From We Make Future to Riyadh: the Global Startup Competition arrives in Saudi Arabia

Applications are open for the international Startup Competition of Saudi Makes Future, the Saudi edition of WMF – We Make Future, which will bring startups, investors, companies and institutions to Riyadh from December 14–16, 2026. Organized by Search On Media Group in partnership with PNG Saudi, the event will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center and features a two-round competition focused on Artificial Intelligence-based technologies; the first application round closes on October 15, 2026.

"With Saudi Makes Future, we want to put this experience and network at the service of a bridge between the Saudi ecosystem and international innovation ecosystems," said Cosmano Lombardo, Founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF – We Make Future. "The Startup Competition is a concrete expression of this vision: on the one hand, creating new opportunities for Saudi startups to access capital, partners, and global markets; on the other, giving innovators from around the world direct access to companies, institutions, and key players in the Kingdom."

Event scope and network reach

The Saudi edition imports WMF’s international model to Riyadh, promising visibility, business matching and investor access for selected startups. The WMF network’s financial footprint cited by organisers includes $1.5 trillion in Portfolio Value, $304 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM), $72.8 billion in deal participation and more than 17,000 funding rounds — figures used to illustrate the scale of potential connections available to participants.

Selected startups at Saudi Makes Future will be able to present to audiences and stakeholders from more than 90 countries, and successful applicants may also access future WMF opportunities in Bologna from June 10–12, 2027 and across the WMF International Roadshow. The competition is explicitly aimed at projects developing AI-based technologies, products and business models and will proceed through two application rounds, with submissions handled via a dedicated entry page.

Programme focus and opportunities for Saudi founders

Organisers have grouped the competition and content around 14 AI Sectors, adapted from WMF’s strategic industry focus to reflect AI-driven transformation. These sectors include advanced technologies and robotics, smart cities, cybersecurity, healthcare, fintech, energy, agritech, education, digital government, the future of work and open innovation.

• Event dates: December 14–16, 2026
• Venue: Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center
• First application round deadline: October 15, 2026
• Potential follow-on event: WMF in Bologna, June 10–12, 2027

"We are very pleased to be working with Search On to develop WMF in Saudi Arabia through Saudi Makes Future and to build an increasingly strong bridge between the Kingdom and international innovation ecosystems," said Sheikh Nasser bin Saeed Al-Hajri, member of the Saudi International Council for Business and Investment and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PNG.

Outlook

Saudi Makes Future positions itself as a conduit between the Kingdom’s domestic startups and a global innovation network, offering onstage pitching and offstage B2B meetings, networking and exhibition opportunities. For Saudi startups, organisers highlight dedicated showcase stages and investor meetings designed to increase visibility and business development. For international innovators, the event is presented as direct access to Saudi companies, institutions and the investment community at a moment framed by the country’s broader economic transformation under Saudi Vision 2030.