Qualcomm Technologies has announced the 15 startups shortlisted for its Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI) 2025. The selected startups, five each from Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, will proceed to the Mentorship Phase of the programme. Their participation will culminate in a virtual Demo Day scheduled for the final quarter of 2025.
The QAIPI 2025 initiative, launched earlier this year, is aimed at empowering startups and developers across the Asia-Pacific region to build scalable artificial intelligence applications using Qualcomm platforms. Participants benefit from resources such as the Qualcomm AI Hub, technical support, training, and direct mentorship to develop AI use cases across mobile, compute, and Internet of Things (IoT) domains.
Broad range of AI innovations from the region
The selected teams are developing AI solutions across various sectors, including healthcare, robotics, retail, audio, and transportation. Their projects reflect growing demand for real-time, power-efficient AI at the device level, addressing specific regional challenges while aiming for global relevance.
In Japan, the focus spans humanoid robotics, spatial audio, medical AI, and sustainable maritime logistics. AMATAMA is creating a platform for next-generation humanoid computing based on neural circuit emulation. Cear is blending spatial audio with Qualcomm Vision AI to enhance acoustic immersion. Guide Robotics offers visual positioning systems for factories using Visual SLAM technology. ModAstera’s platform enables rapid medical AI development with inbuilt tools that remove the need for large development teams. Noahlogy, a startup from the University of Tokyo, uses machine learning to support maritime decarbonisation and efficient supply chains.
Singapore’s startups are leveraging AI to address issues such as multilingualism, maternal health, and misinformation. AI Seer’s fact-checking tool Facticity.AI verifies multimedia content in real time across over 100 languages. Biorithm, a healthtech company from Nanyang Technological University, supports maternal healthcare using AI-powered diagnostics. LingoAI promotes linguistic inclusion through community-owned voice data and Web3.0 integration. MetaOptics develops AI-enhanced optics for AR/VR and automotive applications. Vilota provides visual positioning systems for use in environments without GPS, such as mining or construction.
South Korea’s entries emphasise privacy-preserving AI, urban data systems, and edge computing. BanyaAI’s DAITION platform enables non-developers to build secure AI agents with large language models. MaumAI deploys foundation models directly on devices, enabling smart functions without cloud reliance. MOTOV collects extensive urban data via vehicle-mounted IoT and edge devices, supporting smart-city and mobility solutions. SAKAK uses federated learning to train highly personalised AI agents while maintaining data security. SqueezeBits develops compression tools that reduce model size for more efficient deployment across devices and the cloud.
Support and incentives to drive development
Over the next six months, Qualcomm Technologies will provide the selected startups with direct technical mentorship and access to hardware platforms and development kits. Each startup will also receive a development stipend of up to US$5,000, along with an additional US$5,000 incentive for patent filing.
These efforts are part of Qualcomm’s strategy to cultivate AI innovation across Asia-Pacific. “We are excited to witness the extraordinary innovation coming from the Asia-Pacific region through QAIPI,” said O.H. Kwon, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm APAC. “These 15 shortlisted startups showcase the region’s vast potential to shape the future of AI-driven industries. Qualcomm is proud to support these innovators as they advance their solutions, reinforcing our commitment to accelerating the growth of the AI ecosystem across Asia-Pacific.”
Sudeepto Roy, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Incorporated, added, “We are excited to collaborate with these outstanding teams, providing them with cutting-edge platforms and technical mentorship to help transform their AI innovations into real-world applications. Together, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities as they continue to push the boundaries of on-device AI.”
The programme will conclude with a virtual Demo Day in Q4 2025, where the startups will present their work to industry experts, investors, and potential partners.
