Entrepreneurship Center at KAUST
Our mission is to plant the seeds of a technology entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom—a network of startups, entrepreneurs, investors and corporates, all committed to helping great entrepreneurial ideas succeed.
The KAUST Entrepreneurship Center supports founders and founders to be through an open innovation funnel supporting both startups on campus as well as off campus having commercial activities in the Kingdom. We are always looking for the most promising and disruptive ideas, startups,technologies and founders to create an impact in the Saudi Economy.
We support founders through a series of programs targeting startup creation in our venture studio, acceleration through our accelerator programs, and expansion through our product development and soft landing programs.
Whether you are a bright founder with an idea, an existing startup in the market, or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to add deep technology advantage to your company we have the support for you. Feel free to explore the programs below and register your interest for the program that best fits your stage and needs.
For corporates, government entities and other strategic partners we support your innovation agendas and ambitious mandates by engaging with the best technologies and most promising startups in the region to help deliver. Feel free to contact us using the form below.
The KAUST Venture Studio supports idea stage founders to bring their ideas to market. In the studio ambitious founders will work on three aspects of the company, namely the team, the product and the first customer. Within 3 to 6 months, you should be able to build your founding team, develop a minimally viable product and attract your first customer and receive your first revenue into the company. Have a disruptive idea for a promising new product? Don’t wait and get started with your startup today!
Who should apply:
- At least 1 person founding team
- With a general idea for a product or opportunity they want to develop
- May or may not have any startup experience in the past
- Should at least have 1 person that is technical or can build product
TAQADAM is a startup accelerator powered by the extraordinary networks of KAUST and SAB. Since 2016, we’ve been helping innovators push the boundaries of what’s possible and transform their dreams into a reality. We work with startups at all stages of growth and from any industry.
Over 6-months, we guide entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to market through mentorship, non-dilutive funding, and coaching. Teams receive up to $140,000 in non-dilutive funding and access to co-working spaces across Saudi Arabia. Our method focuses on product design, market fit, business model planning, team development, and fundraising. Startups graduate with a toolkit to accelerate their business, gain access to potential customers, and develop an exceptional network of mentors and investors.
What we look for
- Strong teams with two or more founders that have a complete profile of skills and expertise to take this startup forward.
- Novel ideas and business models that have the potential to scale.
- We welcome Saudi and international startups with plans to expand to Saudi Arabia.
NextEra aims to incentivize and accelerate the development and innovation activities of tech entrepreneurs and SMEs by providing them with grants.
Target Segment:
- Micro/ Small Startups
- Medium Enterprises /Startups
KAUST Soft-Landing Program is designed to attract and scale tech startups by leveraging Saudi Arabia's strategic position, advanced infrastructure, and innovation-friendly ecosystem.
The program aims to support these startups in expanding their regional operations, driving economic growth, and contributing to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
Application Criteria
- Successfully raised funding at Series B or an equivalent level.
- Ready for commercial deployment.
- Natural Synergy with KAUST and Saudi Arabia
- Present a scalable business model that can be further developed within the Saudi market.
- Established for a minimum of two years.
- No existing headquarters (regional office) in Saudi Arabia.
Tech startups in alignment with RDI pillars:
- Economies Of The Future
- Sustainable Environment
- Energy And Industrial Leadership
- Health & Wellness
Target Sectors:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
- AgriTech and Sustainable Food Security
- Logistics, mobility, and transportation
- Biotech and HealthTech
- Cybersecurity
- Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies
- Robotics, Industrial technologies, and automation
Entrepreneurship Adventures is an eight-week program that brings the founder experience to life. This gamified experience puts participants in the driver’s seat to navigate real-world decisions entrepreneurs face as they bring their ideas and products to market.
At the end of the eight-week program, participants will have successfully worked through the startup lifecycle and gained the skills and knowledge to jumpstart an entrepreneurial career.
Our proposal focuses on expanding the deep tech funnel in Saudi Arabia by leveraging our online course and its community to highlight deep tech entrepreneurship as an attractive endeavor.
