PISA Cohort 1 launched the accelerator journey with nine early-stage startups, helping founders sharpen their business ideas, validate market needs, and build stronger foundations for growth.
The cohort established PISA’s practical pathway from structured learning and mentoring to a public Demo Day, creating the foundation for future cohorts.
Participants were introduced to key entrepreneurial concepts covering customer discovery, business planning, pitching, and market engagement. Through guided sessions and expert advice, teams were encouraged to transform ideas into more structured and commercially viable ventures.
The programme provided an opportunity for participants to learn from experienced mentors, gain fresh perspectives, and develop greater confidence in communicating their business value.
A key milestone of the inaugural cohort was Demo Day, where startups shared their progress and aspirations with industry representatives, investors, and programme partners.
Exploria emerged as the overall champion with its online learning community focused on STEM and TVET education for children. Combining digital learning, hands-on activity kits, competitions, and community engagement, the platform encourages young learners to develop practical skills beyond the classroom.
First runner-up was awarded to KittenCat, a smart pet care solution featuring an automated cat litter cleaning system designed to make pet ownership more convenient. The product integrates automation and monitoring features to help pet owners maintain hygiene and manage pet care more efficiently.
YesHello secured the second runner-up position with its cloud-based customer service platform that helps SMEs manage customer conversations through a centralised team inbox. By enabling faster responses, team collaboration, performance monitoring, and automation across messaging channels, the platform supports businesses in delivering more efficient customer service and sales engagement.
Beyond the competition, Cohort 1 marked the beginning of a collaborative platform where entrepreneurs could learn, connect, and exchange ideas with like-minded peers.
The experience provided participants with practical exposure, constructive feedback, and valuable insights to support their entrepreneurial ambitions.
As the inaugural cohort, its achievements established the foundation upon which future PISA cohorts would continue to learn, develop, and succeed.
