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In its final ceremony held at The Garage in Riyadh, the Jameel DeepTech Initiative awarded the winning startups of its first edition with valuable monetary prizes. The initiative was supported by the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation and organized by the StartSmart Hub, a member of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab at MIT. Moreover, the initiative was held in strategic partnership with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

The initiative aimed to support and motivate Saudi, DeepTech-based startups to grow and expand. More than 240 ventures applied to the initiative; of which, 30 teams reached the semi-final stage and nine teams advanced to the final round. Over the past months, the finalists went through an intensive journey of training and mentorship with experts, meeting with investors, and ecosystem leaders from Saudi Arabia and abroad; all with the goal of turning research and innovation projects into real industrial and commercial products that will serve humanity, boost the national economy, and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s global position in deep technology.

The final ceremony was attended by His Excellency, Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Desouki, President of KACST; several KACST leaders; Mr. Hussain Jameel; Abdul Latif Jameel executives; and several thought leaders in deep tech ecosystem from both the public and private sectors. The program featured a speech by Mr. Hussain Jameel, presentations from the finalist teams, expert-led workshops for attendees interested in deep tech, networking area between entrepreneurs and investors, and an exhibition showcasing the 30 semi-finalist startups of the initiative.

At the end of the event, Dr. Munir Al-Desouki and Mr. Hussain Jameel presented awards to the three winning startups, with total prizes worth SAR 2.25 million. The 1st Place prize (SAR 1,000,000) went to Plansulin, which developed a new technology that uses plant cells to produce insulin locally, making insulin manufacturing in Saudi Arabia more efficient and cost-effective. The 2nd Place prize (SAR 750,000) was taken by VisiGround, which manufactured mobile robots equipped with ground-penetrating radars, to scan underground areas and detect leaks that reduces operational costs. The company is also a graduate of KACST’s Venture Program (KVP).

The 3rd Place prize (SAR 500,000) went to iRama, which developed urban farming technologies that enable local food production inside cities; hence, improving food security and reducing dependence on long supply chains.

On this occasion, Dr. May Taibah, Board Member of Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, commented: “The success of these three ventures reflects the ambition of Saudi innovators and their ability to turn research and advanced technologies into real solutions with economic and social impact. The final ceremony illustrates the results of teamwork between our foundation and our partners and marks the start of a more innovative and entrepreneurial future for Saudi Arabia.”

Dr. Khalid Al-Dakkan, Senior Vice President for Innovation Parks at KACST, added: “This initiative is a unique platform that empowers Saudi entrepreneurs in deep tech and connects them with the research and investment community. It helps strengthen the Kingdom’s position globally in this vital field. Today, we are seeing the results of strong collaboration through KACST’s ‘Hexa Innovation Framework,’ where government, private, and non-profit sectors work together with universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to deliver impactful projects in health, environment, and energy.”

This event marked the conclusion of the first edition of the Jameel Deep Tech Initiative, launched as a leading platform that connects scientific research with entrepreneurship and opens new opportunities for Saudi innovators to build startups that can compete locally and globally.

During the event, Community Jameel Saudi Foundation also announced the launch of the 2nd edition of the initiative, which will serve a wider group of scientists and innovators, along with a new set of programs and initiatives aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s science, technology, and innovation sectors.