Overview 

 

The first edition of the Arabian Tech Tour will take place on 1-3 November 2015 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Many of you know that we regularly organize Tech Tours across the whole of Europe. However from time to time we embark on a Discovery Tour to a region that has great potential for high-tech entrepreneurship. This year we are very excited to discover a region entirely new to us and to work with a whole new community in the Arab region.

What happens at the event?
The Arabian Tech Tour will showcase 25 emerging and 25 growth-stage technology companies from Europe and the GCC Countries. Entrepreneurial companies will present their business to an invited delegation of 60 international and local investors as well as 100 regional VIPs. The event will also present 10 high-tech success stories with their own inspiring stories.

The objectives of this discovery mission are to:
1. Identify the next wave of top privately held companies from the GCC Countries.
2. Promote investment and partnering by introducing a delegation of international investors and top European entrepreneurs to the key players in this region.

Please see our practical guide for more information regarding visas, hotel accommodation and venues. 


Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been leading the Arab region in terms of policy reform and setting strategic goals for entrepreneurship. According to the latest Doing Business report, Saudi Arabia is ranked number 13th globally and comes first in the entire region for ease of doing business.

We are both honoured and delighted to work with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) the world’s newest state-of-the-art graduate level research and entrepreneurial university. KAUST’s Industry Collaboration Program (KICP), Technology Transfer Office, and Research Park underscore the university’s mission to convert research discoveries into practical applications, to incubate new businesses, and to maximize industrial collaboration within Saudi Arabia as well as regionally, and globally. With KAUST as our host partner, participation of key investors, industry VIP's and LP's from the region is guaranteed.

 

 

View the video below why you should visit the region.
 

 
The final Selection has been made!
Presenting Entrepreneurs have now been chosen and notified. Our experienced Selection Committee made up of seasoned Venture Capitalists, Corporates and Industry advisors have deliberated over months in order to make the final selection of the top 50 investment opportunities across each of the industry sectors (see below technology sectors with sub-sectors included).

About the Presenting Companies
Entrepreneurs will represent a wide geographic region, coming from Austria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland and the US.

This group of entrepreneurs will have an unprecedented opportunity to meet 60+ international and regional VCs, CVCs and Business Angels.
 
Presenting companies are active in one of the following areas: 
 
Energy and Cleantech ICT Life Sciences
Water technologies Web and media Food & Agriculture 
Advanced materials Hardware/Sensors Medical technology 
Energy efficiency  Big data Digital Health
Space technology Internet of things Biotechnology
Eco-construction E-commerce Pharma
Nanotechnology Educational Technology Diagnostics
Oil and gas    
Petrochemicals