Ukrainian startup Big Sister AI, which creates an innovative AI platform for sales, became the absolute winner of the prestigious Texas AI Challenge, beating out over 90 other projects and winning the final pitch competition.
Ukrainian startup Big Sister AI, which creates an innovative AI platform for sales, became the absolute winner of the prestigious Texas AI Challenge, beating out over 90 other projects and winning the final pitch competition.
Big Sister AI solves what the company calls “sales astrology”—a situation where executives see results but don’t understand why some deals are won and others are lost due to subtle human errors. The platform acts as a “personal AI assistant,” analyzing all customer interactions (calls, emails, CRM data) to assess skills and create an objective “Sales Score.” This “Moneyball for Sales” approach turns middle managers into stars by combining powerful AI analytics with human expertise.
Company founder Valentyn Yaromenko won the $100,000 grand prize for the Big Sister AI team after pitching at the final event held on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU).
“This victory is a recognition that a Ukrainian startup can become number one in such a competitive field as AI for sales, and do it in the USA - a country that is a world leader in both technology and sales,” said Valentyn Yaromenko, founder of Big Sister AI. “We are grateful to the judges and investors for their trust. These $100,000 will accelerate our mission. Our technical team in Ukraine is creating a world-class product, and experienced American entrepreneurs as our advisors are helping us conquer the US market. We are confident that Big Sister AI will become the first SalesTech unicorn with Ukrainian roots, founded in Texas.”
The competition organizers, key players in the Texas tech community, recognized Big Sister AI for its market-ready solution and the founders' strong vision.
“Big Sister AI stands out not only for its impressive technology, but also for its clear vision of solving a multi-billion dollar problem in the sales industry,” said Dustin Logan, CEO of Pro-Forma. “Their ‘Sales Score’ concept is a game changer. They embody exactly the type of market innovation we strive to support. We are thrilled to see them win.”
“The decision was unanimous. Valentin and the Big Sister AI team presented a powerful product with a clear go-to-market strategy,” said Wade Myers, co-founder and general partner of Eagle Venture Lab. “Their ability to combine sophisticated AI with a practical, human-centric approach is unique. We are confident that they will become a significant player in the SalesTech market and a pillar of the Texas AI ecosystem.”
