Kazakhstani startup JolQal.ai recognized as the best in Central Asia and the Caucasus

JolQal.ai, a startup developed by Kazakh students, emerged as the winner of a global initiative organized by StrategEast in collaboration with Google, with support from Astana Hub and USAID’s Future Growth Initiative. The Build with AI for Sustainable Growth program, aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence to address sustainable development challenges, brought together startups and developers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.

The program focused on developing AI solutions in key areas such as improving air and water quality, enhancing environmental standards, combating land degradation, preserving biodiversity, managing water resources, and

food security. Participants completed over 50 workshops led by Google and StrategEast experts, utilizing advanced AI tools.

At the Astana Hub venue, 21 startups from the Caucasus and Central Asia that reached the final stage of the Build with AI for Sustainable Growth program presented their AI solutions to a jury comprising representatives of government agencies, IT hubs, and business incubators.

JolQal.ai, founded by Kazakh students Nurmukhamet Zibatqaliyev and Bakhyt Momunov, was named the best startup. This startup offers an AI-based road condition monitoring system.

The second place went to the Georgian startup Airth, which provides innovative solutions for improving air quality and environmental sustainability, enabling informed decisions to enhance ecological conditions.

The third place was awarded to the Azerbaijani startup FarmForward, which focuses on food security and sustainable agriculture, offering technologies to optimize farming processes and increase crop yields.