The AIA programme nurtures both local and global emerging companies using AI for wider societal benefit in core areas such as health and wellbeing, social care, and environmental sustainability.

The selected participants benefit from a package of support focused on building connections, as well as from leadership mentoring and support with product development.

The 2023/2024 cohort is composed of 13 companies, including Kenya-based AgriTech Analytics. The company, led by its CEO and co-founder Maryanne Gichanga, uses AI technology to tackle annual crop losses in Africa caused by pests, diseases, and climate change.

The cohort also includes Looper and Bennu.ai, the two companies named by DIGIT last month as examples of Edinburgh’s most interesting tech startups. Looper is life cycle assessment software helping companies to measure and reduce the climate impact of their products. Bennu.ai, meanwhile, develops smart and automated waste solutions for businesses.

The full, 13-strong cohort is as follows:

• AgriTech Analytics
• Black Goblin
• FCLabs
• My SMASH Media
• Bennu.ai
• Looper
• Open Power
• Soil Benchmark
• Allos
• Dyneval
• Eye to the Future Ltd
• Happitech
• SympaHealth

AIA is delivered by the University of Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre on behalf of the Data-Driven Innovation hubs. Support is also provided by Edinburgh Innovations, the university’s commercialisation service.

“We warmly congratulate the 13 companies which have been selected for this year’s AI Accelerator programme through a highly competitive process,” said professor Ruth King, the director of the Bayes Centre.

“The cohort includes a diverse group of companies that are using AI innovation to drive progress in addressing societal challenges in key areas including healthcare and climate change.

“This programme has a clear focus in helping AI-driven businesses further commercialise their proposition to make them world-leading companies.

“As we have seen from the progress of many of its former participants, the programme has a proud record in helping AI innovators scale up and attract investment to help maximise their full potential.”

Recommended reading

• University of Glasgow Launches Mission-led Centre for Data Science and AI
• Edinburgh Uni Startups Raise £6.27m on New AI Acceleration Programme
• Impact 12 Investment Fund to Boost University Impact Ventures 

John Brodie, who was appointed last year as the AI Accelerator programme’s entrepreneur in residence, said: “As an entrepreneur who is passionate about driving actionable data science projects and enabling early-stage businesses to scale, I am incredibly excited to be once again working with the companies involved in this year’s AI Accelerator.

“The engagement of world-leading, innovative businesses from Scotland, the UK and across the globe underline the impact of this highly-regarded programme in developing AI-for-good solutions.”

The announcement of the seventh AIA cohort comes just a week after Microplate Dx, a former AIA cohort company, announced that it had closed a £2.5m seed funding round to help it further develop its technology.