Alex Chieng, CEO of Pawsible Ventures and a key figure within Victory Square Technologies Inc.'s ecosystem, has won the world's largest AI hackathon organized by Bolt.New. The competition saw over 100,000 participants from more than 150 countries, highlighting innovative AI-powered products across various industries. Chieng's winning project, Loafie, co-created with Hyejee Bae, is an AI-driven emotional support application designed to offer gentle, encouraging interactions. Loafie is currently available on the App Store and is set to be featured on digital billboards in Times Square.
Pawsible Ventures focuses on supporting entrepreneurs in pet wellness, artificial intelligence, and health-tech. Chieng's prior experience includes founding Vetsie, a digital veterinary care platform, where he established partnerships with major industry players like Mars Petcare, Merck Animal Health, and Antech Diagnostics. The AI in mental health market is a growing sector, projected to reach $33.85 billion by 2035, indicating a trend towards AI-enhanced support systems. The hackathon, which ran from May 30 to June 30, 2025, emphasized the development of AI applications using no-code methods, showcasing the increasing accessibility of AI development.