Infrared.city, an Austrian startup developing an AI-powered platform for climate analysis and sustainable and resilient design, won the Podim Pitching Competition as part of an international business conference in Slovenia's Maribor.

Infrared.city's platform provides real-time insight into climate impacts, helping architects and planners in designing sustainable and resilient buildings.

Picked among 141 startups from 23 countries by an international jury, the winner was declared at the final event of the competition on 13 May.

The other four finalists were Scavenger AI and Iknaio from Austria, the Austrian-US startup Neubau Energy and Skillplate from Bulgaria. The latter also won the award of the Podim conference partner Infobip.

Running from 12 to 14 May, the three-day Podim conference is features almost 200 startups from 23 countries and 58 venture capital funds and angel networks managing a total of over €8.2 billion in investment funds.

More than 80 speakers have addressed an audience of over 1,000 participants from all over the world.

One of the missions of the conference is to spotlight the most promising startups from the region, help them to raise their profile and link them up with global investors and other potential business partners.

"For many startups it was taking part in the Podim Pitching Competition finals that brought them greater visibility among investors, fixing business-to-business meetings faster and, as a result, faster growth," Podim organisers said.