Wadi Jeddah Plans $10M Fund for Saudi Startups

Wadi Jeddah, the investment arm of King Abdulaziz University, is preparing a venture capital fund worth USD 10 million (about SAR 37.5 million) to invest in startups across Saudi Arabia. The fund is planned to launch in early 2027 and is currently still in preparation, not yet open for applications or investment.

the fund will focus mainly on Saudi startups, along with select international companies looking to enter the Saudi market. It is designed to support young ventures at the early stage — the difficult phase between developing a product and scaling it commercially, often described as the "valley of death."

Target sectors include artificial intelligence, health and biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food technologies, smart cities and mobility, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, and sustainability. A core aim is to help commercialize university research, innovations, and patents into viable companies, both inside and outside the university ecosystem.

Funding and expansion plans

Initial capital will come from Wadi Jeddah and King Abdulaziz University, with further commitments planned from private-sector investors, individuals, and investment institutions as external limited partners. Over roughly the next decade, there is a long-term ambition to double the fund's size.

Wadi Jeddah already runs venture capital and private equity activity, along with an investment fund operated with the university's Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, supporting incubators, accelerators, patents, and startups. In 2026, it allocated SAR 1,000,000 in direct investment to 10 Saudi startups in its incubator, at SAR 100,000 each. Its current programs also emphasize mentorship, incubation services, legal and administrative consultation, access to research facilities, and government and PR support.

For the community, the initiative signals wider financing and support options for early-stage founders. No official fee schedule, ticket sizes, application portal, or term-sheet details specific to this USD 10 million fund have been published yet.

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