The initiative promotes the development of AI-driven solutions in critical areas such as air and water quality, environmental standards, land degradation, biodiversity conservation, water resource management, and food security. Participants had access to over 50 master classes led by Google and StrategEast experts, featuring advanced AI tools.

At Astana Hub, 21 startups from the Caucasus and Central Asia that made it to the final round of Build with AI for Sustainable Growth presented their AI solutions to a jury comprising government officials, IT hub representatives, and business incubators.

The top award went to JolQal.ai (derived from the Kazakh phrase "Zhol qalay" meaning "How is the road?"), founded by Kazakh students Nurmukhamed Zibatkaliev and Bakhyt Momunov. JolQal.ai is an AI-based road condition monitoring system designed to assist the government in identifying road defects, monitoring contractors, and planning repairs efficiently.

"We help the government identify road defects, monitor contractors, and effectively plan repairs. Our startup was born in November last year. Since then, we’ve conducted several pilot tests and launched in Almaty. We also plan to expand to other regions of Kazakhstan and add new features, such as displaying road signs. We participated in the Astana Hub, Terricon Valley, and MOST BI accelerators, which provided valuable feedback. In November, we plan to visit Singapore to learn how other countries tackle similar challenges," said Nurmukhamed Zibatkaliev, co-founder of JolQal.ai.

Second place went to the Georgian startup Airth, which offers innovative solutions to improve air quality and environmental sustainability, enabling data-driven decisions to address environmental challenges. Third place was awarded to the Azerbaijan's startup FarmForward, focused on food security and sustainable agriculture, offering technologies that optimize farming processes and boost crop yields.

The Build with AI for Sustainable Growth project reflects the shared vision of StrategEast, Google, Astana Hub, and USAID’s Future Growth Initiative to drive technological innovation and create sustainable solutions across Central Asia and the Caucasus.