OKRA celebrates Paris start-up challenge win

Cambridge-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) company, OKRA Technologies, is celebrating after winning a global start-up challenge at prestigious technology show VivaTech 2018 in Paris.

OKRA was one of a select group of companies, from hundreds of applications, invited to pitch their solution to a jury of 12 senior executives from French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi.

The winning pitch, delivered by OKRA’s Chief Revenue Officer Rasim Shah, focused on real time AI solutions for Pharmaceutical companies. As winner of the challenge, OKRA is now working with Sanofi on a pilot project to develop big data real-time solutions, enabling the healthcare giant to become more agile and make key analytical decisions instantly.

“It was a phenomenal experience and to be recognised by Sanofi at this stage of our growth is beyond anything we could have imagined,” said Mr Shah, who heads to the US later this month to take part in another start-up pitch challenge, where he will showcase OKRA’s technology and AI platform at IIeX2018NA in Atlanta.  IIeX is renowned for being a disruptive and client-driven insights event that features over 200 guest speakers, including representatives from Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo.

OKRA was formed with a focus on bringing real-time, tangible benefits to customers across several disciplines including pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

Analysing big data with their award-winning technology, OKRA was set up by founder and CEO Dr Loubna Bouarfa to positively impact real people in real time.

OKRA’s objective is to utilise pioneering technology but bring it to market in a way that it can transform lives and have a positive social impact. As such, it’s been crucial for founder Loubna Bouarfa to find like-minded individuals who have a focus on the social impact of AI and want to apply this technology in order to positively impact the lives of those around them.