS

Arcturus

FOR RAISING THE VOLUME ON VOLUMETRIC VIDEOS

Around

FOR MAKING TRULY HYBRID MEETINGS POSSIBLE

Audio Design Desk

FOR SIMPLIFYING SOUND DESIGN

DressX

FOR OUTFITTING INFLUENCERS WITHOUT THE WASTE

Envisics

FOR STREAMLINING DISTRACTING CAR DISPLAYS

Hour One

FOR PUTTING VIRTUAL PEOPLE TO WORK

Kiswe

FOR CONNECTING FANS TO LIVE EVENTS

Leica Geosystems

FOR MINIATURIZING THE LASER SCANNER

Neurable

FOR KEEPING TABS ON OUR BRAINS' NEEDS

Pathway

FOR BRINGING WHITEBOARDS INTO THE VIRTUAL ERA

Taqtile

FOR USING AR TO MANAGE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

Tilt Five

FOR GIVING TABLE GAMES A NEW AR TWIST

Related Insights

Experience SpherexAI at NAB 2025

Spherex

SpherexAI

Spherex is headed to Las Vegas for NAB 2025, and we’re bringing a bold new expansion of our flagship product, SpherexAI. Join us at Booth W1456 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 6-9 to see how we’re transforming contextual advertising with cultural and emotional intelligence.

As the media and advertising industries look to AI for smarter targeting and better brand alignment, SpherexAI offers a groundbreaking solution. By analyzing the cultural and emotional context of streaming video at the scene level, SpherexAI helps advertisers engage audiences more meaningfully while reducing the risk of misaligned or unsafe ad placements.

The Power of Scene-Level Intelligence

At the heart of our advertising innovation is SpherexAI’s multimodal platform, which processes thousands of signals from every frame—visuals, audio, dialogue, and on-screen text—to create rich metadata that understands the tone, mood, and narrative context of video content.

This deep, scene-level intelligence powers a range of capabilities that can dramatically improve campaign effectiveness:

Smarter Ad Targeting – Ads are delivered when viewers are most emotionally receptive, based on the precise tone and content of each scene.
Seamless Integration – Ads align with the story arc instead of disrupting it, increasing both engagement and recall.
Cultural Sensitivity at Scale – Our patented Cultural Knowledge Graph ensures ad messaging aligns with local customs, values, and regulations in over 200 countries and territories.
Enhanced Brand Safety – SpherexAI actively prevents ad placements in scenes that could be offensive, inappropriate, or reputationally risky.

Whether you're building a global campaign or fine-tuning messaging for a specific region, SpherexAI ensures your ads resonate with cultural nuance and emotional precision. Best of all, this isn’t vaporware; SpherexAI can be added to your workflows today!

See It In Action

At NAB 2025, we’ll be demoing how SpherexAI empowers advertisers to connect with audiences in powerful new ways—by aligning their campaigns with the content people are already emotionally invested in.

Book a Demo

Ready to experience the future of contextual advertising? Book a meeting with the Spherex team or drop by Booth W1456 during NAB 2025. We’re excited to show you how scene-level cultural intelligence can elevate your strategy and unlock deeper audience engagement.

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Teresa Phillips Joins OTT.X Buzz Panel to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Spherex

OTT.X

Industry

On March 19, 2025, Spherex CEO Teresa Phillips joined a distinguished panel of female executives for the OTT.X BUZZ session—Women’s History Month Edition. This engaging discussion covered the latest trends in OTT and digital video while shedding light on women's unique experiences navigating the media and technology industries.

Moderated by Charlene Polite Corley, VP of Diverse Insights & Partnerships at Nielsen, the panel featured:‍

Teresa Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Spherex
Jenn Chen, Chief Revenue Officer, JWP Connatix
Maria Hellström, Chief Executive Officer, Codemill
Laura Martin, Managing Director, Senior Internet & Media Analyst, Needham & Company
Paige Sherman, Director, Digital Video Programming, Shout! Studios

Teresa shared valuable insights on leadership, career development, and the evolving role of women in media. Reflecting on her journey in a male-dominated industry and the U.S. Army, she emphasized the impact of mentorship and sponsorship in shaping successful careers. Offering practical advice for early and mid-career professionals, Phillips highlighted the importance of adaptability, recognizing career pivot points, and leading through times of transition.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion Throughout the session, the panelists tackled some of the most pertinent topics facing women and the industry today, including:

Work-Life Balance and Corporate Support: The panel explored how companies can better support caregivers, highlighting policies that enable a more inclusive and sustainable work environment.
The Rapid Evolution of AI in Media: With AI and automation playing an increasingly central role in content distribution, Phillips emphasized Spherex’s role in leveraging AI-powered tools to help studios navigate cultural and regulatory landscapes worldwide.
Leadership in a Shifting Industry: The panelists reflected on how they’ve adapted to significant industry changes, from the rise of FAST channels to the increasing role of data-driven decision-making in content strategy.
Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Media: The discussion tackled informal workplace dynamics that impact women’s success, from navigating corporate culture to advocating for fair representation at leadership levels.
Balancing Authenticity and Career Growth: Panelists shared insights on maintaining personal authenticity while adapting to workplace expectations in male-dominated spaces.

