Ghada Ismail 

In the startup world, money isn’t just a tool—it’s the thing that keeps the whole idea alive. You can have a great product, a strong team, and a big vision, but without capital, even the best plans can stall.

The tricky part is that raising money is only the beginning. The real challenge is using that money in a way that builds something lasting, not just something that looks impressive for a short time.

That’s what capital efficiency is all about. It’s the ability to turn every Riyal into real progress—better products, stronger customer loyalty, and steady, sustainable growth. It’s the difference between a startup that grows with purpose and one that grows by luck.

Why Capital Efficiency Matters

A lot of startups chase fast growth because it feels exciting and looks good. But growth that isn’t built on solid foundations is like sprinting on a treadmill—you’re moving fast, but you’re not actually getting anywhere.

Capital efficiency matters because it:

• Gives you more runway and more time to figure things out
• Helps you build a business that can survive tougher times
• Keeps your focus on real, long-term progress instead of short bursts
• Makes your startup more attractive to investors who want stability, not just hype

Capital Efficiency Is Not About Being Cheap

A common misconception is that being capital-efficient means being overly cautious or stingy. That’s not the case.

Capital-efficient startups are willing to spend money. They just spend it in a way that actually creates value.

They think carefully about questions like:

• What investment will bring customers who stick around?
• Which expenses directly improve the product or experience?
• Which costs will help us grow in a way that lasts?

The Real Measure: Value Over Cost

Capital efficiency is really about one simple idea:

How much value does each Riyal create?

If spending money leads to more users, better retention, a stronger product, or higher revenue, then it’s worth it. If it doesn’t, then it’s not efficient—no matter how impressive the growth looks.

What Capital-Efficient Startups Do Differently

Capital-efficient startups tend to follow a few clear habits:

• They focus on one or two growth channels instead of trying everything
• They build a product that keeps customers coming back instead of relying on constant marketing
• They invest in systems that scale instead of quick fixes
• They avoid hiring too early until the need is clear

This doesn’t mean they move slowly. It means they move intentionally.

Examples That Make It Clear

A Strong Example

A startup invests in improving the product and customer support. Growth may start slow, but the customers that do join stay longer. When growth picks up, it’s stable and sustainable.

A Weak Example

A startup spends heavily on ads and discounts to attract users. Growth looks fast, but users leave as soon as the promotions end. The numbers look good for a moment, but they don’t last.

Both startups may grow, but only the first one is truly capital-efficient.

Common Mistakes That Destroy Capital Efficiency

Many startups don’t fail because they lack ideas. They fail because they spend money in the wrong places.

Common mistakes include:

• Chasing quick growth while neglecting product quality
• Hiring too early before there’s a clear need
• Investing heavily in marketing before finding product-market fit
• Focusing only on acquiring customers, not keeping them

These mistakes can make a startup look alive while it’s actually burning through its resources.

Wrapping Things Up…

Capital efficiency is about building real progress through intentional spending. It’s not about cutting costs or being overly cautious—it’s about making every Riyal count.

For startups, capital efficiency is more than a financial measure. It’s the difference between a business that barely survives and a business that lasts.

Noha Gad

In today’s fast-paced financial world, investors seek tools that balance accessibility, diversification, and cost-efficiency. This quest propelled the Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) from a novel idea into a cornerstone of contemporary investing. ETFs elegantly solve this puzzle, offering a one-stop solution that bridges the gap between sophisticated strategy and everyday execution.

Similar to mutual funds, ETFs pool money from many investors and invest in stocks, bonds, short-term money-market instruments, other securities or assets, or some combination of these investments. However, ETFs can sometimes be more tax-efficient than mutual funds. In ETFs, investors buy and sell ETF shares on national securities exchanges at market prices. 

What is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)?

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds that hold several underlying assets. They can be bought and sold on an exchange, much like an individual stock. They can be structured to track anything from the price of a commodity to a large and diverse collection of stocks, even specific investment strategies.

The combined holdings of the ETF are known as its portfolio, which is usually managed by a registered investment adviser. Each ETF share represents an investor’s part ownership of the ETF’s portfolio and the income the portfolio generates.

An ETF can own hundreds of securities across various industries, or it can be dedicated to one particular industry or sector, such as the technology sector.

Types of ETFs

Various types of ETFs can be used for income generation, capital growth, or to mitigate risk in a portfolio. This includes:

       - Equity ETFs. Also known as passive ETFs, this type comprises a basket of stocks and aims to replicate the performance of the broader equity market or a specific sector or trend. 

       - Bond ETFS. They provide regular income to investors and do not have a maturity date. Their income distribution depends on the performance of underlying bonds. Distribution in bond ETFs depends on the performance of underlying bonds, which may include government, corporate, and state and local bonds, usually called municipal bonds.

       - Industry or sector ETFs. They focus on a specific sector or industry. They provide diversified exposure to a single industry, one that includes high performers and new entrants with growth potential.

       - Commodity ETFs. This type focuses on investing in commodities, such as crude oil or gold. They can diversify a portfolio, making it easier to hedge downturns.

       - Currency ETFs. They track the performance of currency pairs, consisting of domestic and foreign currencies. Some investors use these ETFs to diversify a portfolio, while importers and exporters use them to hedge against volatility in currency markets.

