These companies are pushing technology forward with fewer than 100 employees

These companies aren’t big—but they’re bringing new ideas to some thorny challenges. Kids have been crafting with cardboard for decades, but Chompshop has found a way to make it safer and more fun. Online clothes shopping has long been a bit hit or miss, but Veesual’s found a way to maximize the number of hits. And GoodMaps and Overture Maps have tackled longstanding navigation problems. 

Chompshop
For making kids’ cardboard crafts safer and more fun
Cheap, abundant cardboard is great for kids’ art and science projects, but it’s often hard to trim with scissors. Chompshop has developed a kid-safe power tool specifically designed for this versatile material. While it’s called a ChompSaw and looks like a table saw, it’s based on a protected hole-punch mechanism that keeps children’s hands safe. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and Shark Tank appearance, the company has sold more than 17,000 ChompSaws since its October 2024 launch.

GoodMaps
For helping people navigate indoors as easily as on the road
Navigating indoor spaces like airports and museums can be complicated, especially as GPS-style assistance is typically not available. GoodMaps developed an AI-powered system letting venue operators scan and map facilities using just an iPhone. A GoodMaps Studio application lets operators customize maps and guidance. The platform has been embraced by airports from London Heathrow to Dallas Fort Worth International, as well as institutions such as Ohio’s Armstrong Air & Space Museum.

Overture Maps
For setting the standard for unifying messy map data
A collaborative open-data initiative founded by Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom and embraced by other big names such as Esri, Tripadvisor, and Uber, Overture Maps built an identification system for more than 3 billion global locations that’s as unique as the human fingerprint. Its Global Entity Reference System makes it clear that “Tom’s Diner” is (or isn’t) the same location as “Tom’s Restaurant,” whichever app or dataset you’re working with. GERS can also benefit governments tracking data like car accidents and serve autonomous cars needing clear navigational information.

Veesual
For letting online shoppers get an accurate view before they buy clothes
Online clothes shopping is notoriously hit-or-miss. While some companies have developed virtual AI models, they can distort the look of garments and the body itself. Veesual created an alternative, physics-informed approach, displaying clothes as they’d actually appear on a range of models and letting customers see how they’ll look on someone like them. The startup has worked with brands such as Eileen Fisher, Lululemon, and Adore Me, and it raised a $7.5 million seed round in 2024.

The companies and individuals behind these technologies are among the honorees in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards for 2025. Read more about the winners across all categories and the methodology behind the selection process.

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