LEAP 2026: Where Global Capital Meets Visionary Founders and the Next Generation of Global Companies Rises from Riyadh - إنت عربي

LEAP 2026 will convene more than 200,000 visitors, 1,000+ global speakers, 600+ startups and over 1,900 investors at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre (RECC) in Malham from 31 August to 3 September 2026, offering founders a concentrated platform to pursue capital, partnerships and market entry. The event’s flagship pitch contest, Rocket Fuel, will conclude with a Grand Finale on 3 September and awards $1 million in equity-free prize money across seven categories, including the LEAP Landing Award for international companies targeting a Saudi soft landing.

"My participation in LEAP gave my company a platform to showcase its innovations and connect with strategic partners who helped accelerate its regional and international growth," said Noor Alasadi, CEO of Lisan AI and winner of the 2025 Shooting Star Award, reflecting on how the event translated exposure into tangible business momentum.

How founders can participate and prepare

Organisers offer two core participation pathways that shape visibility and investor access. The Startup Pod gives teams a dedicated exhibition space, concierge-level support, a 90-minute pitch coaching workshop and automatic eligibility for Rocket Fuel—targeting founders actively selling and raising on the show floor. The Founder Pass is an individual route providing AI-powered matchmaking with investors, inclusion in the Founder Directory and access to Ecosystem Xchange sessions, suited to pre-seed founders building early strategic relationships without operating a full stand.

The Investor & Founder Stage uses an AI matchmaking system that pairs company profiles with the portfolios of registered investors weeks before the event. Organisers stress that success relies on preparation: a complete Data Room, measurable traction and a concise two-minute elevator pitch. For founders running lean or bootstrapped operations, the guidance is to convert independence into negotiation leverage rather than treating it as a deficit.

Event tracks and ecosystem mechanics

• Tech Arena: a live showcase of AI, robotics and next-generation prototypes designed to place startups alongside global technology brands and maximise visibility.
• Rocket Fuel: the flagship pitch platform distributing $1 million in equity-free awards across seven categories; applications for 2026 are closed but observers can attend.
• DeepFest: LEAP’s official AI programme, co-located with the main event and entering its fourth edition; the previous edition attracted more than 68,000 visitors across researchers, policymakers and corporate leaders.
• Ecosystem Xchange: structured sessions linking founders to government partners and local institutions to convert market-entry intent into actionable steps.

LEAP’s track record underscores deal-making as a core outcome: announced deals and investments in the previous edition exceeded $14.9 billion. That scale positions the show not merely as a networking venue but as an execution platform where funding and market access are negotiated and closed.

Outlook

For founders planning to attend, organisers recommend four weeks of targeted preparation: finalise a Data Room, hone a two-minute pitch, use AI matchmaking to shortlist investors and confirm visa requirements via the official travel portal. Pre-seed founders are advised to consider the Founder Pass to begin relationship-building ahead of formal fundraising. While Rocket Fuel applications for 2026 are closed, attendance as an observer remains a strategic way to learn judging standards and refine future applications ahead of LEAP 2027.