VMS Bridge 2025 kicks off tomorrow in Riyadh with the participation of more than 30 Iraqi startups.

If you’re in the MENA startup scene, chances are you’ve heard a bit of a buzz about the latest move connecting Baghdad and Riyadh. Entrepreneurs from across the region recently had a chance to show off their innovations to a crowd of investors and partners in the Kingdom, thanks to an event organised by Value Makers Studio (VMS) and KAPITA Business Hub. The whole thing got a solid leg-up from Orange Corners Baghdad and some strategic backing from Digital Zone—so, hardly a shoestring operation.

It’s all part of the bigger VMS Bridge Program, which aims to pull startups from emerging markets straight into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s growing innovation ecosystem. There’s proper mentorship, tailored support, and access to new markets on offer—basically the kind of launchpad that can turn a bright idea into something huge, or at least get founders’ feet in the door. I reckon that sort of practical help is like gold dust for anyone trying to break into unfamiliar territory, especially somewhere as competitive as Saudi.

For me, the most exciting part is watching the real bridges being built—not just a headline, but actual partnerships between Baghdad and Riyadh. That kind of collaboration is spot on if we want to see MENA startups not just surviving, but properly thriving. And believe it or not, it’s all got the fingerprints of the Dutch government too. The programme is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Orange Corners Baghdad, and the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship team is knee-deep in projects like this across multiple countries—not just ticking boxes, but working with local partners and embassies each step of the way.

In Iraq itself, Orange Corners Baghdad is championing young founders, especially around agriculture, water, and, as you’d expect, entrepreneurship. Kapita is boots-on-the-ground, helping develop these early ventures into ‘success stories’. From what I’ve seen, their approach isn’t just about throwing money around, it’s more hands-on—building skills, shaping ideas and guiding founders through all the faff that comes with scaling a business.

Value Makers Studio, or VMS for short, is driven to help entrepreneurs inside and outside the MENA region land successfully in Saudi Arabia. Their team seems particularly focused on reducing risks and upping success rates for startups—a tricky balance, let’s be honest. I’m not a fan of the one-size-fits-all accelerator model, so it’s refreshing to see VMS offering something more bespoke. They lean in close with expertise and connections, giving founders a fair shot at smashing through the usual hurdles.

At Arageek, we’re chuffed to bits whenever young talent from our region nabs new opportunities and starts dreaming a little bigger. It’s stone-cold tough to scale beyond your home market—there’s red tape, new rules, cultural differences… the lot. So whenever programmes like VMS Bridge pop up, connecting regions and smoothing out the road, it feels like a win for the whole ecosystem. Even if there’s still work to be done (there always is), it’s one step closer to putting our home-grown innovators on the map. And well… not to brag, but from where I’m sitting, seeing these bridges built makes the late nights and endless cups of tea feel worth it—definately.

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