Jade Autism is Gitex Future Stars 2020 winner
A startup app that stimulates and develops child cognitive functions is the winner of the 2020 Gitex Future Stars’ Supernova Challenge, taking home the top prize of $50,000. Jade Autism beat 73 other startups from 30 countries across 12 different categories. Other finalists came from France, India, Israel, Slovakia, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Gitex Future Stars was held alongside Gitex Technology Week 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre from December 6-7, providing a much-needed boost to the startup ecosystem after a year of disruption caused by Covid-19. Jade Autism is a platform that develops gamified therapeutic solutions for children and adolescents with cognitive disabilities. Originally from Brazil, the startup now operates out of Abu Dhabi’s Hub71. One Moto from the UAE, which specialises in electric vehicle last-mile solutions, and Radix Technologies from Israel, which focuses on classroom management solutions, won the runnerup prizes of $10,000 each. BeeFree Agro from Israel, a drone-based autonomous herding system capable of moving large herds over expansive pastures, was the bonus runner-up winner taking home $10,000. This year’s edition of the Supernova Challenge introduced four new vertical prizes, including Best Innovative Covid-19 solution, Best Martech Startup, Best Social and Environmental Impact and Best Fintech Startup – alongside returning categories Emirati Startup, Ai Startup, International Startup, Youth, and Female-led Startup. Radix Technologies was awarded the title of the Best Innovative Covid-19 solution. French startup Switchy, a platform for social media link optimisation, was named as the Best Martech Startup, while Jade Autism bagged the title of the Best Social and Environmental Impact. BC Labs from South Korea was adjudged as the Best Fintech Startup. “Gitex Future Stars has provided a critical and opportune live, in-person event for startups that has allowed them to reconnect with the funding ecosystem after the hiatus inflicted by the pandemic,” said Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre. “It is a privilege to support startups by reconnecting them to vital stakeholders and industry influencers who are looking for newfound opportunities created by the disruption of the pandemic,” she added.
Opposite page from top: Gitex Future Stars provided a much-needed boost to the startup ecosystem after a year of disruption; Gitex 2020 was the only major tech event held this year