Embedd, Adesio, Understand Tech, weeteq and MYVOX are the five companies featured in the third Fast Forward Startup Spotlight, part of Elektor’s pre-electronica 2026 series. Their technologies cover automated embedded software development, electronics procurement, secure enterprise AI, real-time control systems and MEMS-based electronics cooling. The series introduces startups participating in electronica Fast Forward 2026, giving each company five minutes to present its technology before joining a live discussion about development challenges, applications and commercial opportunities. REGISTER HERE Embedd and Adesio focus on development and procurement Embedd is developing software tools to automate parts of the embedded systems development process. Its platform allows engineers to model hardware configurations, assign pins and peripherals, and generate device trees, drivers and board support packages for microcontroller- and microprocessor-based designs. The technology is intended to reduce the manual work involved in adapting embedded software to different semiconductor platforms. By generating hardware-specific configuration files and supporting code, Embedd aims to simplify the integration of processors, peripherals and operating systems into custom electronic products. Adesio addresses another part of the electronics development and manufacturing process: component procurement and supply-chain management. Its software connects enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with supplier information, providing access to component availability, pricing and lead times. The platform also automates procurement activities, including requests for quotation and purchase orders. For electronics manufacturers managing complex bills of materials, improved access to supplier information can help identify component shortages, obsolescence risks and purchasing alternatives before these disrupt production. Embedd and Adesio are working on different stages of the engineering workflow, but both aim to reduce repetitive manual processes that can delay product development. Secure AI and real-time circuit control Understand Tech develops secure AI applications for organisations working with proprietary technical information and regulated data. Its platform allows companies to build AI-based tools that work with internal documentation and knowledge sources. Deployment options include software-as-a-service, private cloud infrastructure and fully air-gapped on-premises systems. The latter is particularly relevant to organisations that cannot permit sensitive technical information to leave their own infrastructure. Scottish company weeteq is developing Ultra Edge, an AI-based technology for real-time monitoring and correction of dynamic behaviour in power and control systems. Unlike conventional AI implementations that analyse information at a higher system level, Ultra Edge operates at microcontroller and circuit level. The company reports response times below 0.1 ms, allowing its technology to detect and correct transient conditions in applications such as motor control and power conversion. The approach could be relevant to industrial automation, electric vehicle powertrains, energy systems and other applications requiring rapid responses to changing electrical conditions. MYVOX develops chip-scale cooling technology Swedish startup MYVOX is developing solid-state cooling devices using piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Its Airflow-in-a-chip technology uses lead zirconate titanate (PZT) actuators to move air through rapidly vibrating microstructures. Unlike conventional fans, the devices do not rely on rotating blades and can be manufactured using semiconductor production processes. The company is targeting compact electronic systems where conventional cooling components are difficult to accommodate. Potential applications include mobile devices, densely packaged electronics and AI processing hardware. MYVOX’s approach is one o