Page 22 - Identifying and scaling AI startups for SDGs

Identifying and scaling AI startups for SDGs

9.3 AI/ML solutions for Climate Change Innovation Factory live
pitching session – Part 1

Online, 9 October 2023
Moderator: Thomas Basikolo, Programme Officer at AI for Good, ITU

Startups:

• Finapp: Finapp has designed and patented the next generation of Cosmic Ray Neutron
Sensing (CRNS) probes that use cosmic rays to measure water without contact, on a large-
scale, in depth and continuously. This is the Finapp revolution: particle physics at the
service of environmental sustainability. Read more here.
• Franck Alibinet & Yi Peng: Frank Alibinet's passion for innovation drives his research into
the potential of AI in soil science, particularly for remediating agricultural land affected
by nuclear accidents. Complementing this endeavor is Yi Peng, a highly skilled scientist
specializing in multivariate data analysis, chemometrics, soil spectroscopy, digital soil
mapping, geospatial modeling, remote sensing, and land use planning. Together, their
expertise and dedication promise significant advancements in addressing complex
environmental challenges.
• The Big Wild: The Big Wild is a nonprofit organization aiming to be the fastest, most
cost-efficient provider of wildlife data that rapidly speeds up access to accurate wildlife
conservation data. They work as a non-competitive, collaborative network, partnering with
organizations in the Travel & Tourism industry and technology for wildlife conservation
community, all with the mutual goal of ending the sixth mass extinction.
• Poseidon AI: Poseidon AI’s story originates from the concern of farmers losing a big chunk
of their saving in aqua feed, which amounts up to 60-80% of the overall cost per year,
whereas there is surely an imbalance in this equation, and it is a collapsing business model
from many farmers in SEA. With solution for feed optimization, Poseidon AI is saving
15-20% of the feed by carefully applying advanced sensors and AI driven algorithms to
manage a sustainable aquaculture farm. Read more here.
• TOLBI: e-Tolbi can monitor millions of hectares of plantations in real time with their AI-
based tool and satellite imagery to estimate and predict yields, calculate input needs
(fertilizers, seeds), and anticipate risks related to climate hazards, diseases, and pests. Read
more here.
• Agriculture Environmental Living Lab (AGRI-ELL) Project: By bringing research directly
into the field and collaborating with farmers, landowners, and communities, they are co-
creating sustainable land management strategies. They develop practical approaches
utilizing advanced AgriTech and sensor technology to provide rapid, real-world data,
enabling timely and precise application for productive, sustainable, and healthy
landscapes.
• AI Radiance: AI Radiance is an AI-based software that utilizes advanced data collection
methods, including infrared spectroscopy, gamma spectrometry, and satellite imagery, to
accurately estimate soil properties over large areas. This approach offers greater efficiency
and precision compared to traditional methods. Additionally, the software can map and
monitor soil moisture, aiding in irrigation planning and water resource management.

Judges:

• Jennifer Woodard; Co-founder, Insikt Intelligence
• Carlo Tortora Brayda di Belvedere; Executive Chairman, National AI and Cyber Security
ISAO
• Melissa Sassi; Global Head of IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator, IBM

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