Saudi Arabia’s DeveGo 2025 Forum Sparks Major Entrepreneurial Momentum with New Milestones

Editorial Team

Last updated 25-12-2025

3 min

The DeveGo 2025 forum in Riyadh drew 25,000 participants, fostering Saudi entrepreneurship.

Attendees engaged in workshops, advisory sessions, and panel discussions on AI and digital transformation.

The Saudi Empretec Fellowship debuted, and 13 winners were honoured in the Handicrafts Competition.

Over 51 agreements were signed, introducing financial products to support small and medium enterprises.

The event highlighted Saudi Arabia's growing innovation ecosystem and strengthened entrepreneurial connections.

The Social Development Bank has wrapped up the second edition of its DeveGo 2025 forum in Riyadh, and by the sound of it, the three‑day gathering turned into quite the hub for anyone circling the entrepreneurship scene in Saudi Arabia. With 25,000 people passing through the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the event certainly wasn’t a quiet affair. I’ve seen smaller crowds at regional tech expos, and those already felt like a bit of a faff to navigate.

Across the halls, participants tapped into more than 45 workshops and around 2,500 advisory sessions led by over 70 consultants and experts. The programme touched on everything from business models and venture capital to freelancing and emerging technologies—essentially the whole buffet of what early‑stage founders tend to wrestle with. There were also 20 panel discussions featuring local and international speakers digging into themes like AI, digital transformation, and the creative economy. Spot on topics, especially considering how many startups in the region are now building directly around these shifts.

One highlight was the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, unveiled in the presence of UNCTAD Secretary‑General Rebeca Grynspan. And believe it or not, the forum didn’t just stay theoretical—there was plenty of celebrating too. Thirteen winners of the Handicrafts Competition were recognised, alongside standout projects under the Enterprises Track and the Salam Award for Promising Projects. On the flip side, the NEXT UP Challenge added a sharper edge to things, with 20 startups pitching before more than 500 investors. I reckon moments like that can genuinely change a founder’s trajectory; I’ve seen similar setups at Arageek-backed meetups where one good conversation opened doors for months to come.

The organisers didn’t stop at talks and trophies. In a push to strengthen the wider support ecosystem, 51 agreements were signed during the forum. New financing products were also rolled out, including a Capital Expansion offering of up to SAR 10 million, a Payroll Product capped at SAR 2 million, and a Rental Product up to SAR 1.5 million. These are designed to help businesses manage assets and cover operational needs—something many SMEs struggle with more than they’d care to admit. When I first helped a friend navigate funding for his small logistics startup, the paperwork alone almost drove us both mad… well… I mean, it was definately a lesson in patience.

By the end of the event, the Social Development Bank positioned the forum as a kind of national meeting point for entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and anyone curious about building something new. The stories showcased across the programme reflected the momentum Saudi Arabia’s ecosystem has been gaining, especially as more founders lean into innovation-led ventures. And from the looks of it, this forum helped tighten those connections that keep the whole scene moving.

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