Overview
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.
Media & appearances
- SuperNovaYouTubeSuperHero Conversations EP3 | Sven De Cleyn - imec.istart & Niels Van Damme - OTIVGhent-based startup automating rail vehicles (trams, trains, industrial rail) with assisted driving, remote control and autonomous technology; founded February 2020, now 35 people with clients across Europe and arguably the biggest rail dataset in the world.
Stated facts & numbers
- OTIV was founded on 6 February 2020 and celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2025.SuperNova 2025-02-260:02:40
- OTIV currently has 35 employees with clients all over Europe; its first clients were in the Netherlands, not Belgium.SuperNova 2025-02-260:16:29
- 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.SuperNova 2025-02-260:16:59
- OTIV is currently fundraising to expand operations and technology.SuperNova 2025-02-260:18:00
Key people
In the news
- OTIV, leidende kracht in de automatisering van het treinverkeerAls het goederen- én personenvervoer via het spoor straks volledig autonoom verloopt, dan zal dat wellicht voor een groot deel te danken zijn aan de innovatieve geesten van het Gentse OTIV. De transportsector heeft erg veel te winnen bij een gevorderde automatisering van het spoor, in efficiëntie én in duurzaamheid. Maar de transitie naar autonome […]
L’article OTIV, leidende kracht in de automati
Forbes BE Innovatie · 3 Nov 2026
- Last night, Belgium’s fastest-growing tech companies put on their fancy shoes for Deloitte’s #FAST50BE gala. And did our imec.istart crew show up and show off! 🏆 Fast 50 winner and Sustainability category winner: Octave 🏆 Fast 50 Hardware and Semicon category winner: AI-BLOX | Physical AI computers 🌟 Rising Star finalist: nuclivision And there’s more: Azumuta, RISOLTO and Shayp also earned their spots in the Fast 50 ranking. Proper family gathering, if you ask us! That makes two Fast 50 crowns in a row for our community, after
- Great to see De Tijd cover the launch of fundraising for Miles Ahead Capital II, our new €75M venture capital fund focused on Physical AI & Robotics. With portfolio companies like Automated Architecture (AUAR) , Trosort and OTIV, we’re already seeing the potential of Physical AI across construction, textile recycling and rail. We’re now welcoming investors to join us in building the next generation of European Physical AI champions. Interested in being part of our €75M fund? Let’s connect! #PhysicalAI #Robotics #VentureCapital
- Two recognitions in London: one for the tech, one for the partnership! Last week together with De Lijn we won two prizes at the Global Light Rail Awards, organized by Mainspring: 🛡️ Safety Initiative of the Year 🤝 Team of the Year In the collaboration the OTIV collision avoidance system runs on trams in Antwerp, exceeding our objectives in detection accuracy, system availability in passenger service and driver acceptance. Results like these are never a solo effort. Thank you to the drivers and teams at De Lijn and to our
- We're hiring an Operations Manager in Ghent! As Operations Manager, you will own our product chain from supplier to customer, and make sure every product ships on time, in full and to spec. This role is definitely for people who like a challenge: in OTIV's next phase, new products need to be productized, and our Ops processes scaled and maintained. Do you know someone who is up for it? Share it! Are you curious yourself? Reach out to Floris, Delphine or apply via the link 👇 https://lnkd.in/eWz6edWi #hiring #supplychain
- De genomineerden voor de Flanders International Business Awards 2026 zijn bekend! Negen Vlaamse bedrijven maken dit jaar kans op een FIBA-award. Ze tonen elk op hun manier hoe sterk Vlaams ondernemerschap internationaal staat: van innovatieve start-ups tot bedrijven die al jarenlang succesvol exporteren naar markten over de hele wereld. 🦁 FIBA Exporter - Lion Contec - Industrial Automation Solutions | Intersoft Electronics | Meyvaert 🐾 FIBA Exporter - Cub BioLizard | Cubigo | SGC - SwitchGear Company 🚀 FIBA Startup Breed
- This morning we did it. A locomotive in Rotterdam, remotely controlled live from Berlin. 🇳🇱🇩🇪 The first demo of our Remote Train Operation System ran smoothly. A full crowd at our booth watched our team drive in real-time a locomotive from #Innotrans. 🚂🚂 Missed it? You get a second chance this afternoon! 🚀 Join us at 14h50 in Hall 7.1A, booth 500. Not possible for you to join? You can join remotely (wouldn’t make sense otherwise): https://lnkd.in/eDG8x3du See you at 14h50. 🫡
- Day 3 at InnoTrans. The first 2 days flew by. We announced our partnership with NEXRAIL.lease to equip their fleet with our assistance system. We had great talks with operators, OEMs and partners. And yes, we found time for a good Belgian beer night yesterday 🍻 But #Innotrans2026 is not over yet, and today is a big day! We run 2 live demos of OTIV.THREE, our Remote Train Operations system. From our booth in Berlin, we will remotely control a locomotive in Rotterdam. Live, in front of you. 🚂 This is the largest Remote Train
Open roles (9)
- Operations ManagerGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Oct 2, 2026
- Internship Customer Success (French-speaking)Ghent, Flanders, Belgium · Sep 10, 2026
- Robotics (Software) EngineerGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Aug 14, 2026
- Machine Learning EngineerGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Feb 2, 2026
- Electromechanical Hardware EngineerGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Jan 26, 2026
- Business Development Representative (BDR)Ghent, Flanders, Belgium · Jan 13, 2026
- Internship Sales & Business DevelopmentGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Aug 18, 2025
- Account Executive (AE)Ghent, Flanders, Belgium · May 12, 2025
- Internship EngineeringGhent, Flanders, Belgium · Oct 2, 2024
Alumni 1 went on to found or lead
Jorrit WillaertMachine Learning Intern→Co-Founder & CEO at Jurimesh
Backers
Pitchdrive
Pitchdrive is a venture capital fund that invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups, with four funds raised totaling €250K-2M in first-check investments, and a portfolio of over 70 companies backed globally.
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