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
- Before we dive in the weekend, autonomous rail, drones and driverless vehicles, all running live in one afternoon at the second Autonomous Summit in Stad Antwerpen this week. What stood out to us: OTIV, ADLC, Helicus, Tective Robotics ( 2 winners of our pitch sessions together with Hubs4Growth & VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and Ghent University Racing did not present roadmaps, they ran demos. That gap between slide and system is the whole story of autonomy in ports right now. We hosted the Portuguese port
- We spent two days at Port of the Future Week in Antwerp this week with our PUMA Protector. It was great to show our quadruped to the port and terminal operators, investors, and regulators who attended, right there on the quay next to the electric terminal tractors and wind turbines it's actually built to work around. But the highlight was Spark! Pitch, where nine Flemish companies pitched their automation solutions. Unfortunately, we didn't come out on top, but big congrats to OTIV, who had a very strong case. Thanks to The Beacon
- A train in the Netherlands driven from our remote operating center in Antwerp, that's what we did today. 🚆 Remote and autonomous train operations aren't a "someday" technology anymore, they're operational today. 👇 Of course, none of this happens alone. Huge thanks to our partners who made this demonstration possible: Mobility42, Rail Systems Engineering, ProRail, DB Cargo and Hitachi Rail. And a special thank you to Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and to Jonathan Van Cauwenberge in particular, for hosting us and giving us the stage.
- Fifteen companies will pitch on our stage next week at Port of The Future (Port of Antwerp-Bruges). Six of them are not Belgian. On Tuesday 15th of September at DroneHorizon, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg each send two companies to the same stage: dotOcean, ADLC, Tective Robotics, Mozaero, Airial UAS and HHLA Sky GmbH. Two themes, sensing the port and operating the port. Five minutes each, then questions from a bench of port end users who actually buy this technology. On Wednesday 16th of September at the Autonomous Summit, nine
- Indian summer vibe at Strukton and Infrabel 🌞 This week, our team equipped 2 additional sites in #Belgium and #TheNetherlands with our Assistance System for Shunting, OTIV.ONE. Operators no longer need to stand on the footboard when pushing wagons, removing unnecessary risks and hazards. We're proud to add these two sites to a growing list of partners choosing safer shunting operations. 🤝 Want to make rail safer too? Reach out. 🚂
- InnoTrans 2026 is almost here and we're bringing a packed week to Berlin! Swipe through to see what's on: speaking sessions with partners like CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles), DB Cargo, and De Lijn, a live remote train drive from 696 km away, and a couple of interesting get-togethers! Thank you in advance to our speakers Nacho Celaya, Norbert Kahl, Johan Clé and Baseliyos Jacob. 📍 Find us at Hall 7.1, Booth 500, Sep 22-25 See you in Berlin! 🇩🇪 #InnoTrans2026 #InnoTrans #RailInnovation #Autonomy
- The Betuweroute: a specially constructed freight railway line approximately 160 kilometers long that connects the Port of Rotterdam with the German border. 🗺️ On this route we're executing the biggest rail freight automation project in Europe. We are proving that what still sounds like the future is possible today. Together with Hitachi Rail, DB Cargo, ProRail, Mobility42 & Rail Systems Engineering we're increasing energy efficiency, maximizing capacity utilization, boosting productivity, and enhancing operational stability. ⚡
- It all started with a museum tram in Antwerp, equipped with an OTIV ADAS system. 🚃 Helping drivers navigate complex urban environments safely is part of our mission and today, our systems are making Antwerp safer with our long standing partner De Lijn. In parallel, we're making railway operations safer and more efficient at the second-largest port in Europe, supporting the modal shift as it happens. 🌱 Curious about our technology and what we do? Come find us in Antwerp on September 16th at the Autonomous Summit, organised by
Open roles (9)
- Internship Customer Success (French-speaking)Wavre · Sep 12, 2026
- Robotics (Software) EngineerWavre · Aug 30, 2026
- Marketing ManagerWavre · Aug 30, 2026
- Finance & Admin SpecialistWavre · Aug 30, 2026
- Machine Learning EngineerWavre · Jan 18, 2026
- Electromechanical Hardware EngineerWavre · Aug 5, 2025
- Account Executive (AE)Wavre · May 11, 2025
- Business Development Representative (BDR)Wavre · May 11, 2025
- Internship EngineeringWavre · Dec 10, 2023
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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