A business accelerator run by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank since 2016. It lasts six months and offers non-dilutive funding of up to $140,000 per company.
About the program
A six-month hybrid accelerator program preceded by a one-month virtual bootcamp, including one in-person week at KAUST. A team that passes the bootcamp receives $40,000, and 10 companies receive follow-on funding of $100,000 at the annual showcase. The program targets companies from pre-seed to Series A that have a prototype, and accepts international companies planning to enter the Saudi market within a year. Applications open once a year.
Status based on the current official site (2026) listing ongoing cohorts and the Feb 2025 showcase. Alumni listed are the 10 startups awarded at the Feb 2025 showcase (KAUST news). Arabic name appears only in the Arabic site URL, so it is omitted. Cumulative stats differ between pages (270 startups/$297M in Feb 2025; 290 startups/$459M on the current site).
What it offers
- Stages
- Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
- Sectors
- All sectors
- Funding
- Up to $140,000 in non-dilutive funding: $40,000 after the bootcamp, and $100,000 for ten companies at the annual showcase ($140K) Source
- Equity
- Takes no equity
- Format
- Cohorts