STORI AI wins Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition
STORI AI, an AI tool that simplifies digital marketing by transforming ideas into social posts, clinched the top spot as the best innovative product at the Burning Heroes pitch session in Tbilisi. Alongside it, Uteach, an edtech platform, and Happy Kids, a marketplace catering to small children's product producers, secured victories in the Product Design and Market Fit categories respectively. These startups impressed a jury comprised of representatives from the Parliament of Georgia, 500 Global, BIG Art, Veligera Capital, YAD Finance and others. The Tbilisi session signifies the launch of a series of global offline pitch events organized by the Burning Heroes Founders association, with upcoming sessions slated for London and San Francisco.
The Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition finale was held on September 28, with six standout finalists selected from an initial pool of 60 startups. This event, hosted in Tbilisi, Georgia, provided a crucial platform for these emerging startups to demonstrate their innovation and potential to a distinguished panel of judges and an investors.
"It is extremely important for founders to present their startups to a jury and audience with credibility. It increases a founder’s confidence in your forthcoming shows and enables you to get insightful feedback from the jury. This criterion was satisfied by Burning Heroes because they assembled a diverse jury and fostered a feeling of solidarity and empathy among the audience."
Efim Kolodkin , CEO, Pygmalion.ai, Burning Heroes Tbilisi Jury Member
About Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition
The Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition is not just another startup competition; it's a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit and a lifeline for early-stage startups.
The Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition marks the beginning of a series of offline competitions. The next events are scheduled to take place in San Francisco and London. To learn more and stay updated, visit the following links:
Spotlight on the Winners
STORI AI: Transforming Digital Marketing [Overall Winner, Innovation Winner]
STORI AI is rewriting the rulebook on digital marketing. Its AI-driven platform seamlessly integrates branding, content creation, content calendar management, and publishing. It has already garnered recognition, including 'Product of the Day' and 'Product of the Week' on Product Hunt, with over 40,000 posts created and a monthly growth rate exceeding 2000%.
Uteach: Elevating Localized E-Learning [Winner in Product Design]
Uteach is reshaping online education for emerging markets. Educators can now effortlessly craft custom websites in their native language, broadening their global footprint. Equipped with 50+ languages and 30+ design templates, the platform simplifies course creation. By tackling challenges such as local payment integration and fostering native language websites, Uteach proudly showcases 300 active sites and an impressive 20% month-on-month growth.
Happy Kids: Empowering Small Producers [The Best Market Fit]
Happy Kids is making waves in the children's product marketplace, enabling small producers to expand internationally. With their diverse team boasting expertise in digital marketing, e-commerce operations, and entrepreneurship, they aim to become the go-to marketplace for children's products.
The Finalists
After rigorous evaluation and assessment, six startups emerged as finalists, each showcasing their unique strengths and contributions to the startup ecosystem:
STORI AI [Overall Winner, Innovation Winner] - Website
A revolutionary AI-driven platform that simplifies digital marketing, turning ideas into compelling social posts.
GEPARTS - Website
A pioneering AI chatbot on Facebook Messenger that rapidly identifies the correct auto parts, transforming the automotive parts industry.
Happy Kids [The Best Market Fit] - Website
A marketplace connecting small children's product producers with international markets, overcoming operational and marketing challenges.
Uteach [Winner in Product Design] - Website
An innovative platform revolutionizing education through intuitive product design and user-friendly experiences.
Lumos - LinkedIn
Lumos is a vibrant marketplace where users can find mobile content creators to get Pinterest-like photos and trendy short videos, adding a touch of creativity and inspiration to your digital world.
MUBR - LinkedIn
An ingenious mobile app that reveals your partner's music choices, enhancing shared experiences.
"We witnessed the strongest competition at Burning Heroes Tbilsii. I believe StoryAI fully deserved to be the winner. They have the team to execute what they are aiming for. And most importantly, the strong product vision."
Anastasia Tarasenko, Founder & CEO, YAD Finance, Burning Heroes Tbilisi Jury Member
The Distinguished Panel of Judges
Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition would not have been possible without the invaluable insights and discerning judgment of the esteemed panel of judges:
- Pedro Santos Vieira - Managing Partner, 500 Global
- Vasily Likhoy - Head of VC Investments, BIG Art, Former Joint Journey
- Larisa Pataraia - Investment & Fundraising Strategist, Start
- Giorgi Vashadze - HBS Alumnus, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Georgia
- Efim Kolodkin - TechNation UK Alumnus, CEO, Pygmalion.ai
- Dmitry Kartvelishvili - Co-founder & CEO, Veligera Capital
- Anastasia Tarasenko - Founder & CEO, YAD Finance
Conclusion
The Autumn 2023 Burning Heroes Tbilisi Pitch Competition has illuminated the potential of early-stage startups, showcasing their innovation and ambition. These finalists represent a bright future for the startup ecosystem, and their endeavors promise to bring about meaningful change