Social Entrepreneur Brings Health and Healing on a Global Scale

Yama Saraj is an Afghan-born Dutch entrepreneur, currently based in Paris, and the founder of SensAi Technologies, a sports technology startup incubated at Ecole Polytechnique. Born in 1985 in Kabul, Afghanistan, Yarma and his family fled the war-torn country in 1998, seeking political asylum in the Netherlands. Raised in Eindhoven, a city celebrated for its advanced manufacturing and tech scene, Yama’s upbringing significantly influenced his educational and career choices.

Yama pursued studies in engineering and economics and earned a master’s degree in Strategic Management from Tilburg University. Beyond academics, competitive boxing became a pivotal part of Yama’s life, crucial for his personal development, and aided his social integration into Dutch society. Over the last six years, Yama immersed himself in the tech and innovation space across Eindhoven, Munich, and Paris. Currently, he collaborates with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Maastricht University.

Yama’s work in development assistance led him to Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on a heartfelt journey back to Afghanistan, where he offered boxing classes to young people. The widespread trauma, the glaring lack of mental health care facilities, and the social stigma he observed in these conflict-affected areas inspired Yama to launch SensAi Technologies. Together with his team, Yama is dedicated to exploring how martial arts and emerging technologies can revolutionize mental health and social well-being on a global scale.

Yama will be mentored by Robert Reed, the Membership and Retail Manager at Ability 360.