Sometimes the most exciting journeys begin with a simple plan. A leader in the Saudi tech scene arrived at KAUST in 2016 with a suitcase and a plan for a six-month stay. What started as a temporary academic transfer evolved into a five-year deep dive into plant science.
This research on plant hormones laid an unexpected foundation for a future in business. The skills gained—from scientific investigation to creative design—proved to be the perfect toolkit for an entrepreneur. A willingness to try new things fueled a remarkable career transformation.
In September 2022, that adventurous spirit culminated in the official launch of a new legal entity. This venture is part of a growing wave of female-led enterprises successfully contributing to the Kingdom’s booming economy. The story is one of authenticity and a determination to create tools that empower people globally.
Key Takeaways
- A six-month academic plan evolved into a long-term entrepreneurial journey.
- A background in plant science provided a unique foundation for tech leadership.
- Skills in scientific research and creative design are valuable assets in business.
- The venture officially launched as a Saudi legal entity in 2022.
- This story highlights the impact of female leaders in the Kingdom’s growing economy.
- An adventurous spirit and willingness to learn can lead to unexpected career paths.
- The ultimate goal is to create innovative technology that empowers users worldwide.
Justine Braguy – Co-founder & CEO – Thya Technology: Pioneering Innovation
What started as a tedious laboratory task would ultimately spark a journey into artificial intelligence. The frustration of manual seed counting became the catalyst for exploring new technological solutions.
Academic Roots and Plant Science Background
The foundation was built during intensive plant science research. Working with microscopic images of seeds revealed both challenges and opportunities. This hands-on experience with biological detection processes shaped a unique perspective.
First Encounter with AI and Entrepreneurial Spirit
The breakthrough came through collaboration with Silvio Giancola, a computer vision expert, and his supervisor Bernard Ghanem. Together they developed an innovative idea for automated seed counting.
This led to creating SeedQuant, an AI-based tool that transformed the counting process. The machine learning model was trained to analyze seed images with remarkable accuracy. What once took days could now be completed in hours.
The successful SeedQuant project demonstrated how technology could solve real-world problems. This early achievement planted the seeds for future entrepreneurial ventures in computer vision applications.
From Plant Science to AI: A Journey of Transformation
Many promising technologies never make it out of the laboratory, but strategic support can change that trajectory. The right environment can turn academic research into commercial success.
KAUST Experience and Ph.D. Evolution
The academic journey provided essential foundations for business development. Research skills translated well into entrepreneurial thinking.
This background helped identify real-world applications for laboratory discoveries. The transition from student to founder felt natural with proper guidance.
Leveraging the TAQADAM Accelerator for Startup Growth
The TAQADAM accelerator program became the turning point for the new venture. This six-month initiative provided crucial building blocks for business development.
The team emerged with a solid plan, industry knowledge, and tactical strategies. Their startup competed against thousands worldwide in the 2022 showcase.
Winning the Impact Acceleration Award brought $140,000 in funding. This achievement marked significant success for the growing company.
KAUST innovation support combined with accelerator resources created ideal conditions. The startup Thya Technology officially incorporated as a Saudi entity in September 2022.
Revolutionizing Image Analysis and Computer Vision with Thya Technology
Democratizing access to advanced technology requires creating intuitive tools that anyone can use. The company’s flagship product represents this philosophy perfectly.
Innovative SeedQuant Tool Development
The journey began with SeedQuant, an AI-powered solution for automated seed counting. This early success demonstrated how technology could transform tedious laboratory work.
Expanding AI Applications in Research and Industry
The platform now serves thousands of users across various fields. Researchers can analyze massive datasets quickly.
User-Friendly Cloud Platform Empowering End Users
The cloud-based product eliminates the need for coding expertise. Users simply upload their data and label objects of interest.
Within hours, the platform generates custom detection models. This saves significant time compared to manual analysis.
The team used strategic funding to scale the infrastructure. This allows the business to support multiple users simultaneously.
The company’s approach focuses on accessibility. Their technology makes complex analysis available to everyone.
Conclusion
Building a successful business often begins with putting people first, not just products. The leader’s favorite aspect of the job is shaping a work environment where the team remains central to everything. This people-focused vision drives the company’s approach to creating technology solutions.
The startup has already achieved significant success with its first customers. Research laboratories at KAUST, including the Center for Desert Agriculture, now use the platform. The team’s detection models process thousands of image datasets in hours instead of days.
Collaboration with experts like Silvio Giancola and Bernard Ghanem fuels this innovation. Their combined expertise in computer vision and plant science creates powerful tools for various industries. The platform makes complex data analysis accessible to all users, not just coding experts.
This symbiotic relationship between the startup and KAUST innovation demonstrates how unexpected beginnings can lead to transformative solutions. The journey from counting seeds and cells to building a thriving business proves that with the right team and vision, anything is possible.