We are looking for Saudi-registered innovative businesses and organizations, who are providing effective business solutions to social challenges, while also generating positive financial gains.
Social Track
Social Entrepreneurship Track
Prizes
1st place:
SAR 100,000
2nd place:
SAR 25,000
3rd place:
SAR 15,000
Beside cash prizes, the participants in the competition will receive the following benefits:
- Top tier training and mentorship by Saudi Arabia most talented and experience entrepreneurship experts and mentors.
- Expansive networking opportunities through our the bootcamps, competition, and conference.
- Media exposure and outreach with national and regional media outlets and social media channels.
- Equity free prizes from the StartSmart Competition and access to investors from our expansive network.
- Access to work spaces and additional support through our success partners across Saudi Arabia.
Eligibility criteria
- Each team should have at least two members, members should be over the age of 18.
- The company should be legally registered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or in the company’s originated country.
- The team should have a product or service that addresses a social problem through a profit-oriented model.
- The startup should have annual revenue between SAR 1,000 and SAR 1,000,000.
- The company should not have received funding exceeding SAR 2,000,000
Nominated teams
EcoPallets
``EcoPallets`` specializes in recycling palm fronds and converting them into high-quality pallets (platforms) at a price 40% lower than competing products. The company is licensed, and its product is patented with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. This innovation addresses a range of social, environmental, and economic challenges simultaneously. The company has turned palm fronds, which were previously waste with no value and a burden on farmers and relevant parties, into an economically valuable material that can be purchased, contributing to encouraging Saudi youth to continue agricultural activities. It also provides job opportunities in agricultural areas, making a significant contribution to community development and environmental preservation by preventing pollution from waste burning.
Aqdim
The ``Aqdim`` platform is the leading destination for specialized online learning, offering high-quality training programs that focus on practical content designed to enhance the skills needed in the ever-evolving job market. The platform is distinguished by expert supervision in various fields, providing learners with access to the best educational experiences available. ``Aqdim`` addresses the problem of traditional courses, which are often boring and uninspiring, by offering dynamic and motivating content. It also provides trainers with the opportunity to share their knowledge on a global scale, fostering an innovative and fruitful learning environment.
Athar Platform
``Athar`` is a specialized advisory platform that connects families with professionals from diverse fields to provide psychological, behavioral, educational, and social consultations to address the challenges faced by both children and adults. These challenges include psychological disorders, speech and language disorders, behavioral disorders, academic delays, learning difficulties, disabilities, and developmental disorders. By offering flexible services, both remotely and in-person, the platform allows families to choose the right specialist based on their profiles and client evaluations, contributing to improved mental health, personal development, and overall growth for individuals and those around them in the community. The platform also addresses the shortage of specialists in remote areas and provides a seamless booking experience at competitive prices.
Buthoor-Tech
``Buthoor Tech`` is a startup that integrates technology into education with the aim of building a creative Saudi generation in the fields of programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The company offers interactive courses for children aged 5 to 17 through its online platform, catering to the growing demand for technical skills in both local and international job markets. ``Buthoor Tech`` also supports trainers by providing educational products that enable them to work independently and earn income. The company focuses on creating a comprehensive learning environment that includes training, assessments, and competitions, making learning an enjoyable and engaging experience for children and youth.
Jood App
``Jood`` is an innovative platform that allows home chefs to transform their kitchens into small restaurants and earn additional income by selling their homemade dishes. The platform bridges the gap between talented chefs and customers seeking diverse and authentic homemade meals. ``Jood`` offers an opportunity for women, home-based businesses, and cooking enthusiasts to showcase their talents to a wider audience, while helping food lovers, families, and businesses discover unique dining experiences. The platform is distinguished by its support for cultural diversity, the promotion of the local economy, and the encouragement of sustainable practices.
Business Nokhbah
Nokhbah Academy is an innovative educational platform aimed at personalizing the learning experience based on the learner's strengths and weaknesses, providing a tailored curriculum and appropriate exercises. This approach is implemented for several national exams using artificial intelligence techniques to achieve the best results. The academy has over 600 learners and has partnered with more than 25 institutions. The academy focuses on improving education using technology and increasing learner efficiency by customizing the learning path according to their abilities and needs. It targets educational institutions to equip them with the necessary technology to provide a personalized learning experience for their students. The academy’s unique value lies in personalizing the learning experience for each learner, which enhances learning efficiency. Educational institutions can leverage this value to market their services to other learners.
