Qatar-based startup using AI to make air conditioners smarter

Qatar startup Vora deploys AI device to cut air-conditioning waste

Vora, a Qatar-based hardware and software startup incubated at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), has developed an AI-powered device that optimises existing air conditioners rather than replacing them. Founded about a year and a half ago by Anas Rustom and Mazen Assayed, the company says its small device both selects more energy-efficient cooling settings and performs predictive maintenance, aiming to reduce a problem that in Qatar can account for around 70% of a building’s electricity demand.

Direct quote

“Vora is a hardware and software startup developing an AI-powered device designed to optimise existing air conditioners rather than replace them,” said Anas Rustom, co-founder and CEO. “It is a small device that optimises your air conditioner.”

How the technology works and the challenges

Vora’s system combines two AI components. The first continuously assesses indoor temperature, humidity, outdoor weather conditions and user preferences to determine cooling settings that save energy without compromising comfort. The second focuses on predictive maintenance, monitoring early signs of potential faults so issues can be addressed before they escalate.

• The device learns individual comfort habits — “Some people feel comfortable at 18 degrees, some people feel too cold,” Rustom said — and adapts rather than enforcing a single temperature across all occupants.
• During setup, Vora records the infrared signals from an air conditioner’s existing remote control, enabling the device to communicate with legacy units so consumers do not need to replace AC hardware.
• Vora’s AI improves with deployment: each installation supplies real‑world data that refines both energy optimisation and predictive-maintenance models.

Turning the concept into a commercial hardware product has presented practical constraints. “There are a lot of bottlenecks and constraints,” Rustom acknowledged, noting that hardware development requires sourcing components, shipping, testing and occasional redesigns — challenges that differ from software updates. Developing robust AI models also depends on collecting sufficient operational data across varied buildings and systems.

Progress, incubation and market outlook

Vora joined the QSTP Incubation Programme earlier this year after months of engagement with the local innovation ecosystem. Rustom said the programme has supplied workspace, interns, exposure and pitching opportunities. “I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have scaled this fast without the support of QSTP,” he said.

The startup has completed its first minimum viable product and is undergoing beta testing. The immediate roadmap calls for entering the market, expanding compatibility with a broader range of air-conditioning systems and continuing to refine the underlying AI. Longer term, Vora aims to scale across the GCC and beyond, targeting regions where cooling drives high electricity demand or where energy access and affordability are concerns.

For Rustom, building in Qatar is intentional: “Qatar is basically my home,” he said. “I want to give back to Qatar.” Looking ahead he added a wider ambition for national visibility: “I want us to go out into the world and proudly say that we originated from Qatar.”