500 Global, a prominent multi-stage venture capital firm, in collaboration with Sanabil Investments, a financial entity wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the ninth batch of the Sanabil Accelerator. The initiative is designed to stimulate innovation and promote growth in sectors such as AI, Fintech, Edtech, Climate Tech, SaaS, and Proptech. Out of more than 850 applications, nine promising companies have been selected for their potential to drive innovation and meet critical market needs. These companies will present their projects at the Demo Day set for July 2, 2025, at the Sanabil Hub in Riyadh, in front of a curated audience from the venture capitalist community.
The accelerator program, which has already supported 98 startups, continues to evolve, this year introducing new elements to provide a more personalized and focused experience over its 12-week course. This is aimed at helping startups leapfrog and scale effectively. “Since the inception of the accelerator program, we have focused on investing in and supporting founders who are aiming to disrupt norms in their sectors and markets,” said Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA. Dokhan highlighted the program’s focus on developing solutions that are more user-centered, reflecting an evolution in market expertise paired with improved access to technical expertise and resources.
Sanabil Investments expressed enthusiasm about their leadership role within the venture capital community, noting an increase in applications to the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global. “We are attracting and enabling the brightest minds and best technologies to improve people’s lives worldwide,” said a spokesperson at Sanabil Investments.
The Batch 9 cohort includes companies such as CarbonSifr, an AI platform aiding businesses in measuring and reducing emissions, and Endl, a stablecoin-powered cross-border payment platform. Other innovative startups include LIVSHO, a live-shopping marketplace, and TwentyToo, which helps retailers optimize pricing strategies through real-time data analysis.
With the conclusion of the current program in July, applications for the tenth cohort are now open. Startups throughout the MENA region are encouraged to apply and join a growing community of ambitious founders shaping future innovation.
