Hub71 Startup Jade Autism Wins $1 Million Zayed Sustainability Prize for Health Innovation

In a significant milestone for the Abu Dhabi innovation ecosystem, Jade Autism, a Hub71 startup, has been named a winner of the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Health category.

Announced during a ceremony attended by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the accolade includes a $1 million (AED 3.67 million) award to support the startup's mission of transforming neurodiverse care through artificial intelligence.

Pioneering AI for Inclusive Healthcare

Jade Autism was recognised for its innovative use of gamification and AI to support the early detection and monitoring of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD. The platform captures cognitive data during gameplay and translates it into actionable insights, providing therapists and educators with detailed reports on a child's development, enabling faster diagnosis and personalised therapeutic interventions.

The win underscores the global potential of startups supported by Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem. Since joining Hub71, Jade has expanded its footprint internationally, now supporting nearly 200,000 children across more than 170 countries.

From Personal Mission to Global Impact

Jade Autism was founded by Ronaldo Lima Cohin Ribeiro, whose motivation stemmed from his experience as a parent to his son, Lucas, who is autistic.

"We wanted to build technology that could really help neurodivergent children," said Ribeiro, who celebrated the award on stage alongside his son. "During play, we collect cognitive data that helps us understand exactly where the difficulty is -why a child is not learning to read or write, or why they struggle with attention."

Ribeiro emphasised that the recognition is a catalyst for future growth: "You win an award, but you also win a mission. Now our mission is to grow what we are doing and reach many more children."

Scaled in Abu Dhabi, Deploying Globally

Jade Autism's highlights Abu Dhabi's role as a launchpad for impact-driven tech. After winning the Supernova Challenge at GITEX Future Stars, the Brazilian-founded startup moved its headquarters to Abu Dhabi and joined Hub71.

Through Hub71's incentive programmes, access to capital and strategic ecosystem partnerships, Jade has scaled its solution across multiple international markets. The platform is now used in over 600 schools globally including the UAE, Brazil, the UK and Portugal. The company has focused heavily on partnerships with public schools and governments to ensure their technology reaches underserved communities, which is a core pillar of the Zayed Sustainability Prize's ethos.

About the Zayed Sustainability Prize

Established in 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize honours the legacy of the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It recognises organisations and high schools that are delivering impactful, innovative, and inspiring solutions in health, food, energy, water, and climate action.