The Startup Den pitch competition is set to return to the Future Hospitality Summit in Saudi Arabia, providing a key platform for hospitality and tourism tech startups to connect with investors and industry leaders. The event will take place in Riyadh from June 22 to 24, 2026, at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah.
Quick Facts
- Event: Startup Den pitch competition
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Dates: June 22-24, 2026
- Focus: Hospitality and F&B technology
A Pitching Platform for Hospitality Innovators
As one of the most anticipated segments of the summit, Startup Den offers entrepreneurs a direct opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a room full of investors and decision-makers from across the hospitality sector.
The initiative is designed to support the growth of new ventures by providing mentorship opportunities and direct access to funding networks, helping founders find expansion pathways within the MENA region and globally.
Who Can Apply: Sectors and Criteria
The competition targets startups operating across a wide range of verticals within the hospitality and food and beverage industries. These include hotel technology, restaurant tech, delivery and logistics, cloud kitchens, travel tech, data analytics, ESG solutions, and hospitality-focused fintech.
To be eligible, companies must meet the following criteria:
- Be based in or targeting expansion into the MENA region.
- Employ between 2 and 50 people.
- Generate annual revenue not exceeding $3 million.
- Have raised total funding of less than $2 million.
What’s at Stake for the Winner
The startup that wins the Startup Den competition will gain access to the Global Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. This prize also includes curated meetings with venture capital firms and potential investors, offering a significant opportunity for growth and fundraising.
Event organizer The Bench emphasized that Startup Den has become a core component of its efforts to foster innovation within the regional hospitality industry.
About Startup Den
Startup Den is a pitch competition and platform integrated into the Future Hospitality Summit. It is designed to accelerate innovation in the hospitality sector by connecting entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and industry leaders, providing them with funding and regional expansion opportunities.
Source: entarabi
