Forty AI-powered entrepreneurial ideas have advanced to the intensive training bootcamp of the Start Smart 2025 competition. Supported by Community Jameel Saudi, the initiative aims to discover and nurture innovative concepts, transforming them into viable businesses in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
From 1,000 Applicants to a Select 40
The competition successfully attracted 1,000 applicants following nine introductory roadshows held both virtually and in several cities across the Kingdom. These sessions were designed to educate and engage Saudi entrepreneurs, resulting in the selection of 40 promising ideas.
The selected ventures represent a wide array of sectors, including health, sports, social impact, logistics, finance, e-commerce, planning, management, analytics, and lifestyle and digital platform management.
An Intensive Two-Month Bootcamp
Over the next two months, participants will engage in a rigorous training program focused on key startup fundamentals. The curriculum covers technical product development, building prototypes, formulating business models, and crafting go-to-market, expansion, and marketing strategies.
The bootcamp will also address critical operational, administrative, and financial aspects of building a company. A key component of the program is specialized guidance and mentorship sessions led by a group of experts and practitioners from the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem, aimed at enhancing the market-readiness of the ventures.
Fostering a Knowledge-Based Economy
Dr. May Taibah, a member of the Board of Trustees at Community Jameel Saudi, commented on the initiative’s vision. “Community Jameel Saudi believes that true innovation begins with providing a supportive environment and valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to be an active part of building a knowledge-based economy founded on technology and innovation.”
Mohammed Abdulghaffar, Senior General Manager of Initiatives at Community Jameel Saudi, added, “This year’s Start Smart competition is designed to keep pace with the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies. The foundation is keen to leverage these transformations to empower innovators to turn their unique ideas into realistic solutions that address modern challenges.”
A Legacy of Supporting Saudi Entrepreneurs
Originally launched in 2016 as the “MIT Enterprise Forum Competition,” Start Smart is now in its ninth edition. The competition targets early-stage Saudi entrepreneurs across the Kingdom, with a strong emphasis on technology and artificial intelligence.
The program culminates in a forum where participants celebrate their journey and compete for a total prize pool of SAR 100,000. The cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entrepreneurial ideas to support their market launch and fuel their contribution to the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem.
About Start Smart
Start Smart is an annual entrepreneurship competition in Saudi Arabia, supported by Community Jameel Saudi. It targets early-stage Saudi entrepreneurs with a particular focus on technology and Artificial Intelligence. The initiative aims to transform promising ideas into successful businesses through intensive training, expert mentorship, and financial prizes, contributing to the development of the Kingdom’s innovation landscape in line with Vision 2030.
Source: aan-news
