2018 has been a great year for young companies, and it seems like 2019 is yet another year full of potential as people with more diverse backgrounds enter the world of entrepreneurship. With modern technologies invading the corporate world and more opportunities to explore, the number of possibilities seems endless for various sectors in the startup world.

For 2019, here are 5 startups to watch out who are likely to make a global impact this year.

SpaceTime Enterprises

Nowadays, it is not impossible to encounter an entertainment place where virtual reality (VR) technology is incorporated. The concept of VR experience seems to be a popular business idea among entrepreneurs, among which is the U.K.-based initiative, SpaceTime Enterprises.

In August 2018, a joint venture between In-Space Missions and REWIND started planning a project that will make use of virtual and augmented reality to take us into new heights through real-time space tourism, but at affordable prices.

SpaceTime Enterprises will make use of multiple satellites equipped with cameras which will be used to broadcast real-time images of space and also deliver meteorological and atmospheric information. They aim to provide an immersive experience to see these images with the use of VR and AR technologies, giving consumers the ability to become an astronaut and visit miles into space.

In-Space Missions CEO Doug Liddle said that it is the perfect time to take advantage of the recent advances in technology, such as feasible nanosatellite platforms, efficient video compression techniques, real-time ground station networks, and VR/AR experience.

SpaceTime Enterprises will officially launch in the second half of 2019.

Yora

Tom Neish, the founder of Yora, found out that over 500 million pets in the world consume approximately 23 billion tons of meat every year. With many people nowadays deciding to reduce their meat consumption due to environmental issues or concerns about animal welfare, Yora sought to find an alternative that would benefit pets and also the environment.

Contrary to regular commercial dog food, Yora is unique for using insect protein in its ingredients. Yora is packed with proteins, fats, amino acids, and minerals and combined with superfoods like potato, oats, beetroot, and natural botanicals, which will ensure every pet’s nutritional needs are met.

Yora believes that one of the best things we can do for the planet is to cut down on meat consumption. With a 40% insect protein yield sourced from their high-tech facility farm in Holland, the company is looking into transforming the pet food market.

Cognetivity

When it comes to medical expenses for the treatment of dementia, it is calculated to reach approximately $2 trillion by 2030. Dementia an increasingly important health issue today, having the knowledge to diagnose the disease at an early stage will make a significant difference.

A team of Cambridge PhDs found out that early detection of dementia can save up $118,000 on medical expenses per patient. This prompted them to build Cognetivity, a company that focuses on neuroscience technologies to find ways on how to detect dementia at its infant stage.

By making use of a breakthrough technology involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognetivity came up with a five-minute Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) test designed as a handy diagnostic tool for doctors to carry out analysis and calculate the patient’s risk of developing dementia.

Cognetivity believes that through early diagnosis of dementia, patients’ have more chances of improving their lives if they immediately seek for early treatment and monitoring as soon as they’re aware of the diagnosis.

ObjectTech

UK-based startup ObjectTech is gearing to create digital passports for problem-free travel by 2020. The proposed digital passport will combine biometric technology and a blockchain trust framework.

One of the vital element of ObjectTech is its priority to protect each individual through a “self-sovereign identity.” The company has partnered with Dubai airport to test the new digital airport technology.

Bee Vectoring Technologies

To provide solutions to the negative environmental and health consequences of chemical pesticide spraying, Bee Vectoring Technologies, a tech firm based in Canada, came up with a new system employing bumblebees.

The BVT system makes use of bumblebees to disseminate an organic fungus, Clonostachys rosea. The bumblebees are reared to walk through a tray with an organic powder before they leave their hive and drop spores on each plant they pollinate. The fungus-containing powder enables plants to prevent developing devastating diseases, such as Botrytis fruit rot of strawberries.