Presight selects 10 AI startups to join accelerator

New Presight Accelerator receives 120 applications from 17 countries

#UAE #accelerator - Abu Dhabi-based AI and big data analytics company Presight has selected 10 startups from across eight sectors to join its inaugural six-month AI-Startup Accelerator. Targeting a wide variety of sectors targets from energy and climate risk, to smart cities, and sovereign AI, the new programme received 120 applications from 17 countries in a highly competitive qualification process. The 15 finalists from which the 10 were selected, had already collectively raised over $150 million, with backing from leading global accelerators including Microsoft, Google, Alchemist, and Techstars. The 10 chosen startups will now first join an intensive bootcamp in Abu Dhabi.

SO WHAT? - In March, Presight announced a collaboration with Microsoft to run the new AI-Startup Accelerator. Microsoft will contribute its expertise in technical enablement, mentorship, and market acceleration through its Microsoft Founders Hub initiative. Meanwhile, Presight will help the startups gain commercial advantage, access cutting-edge technology resources, and expand their network within the UAE, the wider G42 ecosystem, locally and globally.

Here are some key details about the new accelerator:

• ADX-listed Presight, part of the Abu Dhabi-based G42 Group, selected 10 startups across eight sectors to join its inaugural six-month AI-Startup Accelerator. The startups were chosen from 15 finalists who pitched in Abu Dhabi during final selection days earlier this month.

• The 15 finalists in the final selection proces had collectively raised over $150 million, demonstrating the high calibre of applications attracted to the Middle East's growing AI ecosystem.

• Selected startups span eight critical sectors: smart cities, energy, fintech, climate risk and resilience, AI infrastructure and model optimisation, education, cybersecurity, and sovereign AI.

• The 10 startups confirmed for the first cohort of Presight’s accelerator are:

  • Derq (UAE, USA) - intelligent transportation systems (ITS)

  • Resync (Singapore) - AI-driven energy efficiency and sustainability

  • AlphaGeo (Singapore) - climate risk analytics

  • Zypl.ai (UAE/Tajikistan) - optimisation of AI agents for edge

  • AJARI.ai (Indonesia / Singapore) - native AI-powered education

  • Waverity (Azerbaijan) - enhances seismic image data interpretation

  • Vulcan (UAE) - GenAI security, safety, & compliance tools

  • NodeShift (UAE, USA) - sovereign AI cloud platform

  • Maiden Century (USA) - investment insights platform

  • Cobi (UAE, USA) - business intelligence platform

• Strategic partners Microsoft and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) provided jury panel members alongside Presight senior management for the final selection process.

• The accelerator bootcamp will provide technical mentoring, strategic market access, potential commercial proof-of-concepts, product refinement, and investment readiness preparation.

• Participants gain access to Presight's AI infrastructure, the UAE and G42's partner ecosystem, distribution channels, integration opportunities with Presight's product pipeline, plus support in future funding.

ZOOM OUT - The UAE is building a growing reputation for being a global destination for AI startups, with entrepreneurs convening on the Emirates from all over the world. Overall the UAE leads the Middle East and North Africa in terms of startup investments with $1.1 billion being invested across 207 transaction last year, according to Wamda. Venture capital investment in AI startups has lagged during the past few years, with investors preferring to back better understood sectors such as ecommerce, transport and fintech. In fact, of the $289 million VC investment recorded by Wamda in MENA last month, less than 10% was invested in AI startups. Nevertheless, the number of startup programmes and funds aimed at AI startups continues to grow and the past two years and more AI startups are getting traction.

[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]

LINKS

• Presight AI Startup Accelerator registration (Presight)

Read more about the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator:

• Deadline approaches for Presight AI startup accelerator (Middle East AI News)

• Presight launches accelerator for early stage AI startups (Middle East AI News)