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Introducing: ILIK, DeepAvatar & iki.ai

Since the beginning of this year, NOM has been one of the facilitators of the Startup Visa program. Three young companies from outside the EU now have Startup Visas issued by NOM: iki.ai, ILIK and DeepAvatar.

In the coming year, these startups will be hard at work in the North and NOM will help them with guidance, coaching and, of course, a network. The previous NOMMER featured an article about the Startup Visa program, so now it's high time to introduce the startups themselves.

I am very proud to have welcomed these startups to our region. These smart, ambitious and inspiring entrepreneurs fit perfectly into our startup ecosystem and show that the Northern Netherlands is an attractive place for international talent.

Fleur Mulder, NOM

DeepAvatar

One of the more challenging aspects of learning another language is finding a good conversation partner to practice with. That's why DeepAvatar has developed a virtual AI assistant that allows you to have real-time conversations. The startup of Armenian origin wants to continue developing and launching the iOS app here in the Northern Netherlands. "In the upcoming period, we want to focus on product development and fitting it to the right niches in the market," says CEO and co-founder Razmik Konstandian.

The startup chose the Netherlands due to its well-developed startup ecosystem and proficiency in English. "But it was precisely the positive experience with NOM that tipped the scales in favor of establishing ourselves in the Northern Netherlands," says Konstandian. "They assisted us throughout the entire process, from the application to the relocation. While our company is still in a very early stage, I believe that the network here will certainly be very valuable in our ambitions for further growth."

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Left Razmik Konstandian, right Azat Davletshin

iki.ai

iki.ai serves as a knowledge hub and a second brain for professionals and teams. It acts as a digital library for storing all your professional expertise and incorporates a virtual co-pilot to support you with tasks tasks based on your expertise. Co-founder Ivan Ilin emphasizes, "Groningen, with its prestigious universities and a large student community, provides an exceptional opportunity to test our product, cultivate an early adopter community, and steer us toward the growth stage." He further notes, "After relocating, we also discovered the vibrant and bike-friendly nature of Groningen, set amidst incredibly picturesque villages."

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Left Max Orlov, right Ivan Ilin

ILIK

ILIK is a social innovation startup with a mission to provide women with better insight into how the different phases of the menstrual cycle, referred to as "seasons" by ILIK, can impact mental health. "The Northern Netherlands has a safe and open-minded culture that allows for discussions on sensitive topics like this," says founder Faten Salem, originally from Palestine. "A city like Groningen is home to many young women, which is precisely what ILIK needs to build a strong community. It's also a region that highly values innovation and sustainability, aligning with our values as a young company."

"As a female entrepreneur, I have greatly benefited from the Startup Visa program and NOM," Salem continues. "The support, guidance, feedback, and fantastic networking opportunities have been invaluable for the development of our startup. NOM has assisted ILIK in transforming our idea into something practical, something that can truly make a difference in the lives of women. I have also been fortunate to have the support and guidance of amazing Dutch women like Fleur Mulder and my mentor, Antje Meindersma."

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Faten Salem
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