The first batch of the “Saudipruneur” program, which aims to graduate a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs, had their graduation ceremony last week in Riyadh. This program, which is the outcome of a partnership between VMS Startup Studio and EYouth, aims to identify Saudi talents in the startup industry, teach young Saudis the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, and provide them with the tools they need to launch and grow their own businesses in the future.
Over thirty-three hours of intensive training, including workshops and mentoring sessions led by business professionals, were provided to the participants. A top-notch training program that blends contemporary theories and real-world application in entrepreneurship is offered by EYouth, a prominent Middle Eastern provider of youth education and training.
Just 50 young men and women were chosen from among the over 460 who applied for the program. Eight of the 27 project ideas that participants successfully presented made it to the finals. Participants worked in groups to develop project ideas that advance the Saudi economy.
VMS Startup Studio provided ongoing assistance to Saudi youth by providing priceless rewards for the initiatives that were successful. The Best Three Projects Award was given to three groups at the graduation ceremony. With their startup idea to create a smart platform that would evaluate youth skills, suggest appropriate career paths, and offer hands-on training utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), the “Tahyaa” team took first place. Fatima Saeed Al-Mulla, Ahmed Al-Fahad, and Abdullah Omar Belsharf make up the team. The group will gain from a year-long incubation experience offered by VMS Startup Studio, which includes office space, financial and business advisory services for breaking into the Saudi market, and numerous other special advantages.
The “Adalah” team came in second with their plan to found a market-leading AI-based chat business that specialized in Saudi legal matters. Mohammed Al-Huqail and Abdulrahman Al-Mutlaq make up the team, and they will gain from a six-month incubation process.
The third-place team, “Dietitian Journey,” provides a niche therapeutic nutrition platform aimed at enhancing the abilities and expertise of industry professionals. A three-month incubation period with VMS Startup Studio will be beneficial to the team, which consists of Atheer Mahmas Al-Dosari, Renad Khalid Bin Kulaib, Rowaid Jaber Al-Tabairi, Al-Jouri Al-Mahjoub, and Al-Jawhara Al-Mahjoub.
After the event, Abdullah Al-Shamrani, General Manager of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Saudi Arabia’s Digital Entrepreneurship Center, expressed his gratitude for King Saud University in Riyadh’s partnership in hosting the “Saudipruneur” program and stressed the significance of empowering and supporting entrepreneurs as they develop their startups:
“Through this programme, the center aims to support entrepreneurs to take their first steps so that their startups can hopefully become billion-dollar, pioneering companies in the future.” The center expressed once again how dedicated it is to helping Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs and providing all the resources required to boost the country’s GDP.
