Latest news with #AayushmanDalmia
Mid East Info
11 hours ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Zoftware's Aayushman Dalmia wins Innovation Excellence award at Ignyte SME Challenge - Middle East Business News and Information
Aayushman Dalmia, founder of Dubai-based startup Zoftware, has won the Innovation Excellence Award at the Digital Enablement of SMEs Challenge. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence of UAE and Ignyte, positions Dalmia for further growth as he continues his mission to simplify software discovery for small and medium businesses across the region. Dalmia's platform, Zoftware, has been steadily gaining traction in the MENA startup ecosystem for offering a streamlined approach to finding, comparing and selecting enterprise software solutions – a process that remains a hurdle for many growing businesses. 'This award is a testament to the need for simplifying tech access for SMEs,' said Dalmia, who has been named among Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 entrepreneurs in the past. 'Our goal has always been to bridge the digital divide by helping businesses make faster, more informed software decisions.' The challenge is part of a wider push to accelerate SME digitisation across the region — an agenda that aligns closely with both government and private-sector priorities in the UAE. Aimed at recognising impactful solutions that accelerate SME digital transformation, the challenge, held recently in Dubai, drew hundreds of high-potential founders from across the MENA region. Dalmia impressed the jury with his platform's clear value proposition and scalable vision—matching SMEs with the right digital tools through a curated marketplace backed by intelligent filters, user reviews, and guided discovery. 'This award validates everything we've been building at Zoftware for the past couple of years or so,' said Dalmia, speaking after the ceremony. 'Technology shouldn't be a hurdle—it should be a launchpad. We're making it easier for SMEs to make smart digital decisions without needing an IT degree.' With this latest recognition, Zoftware joins a growing list of Dubai-born startups gaining international visibility, reinforcing the city's position as a launchpad for regional innovation. A Track Record of Disruptive Innovation- Zoftware has been making headlines since its launch for its ambitious aim: to become the region's go-to platform for B2B software discovery. In 2024, the company was recognised by TechRadar MENA as one of the 'Top 10 Startups to Watch' in the SaaS enablement space. Under Dalmia's leadership, Zoftware has grown rapidly, onboarding hundreds of software vendors and serving SMEs in sectors ranging from logistics and retail to health and education. Beyond the Prize: A Strategic Boost- 'We're at a tipping point now,' Dalmia added. 'This support will help us go deeper in key markets and integrate more AI-driven features to guide SME software choices. Our roadmap includes multi-language access, fintech tools, and region-specific integrations.' Digital Enablement: A Regional Imperative- As the UAE and wider Gulf continue to prioritise SME growth as a cornerstone of economic diversification, platforms like Zoftware are stepping in to close the tech literacy and access gap. According to a recent report by the World Bank, nearly 75% of SMEs in the MENA region still lack structured digital infrastructure – a gap Zoftware aims to close. 'We're not selling software – we're selling clarity, confidence, and capacity,' Dalmia said. 'If we get this right, we unlock not just productivity, but resilience and long-term competitiveness for thousands of businesses.' With the Innovation Excellence Award now under its belt, Zoftware is poised to scale further and cement its role as a key enabler of SME digital transformation in the region.
Tahawul Tech
7 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
AI-powered solutions shape future of SMEs, says Zoftware founder
With AI at the core, Zoftware's founder Aayushman Dalmia, explains how SMEs are leveraging technology to make faster, smarter decisions and stay ahead of market trends. Aayushman Dalmia, founder of Zoftware — recently honoured with the Innovation Excellence Award at the Ignyte Digital Enablement of SMEs Challenge — is building an AI-powered discovery platform that helps SMEs make faster, smarter software decisions. A Forbes 30 Under 30 founder, he represents a bold, disruptive force in the SaaS and SME enablement space. Road to disruption In 2018, Aayushman Dalmia was struggling to find a CRM solution that met his needs. After countless hours searching and choosing what was marketed as the 'best CRM of 2018,' he found himself disappointed. Four months of integration and a year of wasted time and money left him at a crossroads. Rather than repeating the cycle, Aayushman decided to take matters into his own hands. He set out to build a platform that would empower businesses to make smarter, faster decisions—one that would not only meet their needs but improve efficiency, save costs, and build trust. That's how Zoftware was born. Today, the platform continues to help businesses transform the way they make decisions, driving growth and innovation through smarter solutions. Aayushman's journey from frustration to innovation has shaped Zoftware's mission to help companies make decisions they can truly be proud of. In an exclusive interview with Dalmia shares how AI is transforming decision-making processes, automating customer support, improving operational efficiency, and predicting market trends. He also discusses how Zoftware ensures the accuracy and impartiality of its AI models, offering valuable insights to help SMEs stay ahead in an ever-evolving marketplace. Interview Excerpts: How is AI transforming decision-making processes for SMEs in the region? AI is revolutionising the way SMEs make decisions by enabling them to access real-time data and insights that were once only available to large enterprises. By integrating AI-powered tools, SMEs can make data-driven decisions faster, allowing them to respond to market dynamics more effectively. AI's ability to analyse trends and customer behaviors provides SMEs with the tools they need to stay competitive and agile. In what ways can AI-driven automation improve customer support and operational efficiency for SMEs? AI-driven automation streamlines customer support processes, ensuring faster and more accurate responses. For example, chatbots and virtual assistants can resolve customer queries 24/7, freeing up human agents for more complex tasks. 'AI can automate repetitive tasks, optimise workflows, and help SMEs reduce costs while boosting operational efficiency, allowing businesses to focus on strategic growth.' How can predictive analytics powered by AI help SMEs better anticipate market trends and opportunities? AI-powered predictive analytics allows SMEs to foresee market shifts by analysing large datasets, identifying patterns, and predicting future outcomes. This capability helps businesses make informed decisions about inventory management, product development, and market expansion, ensuring they capitalise on emerging opportunities and mitigate potential risks before they happen. How do you train your AI model to give accurate, unbiased answers? Training our AI models to deliver accurate and unbiased answers involves using a diverse dataset that reflects various perspectives and situations. We ensure that the data we use is comprehensive and balanced to avoid any skewed results. Regular testing and updating of our models also play a crucial role in ensuring that they stay accurate and unbiased, providing SMEs with reliable insights every time.
