Recordings of
Crimson Founders
Startups Demo Session
at the Future 100 Forum at Investopia 2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Amplified Industries
Your Oilfield Revolution Starts Here
Amplified Industries revolutionizes oil and gas operations by bringing Industry 4.0 to the field. Its breakthrough high-bandwidth cloud platform combines cutting-edge AI with deep physics expertise to transform production operations. Through advanced telecom technology, it captures massive real-time data streams from wells and facilities, enabling truly intelligent operations. Operators can now manage their assets with unprecedented efficiency and environmental responsibility, thanks to its seamless IoT solution that integrates effortlessly with existing infrastructure.
Email: info@amplified.industries
Applied AI
The World's Most Boring AI Company
AppliedAI is an enterprise technology company based in the UAE. Founded in 2021 in London by Arya H. Bolurfrushan, it moved its headquarters to Abu Dhabi in 2022 and has grown to over 100 staff across engineering, product, quality, and support. AppliedAI has raised over $40 million from institutional investors, including G42, Bessemer Venture Partners, Plug and Play, ARM Holdings, McKinsey, Metalab, and Palantir.
Its AI platform, Opus (Opus.com), enhances productivity and decision-making in healthcare, insurance, finance, life sciences, and government. Opus replaces manual Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) with AI-driven workflows, ensuring expert human review at critical points. AppliedAI believes AI + Human Experts provide the best balance of cost, productivity, and trust. Opus is pioneering a Human Expert Cloud, creating a decentralized marketplace for freelance knowledge workers to handle time-sensitive, high-stakes tasks.
Founders: Arya H. Bolurfrushan
Helix Cabon
Disrupting the Materials Economy by Transforming Waste CO2 into Value
Helix Carbon produces electrolyzers with dramatically improved system lifetimes to convert point-source carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. Its novel catalyst coating techniques enable stability in mixed gas streams and conversion even at low CO₂ concentrations, eliminating the need for separate carbon capture in many applications. Coupled with its ability to adjust the ratio of carbon monoxide and hydrogen produced, Helix Carbon provides drop-in, carbon-neutral reducing gases to decarbonize the iron industry.
Founders: David Brown, Evan Haas, Dr. Ariel Furst
Email: david@helixcarbon.co
HexemBio
Reversing Aging With Advanced Stem Cell Therapy
Winner of The Most Innovative Tech
HeXem Bio, a leading longevity biotechnology firm, has developed the world's first rejuvenated hematopoietic stem cell therapy. This groundbreaking approach leverages synthetic biology technology to reverse aging in blood stem cells, enhancing immune function and extending healthy lifespans without genetic modification. Published in prestigious journals such as Nature and featured in the New York Times and on NASDAQ, its technology has completed preclinical animal studies and secured Orphan Designation for its first IND.
Co-founder Samira Kiani recently received the U.S. Presidential Award for this innovative work. HeXem Bio's expert team includes two MDs and two PhDs from MIT and UC Berkeley, second-time founders, and Y Combinator alumni. The company is backed by renowned investors, including Draper VC, SOSV, Venture Science, and Schox.
Email: gabriel.t@hexemb.io
ML Tech
Building the Future of Financial Services
ML Tech is a digital assets investment platform that uniquely provides optimized blended portfolios and bespoke products tailored to meet diverse investment objectives and risk appetites. Investors gain access to a curated array of delta-neutral, market-neutral, and beta trading strategies via the ML Tech platform.
ML Tech offers comprehensive solutions that bridge the gap between institutional investors and unique alpha opportunities available exclusively in digital asset markets. Its team brings decades of proven experience in high-frequency trading (HFT) and quantitative trading, successfully creating and deploying digital asset trading strategies with optimized execution and exchange connectivity.
Founders: Leo Mindyuk, Markus Leballeux
Email: marketing@mltech.ai
Spectrohm
Inspect at the Speed of Commerce
Winner of The Most Relevant Tech for the UAE & MENA Region
Spectrohm develops high-speed, high-throughput internal inspection systems for small bags, packages, and personal property. Current human-centric tools inspect only 3% of the 400 billion bags and packages that move each year, resulting in $100 billion in losses due to fraud, errors, hazards, and threats.
Spectrohm’s patented technology identifies hidden contents within bags and boxes, enabling an automated future where 100% of items are inspected. The company has received over $5 million in U.S. government support to enhance the inspection of international eCommerce and air cargo.
Founders: Tim Cargol, Leo Ludwick
Email: techinfo@spectrohm.com
Crimson Founders
The Founders Network for the MIT & Harvard Communities
Crimson Founders is a global platform dedicated to connecting startups led by MIT and Harvard entrepreneurs with investors, industry leaders, innovation ecosystems, and government initiatives. Through curated demo days, venture programs, info sessions, and select networking events, we foster innovation, facilitate meaningful connections, and support startups in scaling their ventures.
We work with startups where at least one founder is a student, graduate, professor, or postdoc of MIT or Harvard. Acting as a catalyst and facilitator, Crimson Founders provides strategic consulting, investor and industry-specific networking sessions, and impactful introductions that drive fundraising and partnerships. With a deep commitment to empowering founders, Crimson Founders is building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and community where the world’s most promising startups can thrive—both regionally and globally.
Founders: Anoosheh Kalantari, Cristina Dolan, Sam Heuck
Email: founder@crimsonfounders.com
Recordings of
Crimson Founders
Elevate x DMCC AI Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Crimson Collective Week 1.0 in the United Arab Emirates
Testimonials
"The program brought tremendous value and opened the doors to a whole new market (GCC) to my company. In a couple days we made meaningful connections which led to real partnerships which we are currently establishing. The structured events were also eye opening and allowed me to much better understand how business should be done in the MENA region. Last but not least, the quality of the companies and founders involved was tremendous, and a lot of tips and knowledge was shared."
Sebastien Karim Mannai
CEO and Founder, Amplified Industries
"The week far exceeded my expectations. We were able to not only connect with new investors, but also gain incredible insights and connections from other startups within the collective."
Jon Bessette
CEO, KIRA
"The Crimson Collective gave us an unfair advantage to connect with some of the leaders in the region. They shared market insights specific to the impact of AI and intelligence on the willingness to adopt new solutions. We were also able to connect with some of the prominent investors in the region, one of which happens to be a sovereign wealth fund. We are hoping to announce some good news in the coming weeks. Thanks again to the Crimson Collective!"
Zain Patrawala
COO, Encore Health Solutions
"The Crimson Collective Week has expanded commercial, geographical, and cultural borders for Vocadian, prompting instrumental discussions with some of the highest level stakeholders in the UAE region."
Adolphus Lau
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Vocadian Inc.
"Crimson collective week was an amazing experience. It bright our team in front of an influential audience that we couldn’t otherwise have access to, and created many promising opportunities that we are building on."
Samir Kiani
COO, HeXembio
"The Crimson Collective Week has been a great opportunity to learn more about the region and present our company. We have discovered significant demand for AI-driven wealth management in the region!"
Leo Mindyuk
CEO, ML Tech
"The Crimson Collective Week was a very unique mix of curated meetings, crafted experiences organized by an extremely passionate and dedicated for MIT & Harvard founders. I enjoyed our time in Dubai & Abu Dhabi making new connections, meeting ecosystem founders and spending time with fellow founders. I look forward to coming back again! Thank you Anoosheh & Team Crimson Founders. Your hospitality, execution and exemplary support for us founders was the highlight of the trip."
Zain Patrawala
CEO, Encore Health
"The Crimson Collective Week was our initial exploration in the Middle East market and was an exciting journey! We secured regional pilots and connected with key stakeholders in the UAE in our target sectors, which opened doors we never imagined!"
Yujie Wang
Founder & CEO, Vocadian
"Invaluable experience, invaluable connection. Networking at his best! Support by Anousheh with a rich experience from her MIT alumni and business knowledge which clearly bring tremendous value and connections."
Gabriel Levesque Tremblay
Co-Founder & CEO, HeXembio
"The Crimson Collective Week set the stage for a UAE trip packed with great events, allowing us to make meaningful connections in the region, with both fellow founders and investors alike!"
Founder
Startup of Crimson Founders 2025 Cohort
"Crimson Founders opened the doors to business and investment opportunities we previously considered inaccessible. "
Founder
Startup of Crimson Founders 2025 Cohort
"The Crimson Collective Week is empowering for startups! It helps to navigate a best path to advance your fundraising efforts in UAE and region! Highly recommend it!"
Founder
Startup of Crimson Founders 2025 Cohort
"This was our first time at an event like Crimson Collective Week and we were able to meet both great founders and investors, including one who closed out our investment round. Highly recommended."
Founder
Startup of Crimson Founders 2025 Cohort
"Connecting with other founders and spending time with Anoosheh was the best part of The Crimson Collective Week!"
Founder
Startup of Crimson Founders 2025 Cohort
Crimson Founders Finalists
Crimson Founders Finalists
Our Partners
Investopia
Launched in November 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Investopia is a UAE-based global platform connecting investors, business leaders, and innovators to explore investment opportunities in emerging economies, foster collaboration, and drive economic growth through visionary insights and strategic partnerships.
CRIMSON COLLECTIVE WEEK 1.0 IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
brings together founders, global investors, and industry leaders in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Anchored by the Crimson Founders Demo Session at Future 100 Forum at Investopia 2025, this inaugural edition offers unmatched opportunities to showcase innovation and forge impactful connections.
While this year’s events are hosted in the UAE, future Crimson Collective Weeks will expand to cities worldwide, continuing to connect groundbreaking founders with influential ecosystems.
The Crimson Collective Week is exclusively for startups with founders affiliated with MIT and/or Harvard.
CRIMSON COLLECTIVE WEEK 1.0 IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
OUR PARTNERS
CRIMSON FOUNDERS STARTUPS DEMO SESSION AT INVESTOPIA
6
DEMOS
19
STARTUPS
Crimson Founders has opened global applications to feature startups from various industries at Investopia's Future 100 Forum. We are selecting innovative startups with founders affiliated with MIT and/or Harvard who are interested in expanding to the UAE.
