Riyadh Visit 2025 - Sahabah

Sahabah Water Technologies Program is the first specialized program in the water sector launched by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture as part of its initiatives to support innovation and entrepreneurship. The program’s inaugural activity was the Sahabah Accelerator, the first accelerator targeting startups working in water technologies. Its goal is to empower entrepreneurs to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the sector, in addition to connecting them with enablers and investors both locally and globally. The accelerator’s first launch witnessed significant interest, with more than 100 startups applying for registration. Following evaluation and selection processes, 11 startups were admitted to the program to benefit from its diverse support pathways. Riyadh Week was held from August 3 to 7, 2025, featuring a series of field visits, specialized workshops, and accompanying events. This week served as an important platform to introduce startups to key entities within the water ecosystem, highlight the opportunities available, and open channels for future collaboration and partnerships. The week began with visits to the General Directorate of Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, followed by the National Water Company and BIM Ventures. On the second day, participants visited the Red Sea Company and Roshn. The third day included a visit to a water center in addition to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), providing startups with exposure to research, scientific, and technological opportunities. On the fourth day, visits were made to the Water Transmission and Technologies Company and the Saudi Water Partnerships Company, while the fifth day was dedicated to visiting the Saudi Water Authority, concluding with a meeting with Outliers Venture Capital. On the sidelines of these visits, a series of specialized workshops were held. The Ministry of Investment delivered an introductory workshop on attracting investments and partnerships, while Al Jabr Group conducted a workshop on financing fundamentals and financial planning. This was followed by an interactive workshop by Balinca on finance and business strategies using simulation methods. Additionally, BIM Ventures presented a session on the Startup Saudi initiative, which aims to facilitate licensing and provide government incentives to startups. The week concluded with the Sahabah Community Event, which brought together several key entities, including Saqaya Foundation, The Red Sea Company, Water Transmission and Technologies Company, Saudi Water Partnerships Company, and KACST. The event served as a rich platform for networking, exchanging expertise, and discussing opportunities with the participating startups.