Our Vision
To energize Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and create a powerful launchpad for startups. Hence, driving the growth of SMEs, fostering innovation, and fueling sustainable economic development.
Our Mission
To empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their innovation journey by launching impactful initiatives and delivering world-class incubation, acceleration, prototyping, mentorship, and investment opportunities.
Objectives
Promoting and spreading the culture of entrepreneurship among Saudi youth.
Contributing to the creation of more startups and providing job opportunities.
Assisting startups in launching a marketable first product.
Promoting and supporting the innovation ecosystem across all stages of the value chain.
Developing human capital in the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Providing investment opportunities with high economic and social returns.
Leadership Message
Mr. Mohammed Abdulgaffar
Senior General Manager of Entrepreneurship & Social Initiatives at Community Jameel Saudi Foundation
The Community Jameel Saudi Arabia Foundation has long believed in the pivotal role small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in the growth of the national economy. Based on this, we organized the MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Arabia in 2016 to stimulate the local entrepreneurship ecosystem. We then relaunched the competition in 2023 under the new name StartSmart. Leveraging our membership in the Jameel Global Education Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Start Smart competition relaunched with a new look to provide valuable knowledge and skills to Saudi entrepreneurs and meet the dynamic needs of the Saudi ecosystem.
To keep pace with the growing needs of Saudi entrepreneurs, StartSmart has expanded its activities to become a leading, integrated platform for entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, offering innovative services to entrepreneurs throughout their entrepreneurial journey and the year.
We are hopeful that the efforts of the StartSmart Entrepreneurship Center will contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which include increasing the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the national GDP, promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting foreign investment, and reducing unemployment.
To keep pace with the growing needs of Saudi entrepreneurs, StartSmart has expanded its activities to become a leading, integrated platform for entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, offering innovative services to entrepreneurs throughout their entrepreneurial journey and the year.
We are hopeful that the efforts of the StartSmart Entrepreneurship Center will contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which include increasing the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the national GDP, promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting foreign investment, and reducing unemployment.
Our Story
The launch of the Saudi version of the MIT Enterprise Forum was initiated by Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, a non-profit organization, in collaboration with the MIT Enterprise Forum International.
Adding a track to the competition for social enterprises, to allow startups with a positive impact on society to participate in the competition.
Establishing the Saudi Valley platform, an open platform for visitors and competitors to submit ideas, startups, and social entrepreneurship companies.
Launching the Startup Investment Forum, a three-day exhibition featuring local and international small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), providing them with the opportunity to network and meet investors to expand their businesses in Saudi Arabia.
All competition activities, the StartSmart Conference and Exhibition, were held virtually due to COVID-19.
Merging the MIT Enterprise Forum Saudi Competition with the MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Competition under one umbrella.
Holding the competition in Medina under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Salman, Governor of Medina.
Joining the Jameel World Education Lab at MIT
Rebranding the competition to StartSmart Competition
Adding the Environment track to the competition's tracks
Launch the Labs events
Partnering with Savola World Foundation to sponsor winning companies in the environment track
Launching a series of StartSmart Meetups
Launch of the Jameel DeepTech Initiative to support researchers and innovators transforming their ideas into startups
Official launch of the StartSmart Hub
Our Team
Behind the Start Smart Center is a fully integrated team of distinguished competencies working together to support the Saudi entrepreneurship ecosystem. Our team is armed with diverse expertise in entrepreneurship, education, training, e-commerce, and empowerment initiatives. Get to know them with us.
Dr. May Taibah
Member of the Board of Trustees of Community Jameel Saudi
Our Partners
StartSmart is proud of its close collaboration with various national and international entities that support and empower entrepreneurs, whether from the public, private, or non-profit sectors. Among the most prominent of these entities are:
