Saudi Makes Future – Startup Competition
The startup competition of Saudi Makes Future, the first edition of Italy's WMF tech festival outside Europe, held in Riyadh in December 2026. Selected startups pitch on stage and meet investors, with prizes drawn from the wider WMF network.
[ What you get ]
6 finalists pitch on the main stage, and 140 more startups (10 per sector) get a slot on the Startup Stage. B2B meetings, access to investors, training sessions, and possible participation in WMF 2027 in Bologna. Prizes come from the wider WMF competition ecosystem, worth €2.6M in total in 2025 (funding, acceleration places, services).
[ Who it's for ]
Italian and international startups and companies with innovative tech or digital projects, across 14 sectors. Ventures with a positive social impact are prioritised. Apply with a pitch deck and business documents (PDF, max 10MB each).
- Run by
- Search On Media Group S.r.l. (organiser of WMF – We Make Future) with PNG KSA
- Equity
- No equity taken
- Format
- In person
- Where
- Riyadh
- Duration
- 3-day event (14–16 Dec 2026)
- Stages
- Idea · Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Sectors
- AI · Robotics · Space · Agritech · Creative · Cybersecurity · Fintech · Healthtech · Sustainability · Smart cities · General
[ Elden Studios ]
Accepted? Show up with a product.
Programmes back founders who ship. Elden Studios builds your MVP in weeks, in your name, so you walk in with something live.
Get your MVP quote[ Similar programmes ]
- AcceleratorOpen
Innovation Pioneers Program
General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) – Innovation Center
Seed · Series A · Growth · No equity
- CompetitionClosed for now
KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator – Saudi Arabia
KPMG in Saudi Arabia (KPMG Private Enterprise)
Seed · Series A · Growth · No equity
- AcceleratorClosed for now
University Startup Accelerator Program
General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) (with partner universities; funded by the Human Capability Development Program)
Idea · Pre-seed · Seed · No equity
Checked against the operator's own pages on 3 October 2026.
Sources:saudimakesfuture.comeinnews.com