Community Jameel Saudi, in partnership with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), has concluded the Semi-final Challenge of the 2nd edition of the Jameel DeepTech Initiative, held at the “The Garage” incubator headquarters in Riyadh.
Selected from a pool of 900 applicants, thirty-three teams competed in the Semi-final Challenge to develop their research-based ventures in scientific and DeepTech fields. This marks significant growth compared to last year’s edition, which featured 30 competing teams out of only 234 applicants. The teams are competing to reach the finals, where 3 winners will share a total prize pool of SAR 2,250,000.
The 2nd edition of the Jameel DeepTech Initiative aims to support science-driven entrepreneurs and hone their skills in vital sectors such as health, energy, and the environment; aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, by fostering a new generation of DeepTech startups based on advanced scientific breakthroughs and innovations.
During the semi-finals, the 33 participating teams underwent specialized, high-level training, benefited from multidisciplinary advisory sessions, visited KACST’s research laboratories, and concluded with venture pitches evaluated by an expert judging panel comprising specialists from various sectors.
Commenting on this occassion, Mohammed Abdulghaffar, Senior General Manager of Initiatives at Community Jameel Saudi, stated: “Building on the success of the 1st edition of the Jameel DeepTech Initiative in 2025, we continued working with our partners to trasform this edition into a launch-pad for science-based entrepreneurship. It serves as an empowering platform for scientists, researchers, and innovators in the Kingdom by providing the necessary tools and resources to convert research ideas into commercial business models.” He added that the innovation and quality of the proposed solutions reflect the tremendous effort invested, noting that the participating teams demonstrated an outstanding level of dedication and commitment.
The participating teams completed advanced mentorship sessions as well, alongside peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to refine their strategies, polish their business models, and boost their readiness for the final stage. Ultimately, 10 teams qualified for the final phase (compared to nine teams last year); they include: LinusBio MENA, Lisan, Pixoconvey, Gees Health, Digital Petroleum, Pure Advance, True Nexus, Separation Membranes Innovation Co., Flow Guard and Hakeem.
The qualified teams will now enter an advanced preparation phase ahead of competing for the initiative’s top three prizes. Notably, the 2nd edition witnessed a qualitative leap in the standard of participating ventures compared to last year, demonstrated by achieved sales, geographic reach of products and services, and the volume of attracted investment.
It is worth noting that the 1st edition of the Jameel DeepTech Initiative concluded in October 2025, awarding a total of SR2,250,000 to three exceptional startups. PlanSulin secured first place for its innovative approach to manufacturing insulin and biostimulants locally using plant cells. Second place went to VisiGround, which leverages robotics and advanced radar systems to detect underground water leaks, while iRama took third place for using urban farming technologies to strengthen food supply chains.
Source: Saudi Gazette