Qatar-based startup using AI to make air conditioners smarter

A Qatar-based startup named Vora is tackling a major energy issue in the region: maintaining building temperatures without excessive electricity usage. Vora is a hardware and software company that has developed an AI-powered device aimed at optimizing existing air conditioners rather than replacing them entirely. Anas Rustom, the co-founder and CEO, explained that the device is a small component that enhances the efficiency of air conditioners.

Rustom co-founded Vora with Mazen Assayed, who serves as the company's chief marketing officer. According to Rustom, Vora is focused on solving a specific problem rather than the device itself. In Qatar, air conditioning can make up around 70% of a building's electricity demand. However, much of this energy usage can be wasteful due to inefficient cooling, excessive cooling, and operation in unoccupied spaces.

This problem first caught Rustom and Assayed's attention during their university years when they were searching for a meaningful project. Vora's technology incorporates two AI systems. The first system continuously monitors factors like indoor temperature, humidity, outdoor weather conditions, and user preferences to determine more energy-efficient cooling settings without sacrificing comfort.

The second system concentrates on predictive maintenance, identifying early signs of potential air-conditioner issues before they become more serious problems. The system also learns individual user preferences for optimal comfort levels. For example, while some people might feel comfortable at 18 degrees, others might find it too cold.

Instead of applying a uniform temperature setting, Vora adapts to individual habits and comfort levels. The startup's main selling point is that consumers do not have to replace their existing air conditioners. During setup, Vora learns the infrared signals from the AC's remote control, enabling the device to communicate with the unit.

However, transforming this concept into a functional hardware product has its challenges. Unlike software, hardware typically requires physical components to be ordered, shipped, tested, and sometimes redesigned, creating various obstacles for hardware startups. Developing the AI is another challenge, as the system's effectiveness improves with each deployment due to the collection of real-world data.

Vora was founded about 1.5 years ago, and Rustom chose to establish the company in Qatar due to personal and professional reasons. "Qatar is basically my home," he said, growing up in the country. "I want to give back to Qatar." The region also provides a suitable testing ground for Vora's technology, given the high demand for air conditioning in the GCC.

Earlier this year, Vora joined the QSTP Incubation Programme after Rustom sought to become part of the local innovation ecosystem. Since joining, the startup has received support in the form of workspace, interns, exposure, and opportunities to pitch Vora to investors and influential audiences. Rustom believes the support from QSTP has been crucial in accelerating the startup's growth.

Vora has now completed its first minimum viable product and is in the beta testing phase. The next step is to enter the market, further refine the technology, and expand the range of air-conditioning systems the device can support. Ultimately, Rustom aims to scale Vora's technology across the GCC and potentially worldwide, attributing his ambition to putting Qatar on the map as a source of homegrown technology with global potential.