Students of the Finance and Information Management (FIM) Master's programme at Kutaisi International University's (KIU) School of Management — Erekle Beridze, Lizi Areshidze, and Teimuraz Pkhakadze — have founded the technology start-up SilkRoute AI. The venture has already secured an international strategic partner: leading Spanish company NatureBrain.
It is noteworthy that NatureBrain was co-founded by recognised industry leaders Miguel Ángel García and Rubén Montero, alongside KIU visiting lecturer and University of Toronto Professor Luis Seco. As a result of this partnership, Georgia has been officially designated as a technology hub within NatureBrain's global network.
The project aims to utilise Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for natural resource management and the optimisation of environmental decision-making.
SilkRoute AI's work spans complex areas including: the automated processing of geospatial and satellite data; the development of Deep Learning AI models; and the deployment of analytics for climate risk monitoring.
To process ecological data, the SilkRoute AI team is developing a sophisticated algorithm grounded in the technological architecture required for the protection of natural capital. The company's core mission is to foster technological collaboration between Georgia and international markets — in particular, Europe and China.
"The development of our start-up is built upon the academic knowledge and international experience gained at KIU, including participation in the Shanghai AI Conference (WAIC 2025) and workshops held at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). SilkRoute AI is further proof that initiatives founded on a solid academic foundation have the capacity to engage successfully with the global ecosystem and to offer our international partners competitive solutions," say the founders, students of KIU's Master's programme.
At Kutaisi International University, the professional and personal development of students is of paramount importance. Alongside their studies, KIU students participate in international conferences at leading global technology hubs, build professional networks with representatives of the world's leading technology companies and universities, and gain first-hand insight into industry trends — all of which significantly advances their career prospects.
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