Startups

Riyadh to Host the 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup Finals with 100 Projects from 46 Countries

  • Global Participation: 100 entrepreneurial projects from 46 countries have qualified for the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2025 Finals in Riyadh, chosen from over 10,300 applicants representing 169 countries, as part of Biban 2025 under the theme “A Global Destination for Opportunities.”
  • Saudi Excellence: Six Saudi startups — ADADK, Expanse Cosmos, SARsatX, EcoPallets, Thrivve, and iRAMA — have advanced to the finals, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing strength in innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Aligned with Vision 2030: Hosting the finals reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a global entrepreneurship hub, attracting international startups and investments within a sustainable, innovation-driven economy.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is gearing up to host the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) 2025 Finals, as part of Biban 2025, organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) from November 5–8, 2025, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center, under the theme “A Global Destination for Opportunities.”

The World’s Largest Entrepreneurship Competition

The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is the world’s largest competition for entrepreneurs. It is organized by Monsha’at, in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk.”
Participants will compete for prizes exceeding USD 1.5 million, in an event that brings together top entrepreneurs, investors, and global experts — reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Global Participation on an Unprecedented Scale

Since opening registration, the competition has attracted more than 10,300 applicants from over 169 countries worldwide. The projects went through several evaluation and judging stages starting in May, from which 250 projects advanced to the virtual bootcamp held in partnership with Esade Ramon Llull University.
From there, the top 100 projects were selected to compete in the Riyadh finals.

The participating countries include Saudi Arabia, the United States, South Korea, Canada, Singapore, France, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, representing a truly global mix that reflects the scale and significance of the event.

Diverse Sectors and Innovative Projects

The qualified startups represent a wide range of vital sectors, including

  • Information and communications technology

  • Health and social services

  • General services

  • Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

  • Industry

  • Space

These sectors serve as key global growth drivers, making the competition a crucial platform for showcasing the world’s most innovative ideas and future-ready solutions.

Six Saudi Startups Advance to the EWC 2025 Finals

In a new milestone for Saudi entrepreneurship, six Saudi startups have advanced to the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2025 Finals, after successfully passing both national and global qualifying stages. They are now among the top 100 startups from 47 countries competing for the grand prizes.

A Testament to Saudi Arabia’s Global Leadership

Selected from more than 10,300 applicants representing 169 countries, this achievement underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship locally and globally, and highlights its strong investment environment that empowers startups and young innovators.

The Saudi Finalists

The six Saudi startups reflect the diversity and depth of the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem:

  • ADADK – A water supply startup offering smart solutions to improve resource efficiency.

  • Expanse Cosmos – Focused on advancing the new space economy and developing future space technologies.

  • SARsatX – A Saudi company specializing in space technology and satellite communications.

  • EcoPallets – A sustainability-focused company that recycles palm fronds into high-quality shipping pallets.

  • Thrivve – Provides innovative solutions in fintech and smart mobility.

  • iRAMA – Specializes in sustainable hydroponic agriculture technologies.

These projects demonstrate Saudi entrepreneurs’ creativity and global competitiveness across multiple strategic sectors.

Biban 2025: A Global Platform for Opportunities

Hosting the EWC 2025 Finals as part of Biban 2025 reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs worldwide — offering them access to investors, venture capital funds, and international mentorship and networking opportunities.

The event further cements the Kingdom’s advanced position in attracting global startups and strategic investments, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy.

العربية (Arabic) To read the article in Arabic, click here

Nourhan Fouad

Riyadh to Host the 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup Finals with 100 Projects from 46 Countries

كاتبة محتوى متخصصة، تجمع بين السلاسة والأسلوب الصحفي، تساهم في صياغة مقالات ريادة الأعمال والشركات الناشئة بأسلوب جذّاب وسهل الفهم
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