The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) has announced that the finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) will be hosted at the Biban 2025 forum, featuring a total prize pool of $1.5 million. The announcement underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing position as a central hub for global innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ahmed Al-Sharif, Director of Innovation Solutions at Monsha’at, described Biban as the largest entrepreneurship forum in the region, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and key ecosystem enablers from around the world.
A Global Competition With a Saudi Hub
The Entrepreneurship World Cup stands as one of the largest and most diverse startup competitions globally. According to Al-Sharif, this year’s edition attracted over 10,300 contestants from 169 countries, showcasing a wide array of innovative ventures.
Through a rigorous selection process involving international judging committees, the competition was narrowed down from an initial pool of 250 innovative enterprises to the top 100 finalists. These finalists will now compete for the grand prize at Biban 2025 in Riyadh.
Beyond The Cash Prize
In addition to the $1.5 million in cash prizes, the EWC offers significant in-kind awards and strategic programs designed to foster long-term growth.
Winners will gain access to a dedicated program aimed at facilitating their entry into the Saudi market, a key strategic objective for many international startups. The competition also provides invaluable networking opportunities by connecting participants directly with investment entities, further enabling their scaling journey within the MENA region.
About Monsha’at
Established in 2016, Monsha’at is the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of Saudi Arabia. Its primary objective is to organize, support, develop, and sponsor the SME sector in the Kingdom in line with global best practices. Monsha’at works to increase the productivity of these enterprises and enhance their contribution to the national GDP.
Source: Mubasher