Investopia is the UAE Ministry of Economy’s flagship global investment event, bringing together thought leaders, investors, and innovators to explore emerging economic opportunities. Invited startups have the opportunity to showcase their innovations at The Future 100 Forum and connect with institutional investors, accelerators, and government leaders at the 2-Day Event held on February 26 and 27, 2025 at St Regis Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Our focus is on industries aligned with the UAE government’s strategic priorities, such as energy, fintech, cybersecurity, space tech, AI, blockchain, e-commerce, IoT, advanced manufacturing, agritech, biotechnology, hard-tech, and energy.
The Future 100 Forum will feature 200 Future 100 companies (2023 and 2024 cohorts), 37 Future 100 partners, and leading stakeholders from the UAE’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, focused on redefining the future through innovative solutions and visionary approaches in the UAE’s new economy.
The forum will include:
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Thought leadership sessions, Demo Sessions, MOU ceremonies, workshops, and networking lounges.
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Key contributions from initiatives such as the ADGM Entrepreneur Program, Plug and Play Hackathons, and Crimson Founders, and CISCO.
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Presence of UAE Ministers, including:
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UAE Minister of Economy
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UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future
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UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship
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INVESTOPIA
7,400+
PARTICIPANT
2,400+
C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES
We are thankful to Investopia’s team for their invaluable partnership in welcoming Crimson Founders Demo Session to The Future 100 Forum at Investopia.
Investopia is the UAE Ministry of Economy’s flagship global investment platform, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to facilitate global collaboration between investors, business leaders, and governments to identify and launch new investment opportunities, promote economic growth, and incubate future economies in our region of 3.5 billion people and around the world.
With a focus on emerging industries and investment opportunities, Investopia plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and economic transformation worldwide. Beyond its annual event in Abu Dhabi, Investopia hosts conferences in major global cities, including Milan, London, Singapore, Monaco, Chennai, and Tokyo, expanding its influence on a global scale.
FUTURE 100
200
FUTURE 100 COMPANIES
37
PARTNERS
We are thankful to the Future 100 team for their collaboration in supporting Crimson Founders Demo Session as part of The Future 100 Forum at Investopia.
The Future 100 initiative, led by the UAE Ministry of Economy, identifies and supports innovative startups and scale-ups driving the UAE's future economic growth. By fostering entrepreneurship in emerging industries, the program strengthens the UAE's position as a global hub for innovation and economic development.
DMCC
Crimson Elevate
x DMCC
We are thankful to DMCC for their invaluable partnership in hosting Crimson Elevate x DMCC, a high-impact demo session, networking, and private investor dinner connecting Crimson Founders 2025 startups with leading investors, accelerators, and industry partners in the UAE.
DMCC is the world’s leading free zone and a global trade hub, home to over 25,000 companies from 180+ countries. As a key driver of Dubai’s economic growth, DMCC provides cutting-edge business infrastructure, regulatory support, and strategic initiatives that empower enterprises across commodities, technology, and financial services.
Beyond trade, DMCC is shaping the future of AI through its AI Center, fostering AI-driven businesses with access to investment, partnerships, and innovation programs. By integrating AI into its thriving ecosystem, DMCC cements its role as a hub for next-generation enterprises.
With its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, DMCC plays a pivotal role in enabling startups to scale and succeed in the UAE and beyond.
AL TAMIMI & COMPANY
Crimson Circle
x Al Tamimi & Company
We are thankful to Al Tamimi & Company for their invaluable partnership in hosting Crimson Circle: Founders x Investors, an exclusive networking session that connects MIT & Harvard startups, successful UAE-based founders, and investors.
Al Tamimi & Company is the largest full-service law firm in the Middle East, renowned for its deep understanding of regional markets and legal frameworks. With over 30 years of experience, the firm provides cutting-edge legal solutions across various sectors, including technology, energy, healthcare, and financial services.
Through their commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, Al Tamimi & Company plays a pivotal role in supporting the growth of startups and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in the UAE and beyond.
THE FOUNDER FILES
is a dynamic directory showcasing founders who are students, graduates, or professors of MIT and Harvard, along with their groundbreaking startups.
This directory is designed to make it easier for investors, partners, and potential team members to connect with these innovative companies while exploring their inspiring stories and groundbreaking achievements.
VISION OF CRIMSON FOUNDERS
to expand the global reach and impact of the remarkable talent, inventions, and innovations coming from MIT and Harvard, build meaningful and targeted connections and collaborations, and contribute to MIT's motto, "Mens et Manus," and "Building a Better World" and to Harvard’s mission, “Advancing New Ideas.”
founded by a team of MIT alumni and powered by an advisory team of MIT and Harvard entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, and industry experts, Crimson Founders is on a mission to build a network for MIT & Harvard Founders and to connect exceptional startups & talent from MIT and Harvard with opportunities, investors, visionaries, and industry experts.
Contact Us
WHY VOLASO
A Different Approach, Using a New Method of Manufacturing
COMPANY
Crimson Founders in Numbers
400
Applications
38
Finalists
25
Partners Worldwide
22
Speakers
COLLABORATION
Our Partners
