Growing Up with a Startup: From Fresher to Global HealthTech Recognition

The Journey

What started as DroobiSmit transformed into Lillia—advancing toward agentic and adaptive chronic disease management powered by AI. Along the way, we secured a $1.7 million grant from the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council to build the first digital twin for glucose prediction in the GCC region.

When I moved to Doha to work with our global team, it marked another chapter in a journey that has been anything but predictable.

Web Summit Qatar

At Web Summit Qatar, Lillia was received with enthusiasm by investors, fellow startups, and guests from around the world. Meeting incredible people running startups that solve problems I had never even considered deeply was eye-opening.

For me and for Lillia, Web Summit was the perfect culmination of our first month of hustle in Doha—a moment to celebrate how far we'd come while recognizing how much further we could go.

The TIME Recognition

Being recognized by TIME in the AI & Data Analytics category with a "Very High" performance indicator across growth, reputation, and digital engagement was surreal. What makes this distinction meaningful is that inclusion in TIME's global ranking cannot be purchased or influenced—it's based solely on independent, fact-driven research.

For a startup that started small and scrappy, this validation reaffirms our mission: building digital health solutions of global relevance, powered by AI and data, delivered with compassionate human care.

What Startup Life Teaches You

Growing with an early-stage company means wearing multiple hats, adapting to constant change, and finding stability in uncertainty. You learn: