Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S), the global initiative by Masdar designed to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders, has named the winner of its Out-of-Labs pitch competition at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026. The competition showcased breakthrough AI-enabled solutions aimed at solving critical real-world challenges.
AI-Powered Health-Tech Solution Takes Top Prize
Taking the top spot was CareCircle, a startup that has developed an innovative AI-powered assistant to streamline nursing workflows. The solution offers real-time documentation, efficient task management, and automated shift reports, aiming to significantly reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals and improve patient care.
The victory for CareCircle highlights the growing convergence of artificial intelligence and healthcare technology within the region’s innovation ecosystem.
A Platform for Youth-Led Innovation
The Out-of-Labs competition is the flagship innovation platform for Y4S, bringing together young innovators, university researchers, and early-stage startups. The program guides participants through ideation and validation, prototyping and design, and business model development, culminating in a live project showcase and pitch at the Y4S Forum during ADSW.
Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand & Strategic Initiatives at Masdar, commented on the program’s success.
“Out-of-Labs brings youth-driven solutions to the forefront, showcasing ideas designed to create real change for communities across the world. The level of creativity on display from this year’s participants was outstanding and congratulations to the winners, CareCircle, for their innovative health-tech solution.”
Innovations in Water and Agri-Tech Also Recognized
The competition also recognized other promising ventures. Al Fali secured second place with its smart irrigation system that optimizes water consumption through real-time monitoring and leak detection. Placing third was AgriLink, the developer of a digital trust and financing platform that helps smallholder farmers access credit using verifiable, community-backed data.
Other finalists included AS42, a sustainable data center cooling solution; HSG, a water-efficient hydroponic system; Makina AI, a predictive maintenance platform for manufacturing; and ReteIntel, an AI-driven smart building platform.
About Youth 4 Sustainability
Hosted by Masdar, Youth 4 Sustainability is a long-term leadership and talent platform dedicated to inspiring and empowering young people to lead with purpose and innovation. Since its launch in 2018, Y4S has engaged with over 46,800 young individuals and has seen more than 880 members graduate from its programs, representing over 30 nationalities.
Source: Zawya
