Leading the Next Industrial Revolution: Ken Forster on AI, Automation, and Industry 5.0

Download Frost & Sullivan’s Transformational Growth Leadership Interview with Ken Forster, Founder and Executive Director of Momenta

A Conversation with Ken Forster, Founder and Executive Director of Momenta, and Karthik Sundaram, Research Director, Frost & Sullivan

How Momenta is Powering a Smarter, Greener Industrial Future

As global industries race toward digital transformation, Momenta is emerging as a leading force in funding and scaling industrial technologies that matter. In this exclusive interview, Ken Forster, Founder and Executive Director of Momenta, discusses how his team is shaping the next wave of smart, sustainable innovation—from AI-driven operations to human-centric manufacturing systems, helping redefine the global industrial landscape for 2030 and beyond.

Industrial Innovation: What’s Disrupting the World of Machines

Karthik Sundaram: Ken, how has Momenta’s mission evolved amidst this era of industrial disruption?

Ken Forster: We’re witnessing one of the most profound industrial shifts in decades—AI, automation, and robotics are rewriting how global production and supply systems operate. At Momenta, we define ourselves as “venture industrialists.” We’re not just funding innovation, we’re guiding it. Our focus is on startups and scaleups that are digitally transforming energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and supply chains. By 2030, this industry will be representing over $6 trillion in new value, and we’re investing in companies that will lead that transformation.

Hotspots of Progress: Where Innovation is Sprinting Ahead

Karthik Sundaram: Where are you seeing the most momentum today?

Ken Forster: The biggest areas are:

• Industrial AI: It’s rapidly moving beyond enterprise IT, embedding directly into operations to predict outcomes and optimize complex systems.
• Software-driven automation: We’re switching from static systems to agile, cloud, and edge-integrated solutions that scale with demand.
• Integrated robotics: Modular and collaborative robots are breaking out of closed ecosystems, unlocking agile manufacturing and next-gen automation.

Under-the-Radar Technologies Set to Make Waves

Karthik Sundaram: What emerging technologies are industrial leaders still underestimating?

Ken Forster: Industrial AI, especially embedded and generative AI. Most leaders still see it as futuristic, but in reality, it’s quietly transforming resilience, reducing waste, and unlocking operational agility. The real power lies in making decisions before problems happen. We’re investing in startups that are already proving that leap possible.

Moving Beyond Industry 4.0 to a More Human Future

Karthik Sundaram: What’s driving the shift toward Industry 5.0, and why does it matter?

Ken Forster: Industry 5.0 is essentially Industry 4.0 with a conscience. It’s emphasizing:

• Human-centricity: Enhancing, not replacing human capabilities
• Sustainability: Prioritizing ethical production and renewables
• Resilience: Building systems that adapt quickly to change

Europe has been leading this thinking through the EU’s Industry 5.0 initiative, and we’ve been involved in it since the beginning. In today’s world, technology must be in service of people, not the other way around.

Cutting Through the AI Startups Buzz

Karthik Sundaram: How do you identify AI startups that will thrive?

Ken Forster: The key is industry expertise. We back founders who’ve lived the pain points; people building solutions rooted in deep domain knowledge. Companies like Edge Impulse, Composabl, and Luffy AI are applying AI with precision, not hype. That’s what drives real adoption and real outcomes.

Scaling Up: Is Europe Ready to Lead?

Karthik Sundaram: How do you see Europe’s role in industrial innovation?

Ken Forster: Europe is producing over half of global industrial revenue and some of the strongest engineering talent. The challenge is scaling that innovation globally. We’re investing in firms like Spray Vision, NODE Robotics, and AICA—they’re solving big challenges, but they need support to expand beyond the region. Better ecosystems and capital access will be essential.

Industries on the Edge of a Tech Revolution

Karthik Sundaram: Of all the industries you focus on, which one is primed for breakthrough innovation?

Ken Forster: Manufacturing. Energy and supply chains already saw early waves of digitization. Now, with the reshoring trend growing and geopolitical tensions rising, medium-sized manufacturers are rapidly adopting digital tools to increase local agility and global competitiveness.

Final Thoughts: Transformation as Responsibility

Ken Forster: For us, digital transformation isn’t just an opportunity, it’s a responsibility. We’re investing in companies that build a more sustainable, resilient, and human-centric future. That’s the heart of the next industrial era.