UDST Boosts Student-Led AI Startup ‘Be My Sense’ with Strategic Tech Deal

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 19-04-2026

4 min

UDST signed a Technology Support Contract with student startup Be My Sense.

The AI platform aids deaf users through “real-time translation” and smart wearables.

The team won second place at the Huawei ICT Competition global final.

The deal helps move from prototype to “market readiness” and scalability.

Leaders say it shows applied learning evolving into “tangible social impact”.

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has taken another step to back student entrepreneurship, signing a Technology Support Contract with “Be My Sense”, a startup founded by its own students through the university’s incubation hub, UHUB. It might sound like just another agreement on paper, but for anyone who follows how university ideas become real companies, this is where things start to feel very real.

Be My Sense was created by Mohamed Ali and Ahmed El Abed, under the mentorship of Dr Wagdi Alrawagfeh, Assistant Dean of IT Student Affairs at the College of Computing and Information Technology. The project is not new to recognition. It previously secured second place in the Innovation Track at the Huawei ICT Competition 2024–2025 Global Final in China, representing Qatar among top teams from around the world. That’s no small feat, global competitions like this are fiercely competitive, and even reaching the final can be a bit of a mountain to climb.

The startup’s solution focuses on inclusivity. It has developed an AI-powered platform designed to support deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Through real-time translation, smart wearables and digital assistance tools, the system aims to ease communication in classrooms, workplaces and public spaces. In simple terms, it tries to remove one of the biggest barriers many people face every day: being understood, and understanding others.

The newly signed contract creates a formal framework between UDST and the startup, with particular emphasis on helping the company move towards scalability and market readiness. That means support not just in refining the technology, but also in shaping the business side, which, let’s be honest, can sometimes be more complex than building the tech itself. Turning a promising prototype into something investors and customers will trust is no small task.

Dr Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, said the agreement reflects the university’s commitment to empowering students on their entrepreneurial journeys. He noted that innovation thrives when students are encouraged to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, describing Be My Sense as an example of applied learning evolving into a solution with tangible social impact. He also highlighted UHUB’s role in offering mentorship, guidance and resources to help students transform ideas into viable ventures.

For Mohamed Ali, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Be My Sense, the contract marks a major milestone. He described how what began as a university project gradually matured into a solution with real-world relevance, thanks to the practical learning environment and ongoing support inside UDST. That hands-on exposure, he suggested, was instrumental in getting the startup ready for its next stage.

I’ve seen across the region how student projects often struggle once the competition trophies are handed out. There’s applause, a few photos… and then silence. That said, structured backing like this can change the trajectory. It keeps momentum alive. And for founders in MENA, momentum is everything.

UDST itself was officially established by Emiri Decision No. 13 of 2022 as Qatar’s first national university specialising in academic, applied, technical and professional education. Today, it offers around 80 bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes, diplomas and certificates across five colleges, Business, Computing and Information Technology, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, and General Education, alongside specialist training centres serving individuals and companies.

On the flip side, university support alone doesn’t guarantee commercial success. Market dynamics, funding access and customer adoption will all play a definatley crucial role for Be My Sense in the months ahead. Still, a strong institutional partner can open doors that might otherwise remain shut.

At Arageek, we often talk about energising founders across MENA, and stories like this feel spot on. When universities act not just as teaching institutions but as launchpads, the regional startup ecosystem becomes stronger. And believe it or not, it often starts with two students, an idea, and a bit of courage to build something that matters.

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