AI agents are already poking around inside real bank accounts, according to recent reports, and that raises a simple question. Who supplies the tools that make AI smarter, safer, and more tightly controlled? The biggest brands get the headlines, but younger, smaller businesses focused on machine learning, automation, and data security could be where the real upside sits. This article examines three such small-cap AI stocks from our specialist screener.
The three stocks below are just a small sample, and the full screen surfaced 35 more AI small caps with equally compelling stories that are not covered here. To spot the ones that best fit your own thesis, head straight into the AI Small Caps screener to identify, analyze, and prioritize your highest conviction ideas.
Overview: Butterfly Network develops handheld and cart-based ultrasound systems, layered with Compass AI and ScanLab software that use machine learning to guide and connect medical imaging workflows.
Operations: Butterfly Network generates about US$112 million from its AI-enhanced personal ultrasound solution, with roughly US$92 million from the United States and US$20 million internationally.
Market Cap: US$1.95b
Butterfly Network matters for this AI Small Caps theme because its handheld ultrasound hardware is increasingly paired with AI software that connects imaging, training, and workflow in a single ecosystem.
"On November 17, 2025, Butterfly Network’s subsidiary signed a five-year co-development and licensing agreement with Midjourney for exclusive access to its semiconductor-based ultrasound technology, securing a US$15 million upfront payment, US$10 million annual license fees, and further milestone and revenue-sharing potential."
The real test for Butterfly Network is how one unseen pressure shapes the economics of turning that AI-enabled ultrasound platform into recurring revenue.
That pressure point is exactly where the story gets interesting, and the full narrative for Butterfly Network shows how Butterfly Network’s AI ultrasound model could accelerate or stall from here.
Overview: HeartFlow uses AI and computational fluid dynamics to turn coronary CT scans into 3D heart models that guide coronary artery disease diagnosis and treatment planning.
Operations: HeartFlow generates about US$212 million from non-invasive coronary artery disease detection tools, with roughly US$198 million from the United States and US$14 million internationally.
Market Cap: US$4.83b
HeartFlow matters for this AI Small Caps theme because its software applies machine learning directly to coronary imaging, turning raw scan data into clinical decisions that can influence how cardiologists manage chest pain pathways at scale.
"The transition of HeartFlow Plaque Analysis to a Category 1 CPT code in 2026, with defined Medicare payment rates in both clinic and hospital settings and commercial coverage already at 57% of U.S. lives, sets up a path for more routine clinical use that can add a new revenue stream and support gross margin mix over time."
The central question for HeartFlow is how far that broader clinical footing can stretch margins if one critical assumption on payer and physician behavior holds.
If that assumption proves right or starts to crack, the full narrative for HeartFlow maps how HeartFlow’s payer mix, pricing power, and AI moat could be quietly accelerating or stalling beneath the surface.
Overview: Penguin Solutions builds and manages AI focused data center infrastructure and memory systems for enterprises, governments, and neocloud providers worldwide.
Market Cap: US$2.89b
Penguin Solutions plugs directly into the AI Small Caps theme by supplying the heavy lifting infrastructure that turns enterprise and sovereign AI plans into running clusters and production workloads.
"Increasing adoption of AI and high-performance computing across major enterprise verticals is driving demand for turnkey compute infrastructure, as evidenced by customer bookings and a diversified pipeline; this is likely to support sustained growth in revenue."
The key question for investors is whether pressure on profitability will allow that AI driven demand to translate into durable earnings power.
If that earnings question is on your mind, the full narrative for Penguin Solutions shows how Penguin Solutions could see AI demand, capital intensity, and profitability all start to decouple.
New themes can move quickly, and early entry points may not stay quiet for long. Scan these fresh stock ideas before they are fully priced in and consider them while they remain available.
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