Looking Ahead: Women Driving Industry Innovation -The panelists reinforced that women’s leadership in M&E is not just necessary—it’s a competitive advantage. As AI, automation, and viewer behaviors evolve, diverse leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of streaming.

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Contextual Advertising in Media and Entertainment

Advertising

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Contextual Advertising

As media consumption increasingly shifts toward digital platforms, advertisers are rethinking their strategies to capture audience attention effectively.Traditional targeting methods that rely on demographics, user data, and third-party cookies are becoming less viable due to evolving privacy regulations and changing viewer behaviors. In this landscape, contextual advertising has emerged as a powerful approach for media and entertainment companies looking to align advertising with content in a meaningful way. This shift has created both challenges and opportunities for advertisers.

What is Contextual Advertising?

Contextual advertising is the practice of placing ads that are directly relevant to the content a viewer is watching, rather than being based on their personal data or browsing history. This strategy leverages the tone, theme, and emotional context of content to determine the most suitable ad placements.

For example, an ad for a travel experience appearing during a heartwarming reunion scene in a film about family bonds is far more impactful than a generic placement. The key advantage is that contextual ads feel natural, non-intrusive, and more relevant, leading to increased engagement and improved ad recall.

A recent AVCA study found that 42% of viewers were more interested in brands and products when ads were placed next to relevant content, and 38% learned more about products shown in AI-enabled contextually targeted ads.

WhyContextual Advertising Matters to Media & Entertainment Companies

1. Ensuring Brand Safety in a Complex Media Landscape: With a vast and diverse content ecosystem, brand safety is a growing concern for advertisers. Ads appearing in inappropriate or controversial content can damage a brand’s reputation.

Unlike traditional keyword-based targeting, which may misinterpret context, AI-driven contextual advertising ensures that ads appear in culturally appropriate and brand-safe environments.

Brand safety varies from country to country. Content considered neutral in one region may be perceived as controversial in another. Effective contextual advertising solutions must account for:

Local sensitivities
Regulatory restrictions
Cultural norms

This adaptability protects advertisers from unintended associations while preserving viewer trust across global markets.

2. Achieving Cultural Relevance for Global Audiences: With media distribution now spanning international markets, a one-size-fits-all approach to advertising no longer works. Different cultures interpret content in unique ways, and an ad that resonates in one region may be ineffective—or even offensive—in another. Contextual advertising powered by scene-level intelligence allows advertisers to tailor messages that align with regional values, traditions, and cultural expectations, increasing engagement and brand affinity across markets.

3. Scene-Level Intelligence: Placing Ads at the Right Moment: Beyond broad thematic targeting, scene-level intelligence enables advertisers to place ads at moments of peak emotional engagement. AI-powered analysis can detect pivotal narrative shifts, humor, suspense, or joy, allowing brands to insert ads at moments where viewers are most receptive. This enhances ad recall and emotional association with the brand, making advertising more effective and less intrusive.

4. A Privacy-First Alternative to Audience Targeting: With increasing data privacy regulations, brands must seek alternatives to traditional audience-based targeting. Contextual advertising provides a privacy-compliant solution by relying on content analysis rather than user tracking. This ensures brands can still deliver highly relevant messaging without relying on third-party cookies or invasive data collection.

A Smarter Approach with Advanced AI Technology

One advanced solution driving innovation in contextual advertising is SpherexAI. This technology analyzes content at a granular level, identifying specific scenes and moments where viewer engagement peaks. By processing visual, audio, and narrative elements, it can determine optimal ad placement opportunities that complement rather than interrupt the viewing experience.

SpherexAI provides scene-level intelligence that helps advertisers navigate the complexities of global content distribution, ensuring that ads align seamlessly with viewer expectations. This approach allows brands to:

Maximize engagement
Maintain brand integrity
Unlock new revenue opportunities
Deliver a more natural and immersive ad experience

NextSteps

For more information on maximizing your ad impact, visit Spherex or stop by booth W1456 during the upcoming NAB Show in Las Vegas. Use code NS7763 for a complimentary exhibitpass.

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