The Garage, a leading Saudi initiative, is playing a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of startups and transforming innovative ideas into promising ventures. Located in the historic Diriyah, The Garage has become an integrated community and a vital hub for innovation, providing the support, guidance, and resources necessary for entrepreneurs to compete in a rapidly evolving market.
By the Numbers
In just a few years, The Garage has generated a significant impact on the Kingdom’s tech ecosystem:
- SAR 3.7 Billion+: The total valuation of startups that have gone through The Garage’s programs.
- 7,000+: The number of direct and indirect jobs created by its startups.
- 600+: The number of local and global companies supported.
- 60+ Countries: The number of countries the participating startups hail from.
A Hub for Innovation and Growth
Inspired by the spirit of the traditional garage as a place for raw innovation and bold experiments, The Garage has transformed a historic industrial space into a modern hub that combines the heritage of the past with the aspirations of the future. It encourages founders to think outside the box, embrace challenges as opportunities, and provides the necessary resources to turn their ideas into sustainable and successful businesses.
Dual Programs for Every Stage
The Garage offers two specialized programs to support startups at different stages of their journey:
- The Incubator: A program to support entrepreneurs in the early stages up to the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), providing a dedicated work environment and workshops to help develop the concept into a testable product. Benefits include shared office space, access to KACST labs, and specialized workshops.
- The Accelerator: A program for tech startups that have surpassed the MVP stage, aimed at supporting their expansion and accelerating their launch through intensive training and advisory support. Benefits include private offices, investor access, and a network of contacts.
A Comprehensive Support System
The Garage provides a wide range of benefits for its startups, including access to investors, participation in major conferences like LEAP, private and shared office spaces, and support for investment licenses. A recent and significant initiative is The Garage Academy, launched in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, which offers a variety of advanced training programs with global partners to enhance the skills of entrepreneurs.
Forging the Future with Strategic Partnerships
The Garage was launched during the LEAP 22 conference as a pioneering destination for tech startups, in a partnership between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). It also works to simplify corporate innovation by connecting major companies with leading entrepreneurs to achieve shared goals, enhance operational efficiency, and discover new product lines.
Source: Al Riyadh
