More than 10,000 entrepreneurial projects from 169 countries are competing for a spot in the finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) 2025, which will be held in Riyadh. This year’s competition has seen a massive surge in interest, with the number of participants doubling compared to the previous year.
By the Numbers
The scale of the global competition is immense, highlighting its prestige in the startup world:
- $1.5 Million: The total value of the cash prizes available to the winning startups.
- 10,000+ Projects: The initial number of competitors from around the globe.
- 169 Countries: The number of nations represented, showcasing the event’s global reach.
- 100 Finalists: The elite group of startups that will advance to the final stage in Riyadh.
The Road to Riyadh: A Rigorous Selection Process
An international jury of experts in entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment has already completed the first major cut, selecting the top 1,000 projects from 122 countries to advance. The competition will be further narrowed down to 250 semi-finalists before the top 100 are chosen to travel to Riyadh to compete in the global finals. The competing projects span 16 major sectors, including healthcare, education, ICT, and agriculture.
Saudi Arabia as a Global Entrepreneurship Hub
The Kingdom’s capital will host the global finals, organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) in partnership with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk) and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). Hosting the event confirms Saudi Arabia’s growing status as a global engine for incubating innovators and entrepreneurial projects. It reflects the Kingdom’s increasingly attractive and supportive environment for growth and innovation, which helps promising projects access markets and attract international investment.
Source: Akhbaar24
