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As part of its ongoing commitment to embedding the concepts of sustainability and social entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, represented by the StartSmart Saudi initiative, participated in the Social Entrepreneurship Week 2026. This initiative was organized by The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at” in partnership with the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development and the Social Development Bank, and was hosted by the SME Support Centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, and Medina from June 14 to 18.

This participation aligns with the comprehensive national efforts to activate the role of social responsibility within the business sector. It also aims to highlight the pivotal role that startups and entrepreneurs play in adopting sustainable and responsible practices that contribute to achieving comprehensive development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

StartSmart Saudi initiative participation featured a panel discussion hosting Mr. Mohammed Abdulghaffar, Senior General Manager of Initiatives at Community Jameel Saudi. The session was attended by 15 individuals interested in social entrepreneurship and discussed the strategic dimensions of the social innovation ecosystem. It also reviewed modern mechanisms that enable the business sector to adopt sustainable practices to achieve long-term developmental impact. The session also emphasizes how to transform traditional initiatives into promising and scalable investment opportunities, while showcasing key models and success stories of entrepreneurs supported by the initiative over the years. Additionally, the StartSmart booth, participating in the Social Entrepreneurship Week initiative, welcomed 17 visitors during the event, who came to learn about the initiative’s services and programs.

Embodying the tangible impact of the StartSmart Competition in supporting and empowering entrepreneurs, the Small and Medium Enterprises Support Centers (Monsha’at) in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, and Medina also hosted a select group of StartSmart Competition alumni during the Social Entrepreneurship Week.

Through these meetups, the alumni shared the success stories of their innovative social entrepreneurship startups, along with the key challenges they faced and how they overcame them. In doing so, they inspired 79 next-generation entrepreneurs by sharing real-world experiences on turning ambitious ideas into active, on-the-ground startups that serve society sustainably. These meetups witnessed remarkable attendance and engagement from participating entrepreneurs and innovators, including: Rawan Bukhari, Co-founder of Neor; Ahmed Othman, representing Robotek; Redha Al-Ayesh from Nokhbah; Ahlam Cluntun from Baha AC Solutions; and Turki Al-Juhani, Co-founder of Diz App.

Commenting on this participation, Mr. Mohammed Abdulghaffar, stated: “Our participation in national initiatives organized by Monsha’at reflects our deep belief that social entrepreneurship is a fundamental pillar for building a thriving economy and a vibrant society. We are proud to see StartSmart alumni participating in this forum to drive positive change and deliver sustainable solutions that prove the capability of Saudi youth to innovate and create an impact.”

This participation in the forum reflects Community Jameel Saudi Foundation’s sustainable approach to developing social entrepreneurship initiatives and transforming them into developmental empowerment programs. These programs contribute to honing the skills of national talents and providing a supportive environment for the growth of projects with a positive impact, thereby reinforcing the values of corporate giving and creating a sustainable future for coming generations.