Deepbrain AI wins GITEX Future Stars Supernova Challenge 2021 & the event renames to North Star Dubai

Deepbrain AI, a Korean startup that uses conversational artificial intelligence technology to deliver empathising and conversing Ai Human services, has been named the winner of the 2021 GITEX GLOBAL Future Stars’ Supernova Challenge, taking home the top prize of $55,000.

According to the organizers, the Middle East and North Africa’s biggest startup event, GITEX Future Stars, has been renamed North Star Dubai, reflecting the platform’s expanding significance and increased focus on sustainability for young digital companies.

Following an intense final round of pitching involving startups from Korea, France, India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Japan, Deepbrain AI was declared the winner. Eric Jang, CEO of DeepBrain AI, accepted the first prize of $55,000 in funding. He said, “GITEX Future Stars provided a great platform for us to explore the Middle East market. We are honored to have the opportunity to participate in the Supernova Challenge – to be able to pitch in front of a panel of incredible judges is amazing, but to win the challenge is something else entirely – our minds were completely blown.”

This year’s Supernova Challenge featured a brand-new Draper-Aladdin prize, which will provide one startup with up to $500,000 in funding from renowned venture capitalist Tim Draper, who has supported 30 previous unicorns, including Hotmail, Skype, and Tesla.

GITEX Future Stars, a key component of GITEX GLOBAL x AI Everything 2021, demonstrated its position as the top regional platform for startups by providing unrivalled in-person industry engagement and creating new business prospects.

This year’s Supernova Challenge drew 120 game-changing startups from 36 countries for three days of challenges in front of a high-caliber panel of expert investors, after which the top 12 were chosen for a final challenge in the battle for the region’s most coveted prize, the GITEX Future Stars Supernova Champion title.

Farmin Space Technologies, an Abu-Dhabi tech firm that uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to monitor crops, won the ‘Best Emirati Startup’ prize and $4,000 in funding, while Geek Express, an online learning platform that provides accredited technology skills to K-12 students through private and group coding classes, won the ‘Best GCC Startup’ prize and $4,000 in funding.

The $500,000 Draper-Aladdin prize was split three ways due to the high number of business cases presented during the competition: Deepbrain AI; Crassula, a Latvia-based company that offers customizable digital banking and payment gateway solutions for Fintechs; and Japanese startup PJP Eye, which offers a carbon-based battery alternative to Li-Ion batteries.

Alexey Zhukov, Business Development Manager, Crassula, said: “Winning the prize is confirmation that we are heading in the right direction as a business, and we can hopefully look forward to more support from potential investors. The next steps for us involve expanding globally, with the Middle East being one of our top priorities.”

AmalDokhan, Partner, 500 Startups, one of the judges, said, “It was an honour to judge the Supernova Challenge. Being back at live events and witnessing such talent and energy in one of the region’s leading and most diverse startup platforms has been fantastic. We witnessed a line-up of really top notch-companies, and we’re definitely going to continue the conversation with a lot of them. I loved their energy on stage.”

GITEX Future Stars Supernova Challenge winners to receive funding included:

• Best Social & Environmental Impact: BEFC from France, which manufactures eco-friendly paper-based bioenzymatic fuel cells for sustainable energy generation.
• A new-to-show category, Best Youth/University Startup went to Thaely, from India, which produces ethical sneakers using only components recycled from waste materials. 
• New awards category Best Sports Tech was won by Grintafy from KSA, designers of an app that allows football players to create profiles to gain exposure to the biggest scouts and clubs.
• Best AI Startup: Kanari AI from USA, a company pioneering dialectal Arabic speech to text solutions.
• Best Marketing Technologywas won by Joberty Technologies, from Serbia, a workplace community that allows developers to review companies, discuss with the community, and find tech jobs.
• Best Blockchain Startup went to blockchain image marketplace Pictia, from France,
• The all-new best Creativity Economy prize was awarded to MYTM, from Pakistan, a mobile payment solution that offers mass transit e-ticketing, branchless banking and microfinance services.

“As GITEX Future Stars celebrates its 6^th birthday by becoming North Star Dubai, we look forward to ushering in a new era for sustainable, future-focused startups in the Middle East and North Africa that strive to deliver technology for good. The GITEX Future Stars Supernova Challenge has once again provided an essential platform for international startups to pitch their ideas to some of the industry’s leading tech entrepreneurs, and we are proud to support startups by connecting them to vital stakeholders and giving them a platform to share knowledge and expertise as they look to build a sustainable future,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.