ROBODAY - PitchDay in May 2023 - Dtec – Dubai, UAE

Yesterday, I was invited to attend ROBODAY, a robotic-focused pitch competition at the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), inside the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) technology park and free zone. This event provided a unique opportunity to delve into the realm of 11 trailblazing companies based in the United Arab Emirates, dedicated to driving cutting-edge technological advancements.

Moderated by Anna P. Kovalerskaya , the competition started with an opening by Ghanim Alfalasi - Senior Vice President of Technology and Entrepreneurship at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), then the first of the pitches started.

1.??????AGRIX – Sustainable AgriTech.

Introduce by Zainab Khan, AGRIX is a flexible software connecting drones to provide real-time insights and automated control for farmers, enabling data-driven decision-making and optimized resource usage, including water usage. This project appears in line with the UAE’s vision of sustainable development and addresses an important need for the optimization of resources in the agricultural sector.

They are currently searching for mentorship, partnerships, finance, and networking opportunities.

2.??????Arachne – Supervision, exploration, and monitoring.

Rohan Ashar and Muzaffar Siddiqui unveiled their innovative hexapod robot, meticulously engineered to effortlessly navigate challenging terrains and confined spaces. The robot boasts live streaming capabilities, face detection, object tracking, and operates proficiently in low-light environments.

They are currently seeking funding for 2 working prototypes.

3.??????ROBOCAST – HealthTech.

Mohamed Ishag Hassan from Zadynco showcased an innovative smart plaster/splint. This reusable and adjustable solution eliminates the need for custom casts for each patient and facilitates expedited rehabilitation following fractures. It features a breathable and comfortable design, while also incorporating a healing process tracking system that establishes connectivity between patients and their caregivers.

They are currently looking for raising $65k in fund.

4.??????Junkbot – Sustainable EdTech.

With recycling materials, Abdussamad AK from Junkbot presented an innovative solution to address the pressing concern of inadequate preparation of the next generation for the evolving STEM/STEAM skill requirements in the job market. By utilizing recycled materials, he developed education kits encompassing topics such as AI and robotics. These customized kits cater to the needs of schools, corporations, and governmental organizations, fostering the development of essential skills among learners.

In their current phase, they are looking for connections to expand their offering, advisors & mentors, and opportunities to launch pilots with retailers.

5.??????Robosculptor – HealthTech.

With a shortage of therapists, the increased longevity of the global population and a need for quality treatment with privacy in mind, Dennis Ledenkof and his team have developed a robot offering 3 times more monthly massage sessions than specialists with constant quality. Therapists can now operate up to 5 robots simultaneously.

They are fundraising on a Round Strategy 1 at $3M, for an investment term of 2-4 years, to improve their team, marketing and sales.

6.??????Xbot – NextGen Cafe.

Michael Mit from VLT introduced the first robotic kiosk entirely designed and manufactured in the UAE. This 100% automated solution serves up to 4 cups in a single order of multiple products (coffee, hot chocolate, ice creams with toppings, etc.). You can talk to the kiosk and see his entertaining dance while you are waiting for your coffee.

They are currently searching for investors, while they are also eager to know the major robotics industry players and to blend into ecosystems.

7.??????Wehead – Telecommunication device.

Ilya Sedoshkin called it a “tabletop device in a face shape form”. It allows to interact with other humans (or digital humans) with a full-size face, follows the head gestures, allows eye contact with spatial audio. You can still see the person speaking on Wehead while you are on the side, and the device follows the head movements of the Wehead speaker, two features that typical videoconference systems cannot offer.

They are currently searching for strategic investors and are open to work with software development startups as this product can be an interface to virtual assistants.

8.??????Eanan – Flying taxis & drones.

Eanan is a UAE-based company developing automatic drones with a focus on new and ground-breaking technologies, and Peter Reynaert explained that their offering includes drones with vertical take-offs. Security and trust are key in this industry. They have two platform types: the Flying Wings (efficient in energy providing longer distances overage) and the multicopters. Amongst the multicopters, the cargo version is expected to fly around July 2023. And later, with the right regulations’ approvals on Urban Air Mobility (UAM), it will pave the way to the air taxi version.

They are currently looking for:

• Partners that can support them with new technologies such as batteries, navigation systems, production facilities for motors, etc.
• Increasing their workforce: engineers, CAD designers, engineer-physicist etc.
• Partners for further commercialization.

?9.??????Roboads – AdTech

Faysal ElChamaa introduced a mobile advertising robot to raise brand awareness and increase customer engagement as it attracts attention and interacts with targeted audiences. The robot can recognise that someone is looking at it and send a notification to someone on the other end to interact with that person. He also announced the launch of a new robot, compact and modular, in the UAE that can be controlled by AI.

They are currently raising their 1st pre-seed fund to reach their multibillion-dollar target market.

10.??Dexter Robotics – CleanTech & Construction.

Coming from Abu Dhabi to solve the current issue of cleaning the facades and painting buildings, Bashar El-Khasawneh, PhD, PMP introduced Cling, a scalable and modular patented solution that is 2-10x faster than manual work and that can operate in windy conditions, for a cost of half of manual work or less. It can overcome larger obstructions without the height constraints of existing products in the market, and in itself, it can be a fully functional CNC machine capable of executing drilling and other related tasks.

They are currently raising EAD 1M fund at the seed level for their product development, marketing & sales, and operations.

11.??AirQ – Cargo transportation and vast area surveillance.

Coming from Masdar Free Zone in Abu Dhabi with the goal of building energy-efficient vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wings unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Ayoub El Alouani introduced modular UAVs with weight reductions and improved aerodynamics. The Harara model is in flight testing phase and could cover up to 600km in one flight. It should be noted that the company also provides the ground control station as part of their B2B offers.

2 special announcements during the event.

1. Alexey Ovsyannikov did a short presentation of Robocity, the project of a fully automated smart and eco-friendly city. It will be discussed in October 2023 at the North Star event.

2. Dtec Ventures incubates or invests (Seed to Series B) in startups. Elliott (Els) Denham , startups program manager at Sandbox, introduced Sandbox, the startup 12-month program by Dtec which offers plenty of services and assistance in addition to the funding aspect for early-stage startups.