StartSmart Competition
An annual competition for revenue-generating Saudi startups, run by the Jameel family's StartSmart platform since 2016 (formerly the MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Arabia). Finalists go through a bootcamp with mentoring and pitch at a demo day, across health, environment, social and industrial tracks.
[ What you get ]
An 8-week training bootcamp, one-to-one mentoring, investment-readiness preparation, media exposure and a demo day with investors. One winner per track (four in total) receives about SAR 100,000 in digital benefits (cloud and software credits), not cash.
[ Who it's for ]
At least one Saudi founder; company based in Saudi Arabia with an active commercial registration; at least SAR 5,000 in verified revenue; founders 18+. Not open to idea-stage teams.
- Run by
- Bab Rizq Jameel / Community Jameel Saudi (StartSmart Saudi)
- Equity
- No equity taken
- Format
- Hybrid
- Where
- Jeddah
- Duration
- 8-week bootcamp plus demo day
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Healthtech · Climate · Social impact · Industrial
[ 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 ]
- AcceleratorClosed for now
Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program
Flat6Labs
Pre-seed · Seed
- GrantClosed for now
Saudi Innovation Grants Program (SIGP)
Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA)
Pre-seed · Seed · Series A · No equity
- Competition68 days left
Saudi Makes Future – Startup Competition
Search On Media Group S.r.l. (organiser of WMF – We Make Future) with PNG KSA
Idea · Pre-seed · Seed · No equity
Checked against the operator's own pages on 2 October 2026.
Sources:startsmartsaudi.com