KAZAKHSTANI COMPANY BILLBOARDVIDEO ENGINEERING WINS RTA STARTUPS CHALLENGE IN DUBAI
FIRST PLACE GOES TO ALMATY
In March 2024, the Roads & Transport Authority Dubai held the 6th annual competition for ideas in the Emirate’s road infrastructure. Of the 32 participants, the Kazakh company Billboardvideo Engineering made it to the finals with their updated project of equipping the city with vertical media boards, which residents of Kazakhstan are accustomed to seeing on the roads of Almaty and Astana.
The ideas presented in the competition were only by project authors with deep technological expertise, as the RTA oversees the legality of the technologies being implemented. Investment gimmicks, startups with borrowed technologies, and marketing shells designed to attract funding were weeded out during the preliminary selection of the 32 participants.
The ideas presented in the competition were only by project authors with deep technological expertise, as the RTA oversees the legality of the technologies being implemented. Investment gimmicks, startups with borrowed technologies, and marketing shells designed to attract funding were weeded out during the preliminary selection of the 32 participants.
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"We can be proud of the worthy competitors in the contest. The preliminary selection showed that technical expertise and international patents matter more than press releases and inflating investment attractiveness through 700 Dubai family offices. RTA is the sole body responsible for permissions to launch road infrastructure projects in Dubai, and we appreciated their professionalism in selecting applicants."
Among the 9 finalists were companies presenting solutions for autonomous public transport, hydrogen engines, automatic tire condition monitoring, motivational navigation, and more. The innovative developments of Zhanat Malbekov, the creator of Billboardvideo Engineering, in the field of infocommunications left no chance for the competitors.
On June 16, the ceremony for announcing the winners of the RTA Startups Challenge took place. The Almaty-based company Billboardvideo Engineering took first place and won the competition.
"The interest from CEO RTA HE Mattar Al Tayer, expressed during the technology review in the final, grew into our first place in the competition as a whole. It is a great honor for me to receive the award from the director of the innovations department. We look forward to a special support program for the finalists, which allows us to realize the most ambitious plans. I am proud and deeply appreciate the contribution of each team member of Billboardvideo Engineering to our victory in this truly innovative competition," said Nikita Sarbashev, Executive Director of Billboardvideo Engineering Middle East.
"The interest from CEO RTA HE Mattar Al Tayer, expressed during the technology review in the final, grew into our first place in the competition as a whole. It is a great honor for me to receive the award from the director of the innovations department. We look forward to a special support program for the finalists, which allows us to realize the most ambitious plans. I am proud and deeply appreciate the contribution of each team member of Billboardvideo Engineering to our victory in this truly innovative competition," said Nikita Sarbashev, Executive Director of Billboardvideo Engineering Middle East.
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"Recognition of the ecosystem that I created in 2015 in Almaty at the global level is very important to me. In the Gulf countries, we are promoting a new version of the technology, design, and software, with an emphasis on the project’s social component. The benefit for the city and the digital transformation of future road infrastructure are our priorities."
ABOUT PARTICIPANTS
Billboardvideo Engineering — a company that created and installed a network of vertical advertising media boards in Almaty and Astana, currently operated by the advertising company Citix.
Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) — an independent government body responsible for roads and transport in Dubai, UAE. It is responsible for planning and implementation of transportation and traffic projects, as well as legislation and strategic transportation plans in the city. RTA is a department of the government of Dubai. Website: www.rta.ae
Zhanat Malbekov — author and owner of patents related to the network of vertical smart media boards in Almaty and Astana, from design to technological elements. Creator of the Jumbo installation at the House of Government Square, lighting of Kok Tobe, LED screens at TSUM, Shymbulak, and others. Member of the expert council of the IT Council of Almaty, expert in the field of intelligent transportation systems.
Nikita Sarbashev — brand ambassador for SpinetiX S.A. (Switzerland) in the EMEA region, head of the digital committee of the Retail Marketing Association SHOP (USA), organizer and moderator of business programs Integrated Systems Russia, Infocomm, Pro Light&Sound, director of digital transformation and martech solutions, executive director of Billboardvideo Engineering Middle East.
Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) — an independent government body responsible for roads and transport in Dubai, UAE. It is responsible for planning and implementation of transportation and traffic projects, as well as legislation and strategic transportation plans in the city. RTA is a department of the government of Dubai. Website: www.rta.ae
Zhanat Malbekov — author and owner of patents related to the network of vertical smart media boards in Almaty and Astana, from design to technological elements. Creator of the Jumbo installation at the House of Government Square, lighting of Kok Tobe, LED screens at TSUM, Shymbulak, and others. Member of the expert council of the IT Council of Almaty, expert in the field of intelligent transportation systems.
Nikita Sarbashev — brand ambassador for SpinetiX S.A. (Switzerland) in the EMEA region, head of the digital committee of the Retail Marketing Association SHOP (USA), organizer and moderator of business programs Integrated Systems Russia, Infocomm, Pro Light&Sound, director of digital transformation and martech solutions, executive director of Billboardvideo Engineering Middle East.