The Startup Grind Doha All-Star Pitch Battle recently showcased the depth of Qatar’s entrepreneurial talent, with AI-driven ventures dominating the awards. Part of a global Startup Grind program held across 150 chapters, the Doha edition began with 51 applicants before 21 finalists were selected to pitch at the Qatar Chamber. AI accessibility startup Be My Sense was crowned the winner and will now advance to the regional semi-finals.
AI-Powered Solutions Take Center Stage
A clear trend of AI innovation was evident among the winners. The competition highlighted ventures using artificial intelligence to solve distinct challenges across accessibility, professional development, and e-commerce. The winning startup, Be My Sense, leverages AI for sign language translation, while second-place winner PitchPro.me uses it to coach founders, and third-place winner paintit.ai applies it to interior design. This sweep demonstrates the growing focus on advanced technology within Doha’s startup scene.
A Thriving And Collaborative Ecosystem
The event, hosted in partnership with The Youth Entrepreneurship Club (YEC) and Qatar Chamber, underscored the collaborative spirit of the local ecosystem. The pitch battle was made possible by sponsor Builders | VC MENA, reflecting strong investor confidence in the region’s founders. A distinguished panel of judges had the challenging task of selecting the winners from the competitive lineup. The panel included Tarik Sultan, Alina Truhina, Hayfa Al-Abdulla, Omair Alnaimi, Marcel D., Firas Sleiman, and Majed Lababidi, who provided invaluable feedback and support to the community.
Winners To Advance In Global Competition
The pitch battle recognized four startups for their innovation, creativity, and business potential.
- First Place: Be My Sense – An AI startup developing sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign translation tools to improve communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The company will now represent Qatar in the regional semi-finals of the global competition.
- Second Place: PitchPro.me – A platform that helps founders and professionals refine their public speaking and pitching skills through personalized feedback and AI-driven tools.
- Third Place: paintit.ai – An AI-powered interior design and e-commerce platform that generates photorealistic visualizations and enables the direct purchase of furniture and decor.
- Most Creative Pitch: Meta Souq (Sinaholz GmbH) – This award recognized the startup for its uniquely creative and compelling presentation.
About Startup Grind Doha
Startup Grind Doha is the local chapter of the global Startup Grind community, which aims to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. Through key events like its annual Pitch Battle, the Doha chapter provides founders with a platform to gain exposure, receive feedback from industry leaders, and connect with the global startup network, playing a vital role in nurturing the local ecosystem.
