Over 540 startups and scaleups^[1] from 11 countries entered the global challenge organized by Santander, Microsoft and Oxentia Foundation.

The winning startups are BioGrip from Mexico, Dive Medical from Spain and Heartfelt Technologies from the UK. And the winners of the scaleup category are Orquest and Legit Health from Spain and Splight from the US.

Winners will receive cash prizes totalling €120,000 after collecting their awards at ceremony held in Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus.

30 June 2023.
The winners of the Santander X Global Challenge | The AI Revolution, organized by Santander, Microsoft and Oxentia Foundation, were announced yesterday at a ceremony held in Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus, attended directors from Microsoft and Santander, industry experts and investors.

The Challenge recognises new and growing companies that are leveraging AI to help society overcome significant challenges.

Six companies received awards in total - three startups and three scaleups, beating over 540 entrants from 11 countries. 

The three winners of the startup category are BioGrip, a smart bionic system from Mexico that creates artificial limbs and rehabilitation devices; Dive Medical, from Spain, whose AI-based eye examination technologies checks children for neurological disorders; and Heartfelt Technologies, from the UK, which makes an automatic, contact-free telemonitoring solution for heart failure patients.

The winners of the scaleup category are Orquest, from Spain, with an automated workforce scheduling solution that drives business growth; Splight, from the US, whose AI allows users to capture, monetize and use the energy they produce; and Legit Health, also from Spain, with an easy-to-use app that helps collect reliable, unbiased clinical data and improves the accuracy of medical diagnostics.

The judges have also given an honourable mention to the Portuguese scaleup Smartex Europe, whose defect detection system for textiles helps reduce waste and improve business margins.

The six winners will receive cash prizes worth a total of €120,000 - €10,000 per startup; €30,000 per scaleup- and become members of Santander X 100, the bank’s global community of outstanding startups and scaleups. Furthermore, the winners will have access to Open AI APIs, subject to approval from Microsoft, as well as the opportunity to pitch to Microsoft’s Venture Capital (M12).

According to Diego Calascibetta, global head of Entrepreneurship and Open Innovation at Santander Universities, “[we hope] the cash prizes, resources and visibility the winners will get marks the beginning of a bountiful relationship with Santander. Also, working on this challenge with Microsoft gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to explain their projects and share their ideas, vision and talent with some of the world’s most qualified experts in artificial intelligence.”

According to Jens Hansen, General Manager Data & AI de Microsoft EMEA, “This initiative has showcased some wonderful examples of how AI can positively transform the way we work and live. To recognize many of these benefits we need strong entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups, and at Microsoft, along with great partners like Santander and Oxentia, we are committed to building the platforms to support these innovators.”

Steve Cleverley, CEO of Oxentia: “It is with great pleasure that we at Oxentia congratulate the winners of the Santander X Global Challenge | The AI Revolution. We wish them all the best for the future of their journey, as they tackle to some of the biggest challenges in our society with the help of Artificial Intelligence, supported by both Banco Santander and Microsoft. We hope that these exciting opportunities will facilitate collaboration and growth in this important and exciting new sector.”

Banco Santander runs several initiatives to help people get ahead in their career. Santander X provides startups with special training and resources to grow, prosper and develop solutions to society’s biggest challenges.

Banco Santander and its support for education, employability and entrepreneurship

Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth. It has been a pioneering stalwart of education, employability and entrepreneurship for 26 years, standing out among the world's financial institutions. Santander has deployed more than €2.2 billion and supported more than a million students, professionals and SMEs through agreements with nearly 1,300 universities (www.santander.com/universidades).

Oxentia Foundation and its commitment to innovation and global entrepreneurship

The Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia’s goal to address global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurship. Globally, Oxentia has designed, developed and run awards, competitions and programmes supporting early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs to promote the commercialization of science and technology based-innovation projects that impact the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Oxentia was born out of the University of Oxford’s technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, with the aim of delivering specialist innovation management services to public and private sector clients worldwide. Its approach is backed by Oxford University’s 30-plus years’ experience supporting academic innovation and entrepreneurship in over 70 countries.
 

[1] Companies with annual income over $300,000, more than $1 million capital raised, or over 25 fulltime employees.