500 Global, a multi-stage venture capital firm, and Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced the tenth batch of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global.
This new cohort aims to foster innovation and drive growth across various sectors, including AI, cybersecurity, data infrastructure, e-commerce, e-commerce enablement, fintech, and martech. Out of 735 applications received, nine promising companies have been selected for their potential to build from MENA to the world. These nine companies stood out for demonstrating real traction, deep customer understanding, and technology that could scale rapidly, said a statement.
Demo Day will take place on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, with a curated group from the venture capitalist community in attendance.
Building on the success of past batches and the acceleration of 107 startups, the program continues to evolve as the ecosystem matures. This cohort introduced a more execution-driven model, focusing on rapid iteration, founder-to-founder insights exchange, and hands-on operator support. The goal this year was simple: compress time, shorten cycles, and accelerate revenue outcomes, not just share knowledge.
“Over the years, we’ve grown alongside our startups – learning, evolving, and adapting to the dynamic spirit of the MENA region. As we launch Batch 10 of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, we’re proud to see how far the ecosystem has come and are inspired by the entrepreneurs driving its next chapter of innovation and growth. Another sign of this growth is having founders return to the program with a new company after exiting their previous companies that were participants in past batches. We believe we are entering a new era of maturity in the ecosystem and we are proud to participate in the growth of the movement,” said Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA.
“As more entrepreneurs apply to Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global than ever before, we see clear evidence of the growing confidence and ambition within Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem. At Sanabil, we are committed to empowering exceptional founders with the capital, network and guidance they need to scale globally. The innovations emerging from this program are not only advancing industries, they are contributing to economic diversification, creating opportunities and improving lives in Saudi Arabia and beyond. We look forward to showing the region and the world this next wave of innovators, thinkers, and builders,” said a spokesperson at Sanabil Investments.
With the tenth batch concluding in December, applications for the next cohort are open. Startups from across the MENA region are invited to join a growing community of ambitious founders shaping the future of innovation in the region. -TradeArabia News Service
