FII Institute Selects Five Startups for Innovators Pitch in Riyadh

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute has selected five startups from a pool of 1,321 applications spanning 90 countries to compete in the third FII Innovators Pitch, set to take place on October 29 during FII10 Investment Day in Riyadh. The cohort — representing Argentina, India, Poland and the United States — will present technologies across healthcare, sustainability, education, artificial intelligence and robotics to global investors at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

"The initiative connects founders with investors, strategic partners and global networks to support commercialization and scaling," the announcement said.

The five companies chosen for the Innovators Pitch are:

• APOLO Biotech (Argentina) — developing AI-driven, RNA-based crop protection solutions aimed at improving agricultural resilience and reducing chemical pesticide use.
• iSono Health (United States) — creator of a portable, automated 3D breast ultrasound system designed to expand accessible breast cancer screening.
• Nevomo (Poland) — working on magnetic propulsion and AI-enabled freight logistics that can be retrofitted to existing rail infrastructure to boost efficiency.
• Astrek Innovations (India) — building modular robotic exoskeletons for rehabilitation, targeting physical therapy and mobility recovery applications.
• Argon Mechatronics (United States) — developing modular humanoid robotics for manufacturing, focused on adaptable automation in industrial settings.

The pitch event is held in partnership with MIT Solve and zeroes in on technologies addressing pressing challenges across several sectors. The selection was made from a highly competitive international applicant pool of 1,321 submissions from 90 countries, underscoring a broad geographic reach and sectoral diversity. FII10 Week runs from October 26 to 29, 2026, and Investment Day will feature startup pitches, roadshows, matchmaking sessions and workshops.

Organisers have positioned the Innovators Pitch as a platform to connect early-stage founders with capital and partners. In addition to one-on-one meetings during Investment Day, participating teams are expected to benefit from exposure to institutional investors and strategic partners attending FII10. The event’s agenda combines public showcases with curated networking, aiming to accelerate commercialization pathways for selected companies.

Context and implications for the startups

Each selected company addresses a distinct commercial and technical challenge. APOLO Biotech’s RNA-based crop protection responds to global demands for sustainable agriculture and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. iSono Health’s portable 3D ultrasound system targets gaps in breast cancer detection infrastructure, particularly in settings lacking access to standard imaging modalities. Nevomo’s magnetic propulsion and AI systems propose an incremental upgrade model for existing rail freight networks, potentially lowering the capital barrier for rail modernization.

Astek Innovations and Argon Mechatronics highlight the growing intersection of robotics and healthcare and manufacturing, respectively. Astrek’s modular exoskeletons could alter rehabilitation workflows and patient outcomes, while Argon’s humanoid robotics aim to deliver flexible automation for factories facing variable production tasks.

Outlook

The Innovators Pitch offers a concentrated opportunity for the five startups to accelerate funding and partnerships during a high-profile week in Riyadh. With FII10 drawing a global investor audience and institutional partners such as MIT Solve participating, the selected teams will be closely watched for follow-on funding, pilot agreements and commercial partnerships. The event’s format — combining pitches, roadshows and matchmaking — is designed to move promising technologies from prototype to scaled deployment over the coming 12–24 months.