The semi-finals for the prestigious Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) have officially commenced in Riyadh, serving as a major highlight of the Biban 2025 forum. Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and the Misk Foundation
the event brings the world’s most promising startups to the Kingdom to compete for a share of a $1.5 million prize pool.
Held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center under the theme “A Global Destination for Opportunities,” the competition now features the top 100 startups selected from a global pool of applicants.
Global Competition on a Saudi Stage
The four-day finals event has gathered founders from over 47 countries in the Saudi capital. After an initial quarter-final round that welcomed the participating entrepreneurs, 60 startups advanced to the semi-finals to pitch on the main EWC stage at Biban.
The competition will culminate with the top 24 startups competing in the final round. A total of 13 startups will be crowned winners across various categories during the closing ceremony on November 8th. The judging panel is composed of leading experts in investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, tasked with identifying the most groundbreaking ventures.
The Road to Riyadh
The journey to the finals was highly competitive, beginning with more than 10,300 applications from 169 countries. The selected ventures participated in a virtual boot camp in partnership with Esade Ramon Llull University, where their initiatives were evaluated to narrow the field down to the final 100.
The qualifying projects represent a diverse range of critical and future-focused sectors, including information and communication technology, health and social services, agriculture, industry, and aerospace, reflecting the dynamic nature of the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Strong MENA Contingent Vies for the Title
The MENA region is well-represented in the finals, underscoring its growing innovation landscape. Saudi Arabia leads the regional cohort with six qualifying startups. They are joined by three companies from Egypt, two from the UAE, and one each from Oman and Bahrain.
About The Entrepreneurship World Cup
The Entrepreneurship World Cup is one of the world’s largest and most diverse startup pitch competitions and support programs. It offers a chance to win life-changing prizes, including a share of $1.5 million in cash, plus millions more in investment, resources, and opportunities. The EWC helps entrepreneurs at all stages—from idea-stage to scale-up—to reach their full potential and accelerate their growth.
Source: SPA
