OTIV
Founded by Niels Van Damme and Sam De Smet in Ghent, OTIV applies AI-powered perception and control systems to rail vehicles, enabling trains to operate autonomously or with significantly reduced human intervention. The technology addresses a persistent challenge in public transport: rail networks need more frequent and flexible service, but driver availability and cost create constraints.
OTIV's approach focuses on retrofitting existing rail vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities rather than building new trains, making it a practical solution for operators that cannot wait for hardware replacement cycles.
The company's 4365% revenue growth earned it the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Belgium.
Stated facts & numbers
- OTIV was founded on 6 February 2020 and celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2025. (0:02:40, SuperNova 2025-02-26)
- OTIV currently has 35 employees with clients all over Europe; its first clients were in the Netherlands, not Belgium. (0:16:29, SuperNova 2025-02-26)
- OTIV plans an autonomous tram in a closed-off environment in 2025 (project in Oslo, Norway) and an autonomous train starting in 2025 into 2026; goal of market-ready autonomous vehicles by 2030. (0:16:59, SuperNova 2025-02-26)
- OTIV is currently fundraising to expand operations and technology. (0:18:00, SuperNova 2025-02-26)
