Hub71 picks a record 40 startups for Cohort 19 from 2,502 applicants
Hub71 has selected 40 startups for Cohort 19, its largest intake to date, after a record 2,502 applications from 117 countries. The acceptance rate was 1.6%.
The selected startups have collectively raised USD 296 million (AED 1.09 billion). They span Pre-Seed to Series A and come from 14 countries, with 88% joining from international markets.
Through Hub71's 12-month Access Programme, startups receive tailored mentorship, expert-led workshops and access to investors, corporate and government partners, alongside up to AED 500,000 in incentives.
All 40 startups have been selected for the Access Programme. Twelve join the sector-agnostic track and 19 enter the Hub71+ Digital Assets, Hub71+ ClimateTech and Hub71+ Life Sciences specialist ecosystems.
Six come through Anjal Z, delivered with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, and three join through Hub71's pathway into the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster.
Among the companies is UK-headquartered TurinTech AI, an AI-powered software engineering platform that automates code modernisation, validation and optimisation. It has raised USD 15 million (AED 55.1 million).
US-headquartered Avesta 76 Therapeutics is developing a cancer treatment designed to target a single protein across cancer types. It has secured USD 40 million (AED 146.9 million) in funding, including USD 35 million (AED 128.5 million) in non-dilutive funding.
Emirati-founded Mosadad has raised USD 540,000 (AED 2 million) in Pre-Seed funding. The company helps insurance companies process motor accident claims and payments faster by connecting insurers, garages, banks and regulators through a single system.
US-headquartered Remarkable AI has raised USD 14 million (AED 51.4 million) for an AI-powered customer retention platform that helps e-commerce brands increase conversions and repeat purchases.
In the specialist tracks, Switzerland-headquartered Amantrue joins Hub71+ Digital Assets. It is building a verification network that lets people and AI agents prove attributes without revealing personal data, and has raised USD 35.6 million (AED 130.7 million).
UK-headquartered Roslin Technologies joins Hub71+ ClimateTech. It develops animal stem cell lines for cultivated meat production and has raised USD 22 million (AED 80.8 million).
The cohort includes six Series A companies, up from two in Cohort 18. More than two-thirds of the selected startups operate in Hub71's priority sectors, and 90% incorporate AI at the core of their technologies.
Hub71+ Life Sciences saw the strongest application growth among Hub71's specialist ecosystems for Cohort 19, with applications nearly doubling from the previous cohort.
Among the seven startups selected, US-headquartered SernaBio combines RNA data with generative AI to design new small-molecule therapies. It has secured USD 12.8 million (AED 47.0 million).
Cohort 19 marks the first intake through the SAVI pathway, which attracted over 100 applications. Three startups were selected to access the cluster's network of industry partners, infrastructure, regulatory pathways and testing environments.
They are US-headquartered Autolane, which has raised USD 7.8 million (AED 28.6 million) for an AI platform that coordinates autonomous delivery and mobility networks, and UAE-headquartered Robox and Sinaha Technology.
Of the startups selected, 85% were sourced proactively or referred through partners, founders and investors.
With Cohort 19, Hub71's ecosystem now counts 644 startups. Here is the full cohort, by track.
The sector-agnostic track brings together 12 companies. Brickwise AI automates property management and rent collection, while Steel Robotics builds an AI and robotics platform for steel factories, starting with welding.
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LabLabee AI is an agentic platform for autonomous networks. Layer10 helps large organisations automate complex operations with AI, and LinqAlpha is an AI platform for investment research.
Octostar helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies with data investigation. Terminal 3 builds cryptographic tools for data privacy and security.
TinkerBloX's software gets more performance out of existing AI computing hardware. Gamester Kids is an Arabic-first learning platform for children aged two to six.
Mosadad, Remarkable AI and TurinTech AI complete the track.
Hub71+ Digital Assets adds Compute Labs, which turns GPUs and other AI computing infrastructure into an income-generating asset, and Inference Labs, which verifies the work of AI systems.
Miden builds privacy and compliance infrastructure for financial institutions and digital asset businesses. ONOFF connects Latin American commodity suppliers with global importers and finances the trade.
OpenAssets builds infrastructure for institutions moving assets onchain. Amantrue is the sixth.
In Hub71+ ClimateTech, Decomer Technology is developing water-soluble, plant-based and edible packaging. Desert Shrimp (Atarraya) runs modular indoor aquaculture built for arid regions.
Flybox uses insects to turn food waste into protein and fertiliser, and Infrared City offers climate intelligence for cities and buildings.
Project Vesta removes carbon dioxide by adding crushed olivine to coastal projects. Roslin Technologies, focused on bringing halal cultivated meat to the Middle East, completes the group.
Hub71+ Life Sciences includes Biodock, a biological intelligence platform that turns lab imaging data into discoveries, and Nia Health, which builds AI apps for people living with chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Parallel Health uses AI and skin microbiome DNA testing for personalised treatments. Qalam Health Solutions is developing an AI-powered probe that helps clinicians identify cancerous tissue in the operating room.
Vital Audio monitors patients' heart and respiratory health through phone calls. Avesta 76 Therapeutics and SernaBio are the other two.
The Anjal Z cohort, run with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, has six startups. AISTHESIS helps caregivers recognise when neurodivergent children struggle with sensory input, and ConnectHear provides an AI layer for real-time sign language communication.
Everybody Counts is building a global data set on how children learn mathematics. TAIA is an AI teaching assistant that automates assessment and grading for schools.
Team Monolith teaches and assesses STEM and AI subjects with AI tutors, and Tritone Health uses AI to support autism assessment and care.
Through the SAVI pathway, Autolane orchestrates how self-driving vehicles pick up and deliver at retail and commercial properties.
Robox builds AI-powered robotic retail units that run autonomous stores around the clock. Sinaha Technology offers a vendor-independent system for managing robots from different manufacturers on one platform.
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