Lika Merabishvili, StrategEast’s Regional Director for the Caucasus, was recently interviewed on Euronews Georgia and Business Evening on BMG, where she discussed the upcoming final event of the “Build with AI for Sustainable Growth” hackathon. This project is centered around AI-driven solutions aimed at tackling key sustainability challenges such as air and water quality improvement, environmental and health standards, combating land degradation, preserving biodiversity, sustainable water management, and ensuring food security.
Participants have engaged in a series of workshops, led by experts from Google and StrategEast, using Google’s cutting-edge AI tools, including Gemini, Google’s most advanced large language model to date. The culmination of this project will take place in an offline hackathon in Astana, Kazakhstan, on October 18, organized by StrategEast in collaboration with Google and with support from USAID’s FGI.
During the interview on Euronews Georgia, Lika Merabishvili was joined by Giorgi Papidze, founder of CultivaAi, one of the Georgian startups that qualified for the final stage. CultivaAi which focuses on agricultural efficiency and sustainability through AI. Giorgi shared how his startup has grown its solution through the Google-led workshops, as part of the month-long preparation process.
On Business Evening on BMG, Lika appeared alongside Giorgi Mushkudiani, founder of AI IA Hydro, another Georgian finalist startup that uses AI technology to develop water management solutions.
Out of 120 applications, 21 startups from seven countries have made it to the final, including four teams from Georgia. The finalists will pitch their innovative ideas in Astana, addressing urgent issues in agriculture, water management, and environmental protection.
