Environmental entrepreneur graduates from Aston University
Published: 23 January, 2025
An Aston University student, whose start-up business is helping rid Birmingham’s canals of plastic waste, has graduated.
Abdallah Hisham gained a Masters in Artificial Intelligence with Business Strategy and graduated on Monday 20 January at a ceremony at Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
Not only does 2025 mark the University’s first winter graduation it also marks 130 years since the foundation of Birmingham Municipal Technical School, the educational establishment which eventually evolved into Aston University.
In the last 12 months, he won the annual Launchpad pitching competition for Momentum, a robotics start-up that leverages new technologies including AI to solve current global environmental challenges. His prototype is helping rid Birmingham’s canals of plastic waste through a partnership with the Canals and River Trust.
Hisham won the 2024 FindAUniversity Masters Student of the Year Award and reached the semi-finals of the Santander X National Entrepreneurship Awards pitching competition. He was, until recently, president of the Aston Enactus society.
The University is currently supporting him through its BSEEN programme and he will register his business in the UK now that he has graduated.
Hisham has recently joined Aston University as a research assistant, working with Dr Shereen Fouad on a project focused on introducing AI in healthcare, specifically in medical imaging. Their aim is to bridge the AI knowledge gap among healthcare practitioners by developing bespoke upskilling materials and fostering responsible AI adoption within the NHS. This initiative is funded by the EPSRC Impact Builder Award and involves collaboration with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
Hisham said: “It has been an incredible 12 months at Aston University, and I am delighted to graduate.
“Winning the Launchpad pitching competition and developing Momentum into a viable start-up has been a transformative experience.
“My work has allowed me to combine my passion for AI with environmental sustainability, and I’m thrilled to be making a real-world impact.
“The support I’ve received from the University and the Canals and River Trust has been invaluable, and I look forward to growing Momentum to tackle even bigger challenges.
“I am excited to be part of a project where AI is driving real change and making an impact on people's lives.”
Professor Paula Whitehouse, Deputy Dean for Engagement and Development within the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University and Director of the Aston Centre for Growth, said: “Abdallah's leadership in AI, founding the start-up Momentum, and winning international competitions have profoundly impacted his academic journey and laid the foundation for significant societal impact.
“His work exemplifies the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are incredibly proud that the support he has received at Aston has contributed to his entrepreneurial achievements.”
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