Wadi Jeddah, the investment arm of King Abdulaziz University, is preparing to launch a $10 million venture capital fund in early 2027 to support startups and move university research closer to market.
The fund will target companies inside and outside the Wadi Jeddah ecosystem, with a focus on Saudi startups across the Kingdom. It may also invest in international companies seeking to enter the Saudi market, according to the announcement.
Wadi Jeddah is expected to provide part of the capital while attracting additional funding from private-sector investors and investment institutions. The fund is designed to help startups overcome the “valley of death,” the stage when companies often struggle to turn technology or research into sustainable businesses. Wadi Jeddah plans to potentially double the fund’s size over the next decade.
Separately, the organisation’s innovation incubator has selected 10 startups and allocated SAR1 million in total, or SAR100,000 per company. The startups work across artificial intelligence, healthcare and biotechnology, food technology, smart cities and sustainability, and will receive incubation, mentoring and support in preparing for future funding rounds.
Wadi Jeddah is also targeting pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, future mobility and advanced materials as part of its broader effort to connect university research with commercial opportunities.
Source: EntArabi
