MBZUAI showcases 12 undergraduate startup projects at IEC Demo Day in Abu Dhabi
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has highlighted the results of its latest Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) Demo Day, following updates shared on LinkedIn.
MBZUAI is an AI-focused research university based in Abu Dhabi, and the IEC supports student founders with technical development, mentorship, and early-stage startup guidance.
The event brought together 12 undergraduate teams who presented projects developed over the semester as part of the IEC entrepreneurship course. The session took place at Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem for early-stage companies.
MBZUAI’s IEC wrote that this was the first time its inaugural undergraduate cohort pitched outside the university environment. The update noted that teams had refined their ideas since mid-semester reviews, with projects representing different applications of AI.
According to the IEC post: “For MBZUAI’s first undergraduate cohort, that leap happened today at Hub71 - through IEC-powered entrepreneurship course. Their first pitches outside MBZUAI, and a first look at the founders they’re becoming.” The IEC said it saw “12 strong demos and 12 stories of real progress.”
Four teams recognized across judging categories
The Demo Day awarded recognitions across four categories:
Judge’s Choice: Crimson — an AI CFO designed to track metrics, forecast cash flow, and present financial information in plain language.
Best Pitch: EcoFlow — an AI solution for waste sorting to support cleaner urban environments and improve recovery rates.
Audience Choice: Vault AI — a money-tracking tool aimed at simplifying personal finance.
Honourable Mention (technical rigor): HyNeuron — a visual deep-learning builder that transpiles graphs to optimized backends.
The IEC noted that teams had “pivoted, tightened scope, leveled up technical rigor, and sharpened delivery” between earlier reviews and the final presentations.
Judges included industry and investment figures such as Stephan Heller, Wael AbuRizq, Karim Abadir, Saif Alremeithi, Igor Kaloshin, and Yousif Damirji. The IEC recognized Hub71 for hosting and thanked attendees for supporting “MBZUAI’s youngest builders.”
MBZUAI also shared a separate update highlighting strong attendance and community involvement. The university wrote: “Big congratulations to the teams: Crimson (Judge’s Choice), EcoFlow (Best Pitch), Vault AI (Audience Choice) and HyNeuron (Honourable Mention for technical rigour).”
The IEC update closed with a message to the participants: “Today you showed grit, creativity, and growth - the core of entrepreneurship. Your first pitch will always be the one that proved you could do it.”
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