Hadeel Platform
Hadeel Platform is an online educational platform specialized in offering comprehensive training and qualification programs for all members of society, with a particular focus on preparing for various measurement tests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as the Nafes tests for general education, the Qudrat and Tahseeli tests for high school students, and the professional licensing exam for teachers and graduates seeking to work in the education sector. The platform aims to fill the training and qualification gap in the region and provide a stimulating and impactful educational environment that helps trainees maximize the benefits of its programs. Hadeel Platform stands out by offering live and recorded training courses, accredited certificates, in addition to a specialized team that provides continuous support and follow-up for trainees.
Bravo Me
Bravo Me Platform is an innovative Saudi platform in the private education sector, founded in 2022 by students from King Abdulaziz University and the University of Jeddah, with business activities starting in 2023. The platform offers a wide range of advanced learning technologies to support university students in achieving academic excellence. It includes interactive and recorded online lessons, comprehensive academic courses, personalized tutoring, and effective communication tools such as discussion forums and communication groups, in addition to access to educational materials, resources, and useful files. All these services are provided in a harmonious and integrated manner, giving our students an enriching and engaging learning experience. This multi-service educational platform is designed to meet the diverse needs of university students across the Kingdom and empower them to excel in their academic pursuits.
Afaaq
Afaaq, part of the Wateen pioneering initiative, is a unique training program that offers recent graduates and young talents the opportunity to build professional, technical, and personal skills. This is achieved not through theoretical courses, but through actual work on real-world projects and challenges via a remote training program with Wateen. Launched in 2021, Afaaq provides innovative tracks annually to bridge the gap between graduates and the labor market. The program has already prepared 200 participants for the modern job market and is currently expanding to offer training programs for companies to develop the skills of their new employees, making it a valuable resource for both ambitious individuals and companies seeking to remain competitive.
Languages World
Languages World is a cultural institution established in 2020, specializing in the production and publication of Arabic content in the fields of languages, cultures, and translation. It is the first of its kind in the Arab world, relying on innovative and modern methods to enhance language education and connect it with its cultures. The institution seeks to develop the language education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and facilitate learning, while raising awareness of world cultures. It is also distinguished by an integrated network of experts and international partners to deliver high-quality and efficient products.
Neor
Neor Company was established with a new vision that aligns with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human capabilities. The company offers distinguished programs in the fields of professional and managerial technology, aiming to support professional development and managerial skills. Neor Company is characterized by focusing on creating customized training programs that meet the needs of companies and individuals, contributing to the development and enhancement of managerial and technical capabilities. The company also aims to organize training events that help in skill development and improving performance for working teams, enhancing competitiveness and innovation in the labor market. Additionally, it focuses on enabling technology in the Hajj and Umrah sector.
Mush Social
Mush Social is a social networking platform that connects users with their local communities and other regions. The platform offers features for sharing posts, attending local events, discovering new places, and collaborating on community projects. It focuses on privacy, security, and ease of use, making it a key destination for social interaction. The platform aims to address the issue of disconnection from the local community by enabling users to build real relationships in their area. It targets individuals aged 18-35 who are interested in community interaction and attending local events.
Fahman
Fahman is the first Saudi app for reading stories for children and young adults, featuring a collection of distinguished books from renowned publishers and authors. Fahman offers subscriptions that allow users to read and listen to a wide variety of book formats, including e-books, interactive books, audiobooks, and read-along experiences. Fahman focuses on meeting users' needs and interests by providing a unique user experience that caters to different types of intelligence, as well as making content accessible to users with learning or physical disabilities. On the business side, Fahman offers innovative technological solutions for the digital publishing sector, particularly in the field of book digitization.
Diz
Diz is a platform for ride-sharing between cities, utilizing available seats from drivers traveling to their destinations. The platform serves as meeting points for pick-up and drop-off near all shopping centers and organizes random markets. Diz offers several benefits to customers, such as direct routes, low cost, reliability, safety, and time efficiency. It also provides advantages for drivers, including additional income, the absence of waiting in random markets, and the opportunity to expand social connections. Diz aims to solve the problem of limited availability of intercity cars during off-peak times, the monopoly of public transportation, and the long wait times for drivers in random markets to find passengers. The platform targets tourists, including religious tourists, airport travelers, and sports enthusiasts. Diz stands out by making it easy to find a car and reliable drivers, along with clean and comfortable vehicles.
Basma Aldunya
Basma Aldunya Center is a leading social institution offering comprehensive and specialized services for individuals with disabilities and their families. The center aims to empower individuals with various disabilities by providing specialized educational, rehabilitation, and therapeutic programs, such as special education, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, sensory integration, social skills, and behavior modification. The center also offers psychological and social support for families through family counseling and psychological therapy programs, helping them adapt to their children's condition and provide appropriate care. The center stands out by offering individualized programs designed specifically to meet the needs of each individual and their family, focusing on building core skills, promoting independence, and facilitating social integration.