Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As part of Abu Dhabi's economic delegation to Japan, the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) is taking part in the SusHi Tech Tokyo, showcasing innovations of five UAE startups and 11 companies under its Export Support Program.
The SusHi Tech conference in Tokyo, running from May 8-10, brings together more than 50,000 attendees and over 500 global startups, encompassing fields including AI, architecture, health, food, energy, entertainment, Web3, space and generative AI.
The high-profile event offers Emirati entrepreneurs a platform to interact with industry leaders and present their innovative projects, as well as opportunities for business collaboration.
Among the participating projects are the Gracia group, a smart sustainable agriculture platform; and the Rafiq application, an innovative platform that facilitates maintenance and decoration services.
Furthermore, three projects under the umbrella of KFED that excelled during the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development competition as part of the events of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week in December 2024 are taking part in the expo. They include Hyvego, a leader in biotechnology and climate technology; Nutrigenix, which operates in the field of nutrition, and Viai Tech, which focuses on developing sports tools and applications using AI technologies.
Also, 11 companies, which operate under the Khalifa Fund Export Support Program, will be promoted during the event.
Food Security
In a statement to Aletihad, the Gracia group highlighted its model as a comprehensive solution to global agricultural challenges.
"Gracia was built to address the key problems facing agriculture worldwide." They said they follow a holistic model shaped by change management and strategic leadership to support farmers from production planning to processing, branding, and training. "It is designed to help them grow more, sell more, and earn more," the group said.
The group said it aims to expand globally by tailoring its model to each country's specific needs, while reinforcing food security, education, and sustainability in line with the UAE's vision.
"Gracia is more than farming. We educate, promote health, support startups, and aim to reduce imports by creating strategic plans for local production. This model fulfills the vision of our leaders to make the UAE a pioneer in agriculture," the group said.
The Gracia group thanked Khalifa Fund for the opportunity and said events like SusHi Tech Tokyo offer valuable insight and opportunities for future collaboration.
AI-powered Home Services
The team from the Rafiq application highlighted the central role of AI in enhancing customer experience and operational success.
"AI plays a central role at Rafiq. Users can generate 3D interior renderings, receive instant quotes, and get matched with the right providers based on preferences and location," the team said.
"Rafiq aims to lead the region in AI-powered home services. Our roadmap includes global expansion, AI patent development, and smart city integration. We are proud to contribute to the UAE's innovation leadership," they added.
"Thanks to Khalifa Fund, this event boosts our visibility and opens doors to global investors and partners. It's a big step in our international journey," the team added.
Enhancing Athletic Experience
Viai Tech shared how athletic experience sparked the creation of their flagship product, VIAI Smart Glasses. The smart glasses sync with wearables like Garmin, Apple Watch, and Polar, while also collecting data through built-in sensors.
Metrics - such as heart rate, pace, cadence, and elevation - are projected directly onto a heads-up display, the team said.
"Athletes can see 22 real-time metrics tailored to their sport. This helps them stay in the right zones, monitor fatigue, and adjust performance instantly," they added.
Viai Tech targets both amateur and professional athletes, and also works with teams and academies through partnerships and VO2 testing services.
Personalised Nutrition
Nutrigenix is showcasing how it is transforming personalised nutrition through AI-driven solutions.
"Our AI analyses users' dietary preferences, health conditions, and daily habits to generate personalised meal plans," the team explained.
The platform is built on clinical data and medical standards, ensuring accuracy and safety in its recommendations.
"We ensure full data privacy with end-to-end encryption, anonymised storage, and compliance with UAE and global health data regulations."
"We curated and labelled over 200,000 meals to train and validate our models - this dataset became our core strength," the team said.
Climate Technology
Hyvego explained how it is transforming desert waste into a powerful climate solution through biochar.
"The world is sitting on a climate solution it has not fully embraced - waste," the team said.
"We intercept agricultural residues and convert them into biochar, locking away carbon for over 1,000 years while restoring soil."
Using pyrolysis, HyveGeo processes local biomass into biochar, then enhances it with microbes and fungi to revive even degraded desert soils.
"This is not just about fertility-it is about rebuilding entire soil ecosystems. In the UAE, we have cut soil regeneration time from years to just 30 days, with up to 200% plant growth increases versus conventional fertilisers."The model is circular, modular, and scalable.
"We monetise biochar sales, carbon credits, and land restoration. Our systems scale from farms to industrial use - keeping costs low while delivering impact."
The startup collaborates with UAE and international entities, aligning with the Net Zero 2050 strategy.
