A business accelerator run by 500 Global in partnership with Sanabil Investments, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). It launched in Riyadh in 2021 as the Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator. It targets tech companies with early momentum in the region, and reached its 12th cohort in 2026.
About the program
A regional accelerator program for tech startups in the Middle East and North Africa, launched in February 2021 alongside the opening of 500 Global's regional headquarters in Riyadh. At launch, each company received $100,000 for 10% equity. The 11th cohort (April to July 2026) selected eight companies from more than 690 applications and ran in a hybrid format, and applications opened for the 12th cohort.
Originally 'Sanabil 500 MENA Seed Accelerator' (500 Startups, 2021); same program, renamed. Investment/equity terms are from the 2021 launch coverage; current official pages do not state them. 500.co MENA page mentions a Phase 1 fee of $35,000 per startup (may be boilerplate; verify). Batch 12 runs Sept 27 - Dec 9, 2026 (applications closed Aug 9, 2026). Batch 11 Phases 1-2 were delivered remotely.
What it offers
- Stages
- Pre-seed, Seed
- Sectors
- All sectors
- Funding
- At launch in 2021: $100,000 per company for 10% equity; current terms are not published ($100K) for 10% Source
- Equity
- Takes equity
- Format
- Cohorts