       - Inverse ETFs. These funds earn gains from stock declines without having short stocks.

       - Leveraged ETFs. A leveraged ETF seeks to return multiples (e.g., 2× or 3×) on the return of the underlying investments. These products use debt and derivatives, such as options or futures contracts, to leverage their returns.

The goal of each ETF is to replicate its index as closely and cost-effectively as possible. There are two types of replications: physical and synthetic. Physical replication is the classic method of replicating an index. If the ETF directly holds all securities of the index, this is known as full replication. However, full replication is not always possible. Meanwhile, synthetic replication allows ETF investors to invest in new markets and asset classes. A synthetic ETF tracks a benchmark index using derivatives and swap agreements rather than owning the underlying securities.

Pros and cons of ETFs

ETFs offer a powerful combination of benefits that align with modern investment goals:

      - Exposure to many stocks across various industries.

      - Low expense ratios and commissions.

      - Risk management through diversification.

      - Can focus on targeted industries or commodities.

      - Can be bought and sold easily via any cost-effective online broker.

While powerful, ETFs are not a perfect solution. Smart investors are aware of these nuances:

      - Diversification illusions: A niche ETF or single-industry-focused ETF may concentrate risk rather than spread it. True diversification often requires a broader portfolio.

      - Fee variability: While most are low-cost, some actively managed or complex strategy ETFs carry higher fees that can erode returns.

      - Liquidity risks: Lesser-traded ETFs can have wide "bid-ask spreads," making transactions more costly, and may be difficult to sell quickly at a fair price.

Finally, ETFs provide a versatile solution for investors at every level by offering a unique blend of stock-like tradability and mutual fund-like diversification. Their inherent advantages, including low costs, transparency, and flexibility, make them an exceptionally efficient vehicle for executing both simple and sophisticated investment plans. By leveraging their advantages while respecting their limitations, investors can harness the full potential of ETFs to build a more resilient and efficient path to their financial future.

Ghada Ismail

Not long ago, Saudi success stories followed a familiar script: corporate boardrooms, government corridors, and decades-long career climbs. Today, that script is being rewritten, sometimes before the ink on a university degree has even dried. Across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, Saudi founders are launching startups that scale faster than their age, exporting ideas and landing on global radars before they turn 30.

This new generation of entrepreneurs is not waiting for permission, legacy, or perfect conditions. Armed with code, climate tech, AI models, and creative IP, young Saudis are building companies that speak the language of international markets while remaining rooted in local ambition. Their rise reflects more than personal success stories; it signals a structural shift in how the Kingdom produces innovation, competes globally, and defines leadership in the post-oil era.

As Saudi Arabia’s youth-heavy population meets unprecedented access to capital, infrastructure, and global networks, the result is a cohort of founders who are thinking borderless from day one. These under-30 entrepreneurs are proving that global impact is no longer something Saudi startups grow into; it’s something they are born with.

The Kingdom’s startup ecosystem now boasts thousands of youth-led enterprises in technology, climate action, education, health, and lifestyle sectors. Young Saudis are not merely starting businesses; they are building scalable ventures that resonate regionally and internationally, backed by investors, accelerators, and recognition on platforms like Forbes Middle East’s annual 30 Under 30 list. 

In this feature, we explore the journeys of several of these founders under 30, understanding how they navigate systemic challenges, leverage global trends, and create meaningful impact, both for Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem and on the world stage.

Redefining Education with AI: AILA

At just 23 and 22, Yousef Alsayed and Abdulaziz Bin Mugayel have reimagined learning through ‘AILA’, an AI-driven education platform designed to tailor learning paths to individual student needs. Founded in June 2023 while both were still youthful visionaries, AILA uses artificial intelligence to assess students’ strengths, preferences, and pace, delivering personalized quizzes, lessons, and insights while easing administrative burdens for teachers. 

Their impact has been rapid: AILA now supports 26,000 students in Saudi institutions and an additional 15,000 learners in Central Asia, after securing $1.15 million in pre-seed funding from regional venture funds and angels at a valuation of $5.5 million. 
In a recent post on social media, Abdulaziz reflected on their startup’s evolution from “just an idea” to a solution affecting thousands; a reminder of how youthful ambition, when matched with execution, can scale across borders. 

Beyond numbers, their story underscores the potential for Saudi-built AI solutions to contribute to global education challenges — from personalized learning to reduced dropout rates — while showing how young founders can attract capital and adoption beyond domestic markets.

Cultivating Sustainability: NABATIK

Few narratives capture the blend of social mission and technological ingenuity as powerfully as that of Mohammed Alkhalid, founder of ‘NABATIK’. What began with the simple childhood memory of planting a sapling in a barren over the years has grown into a climate-tech startup dedicated to affordable, technology-enabled reforestation. 

NABATIK’s platform links corporates and individuals with nurseries and logistics frameworks that enable tree planting across the Kingdom, incentivizing action toward carbon offset goals. Its model turns environmental stewardship into verifiable impact — something increasingly vital as global climate objectives stress measurable outcomes. 

Alkhalid’s work resonated with global institutions; early in his career, he was recognized among the UN Environment Programme’s Young Champions of the Earth, an honor that signals international recognition of his environmental leadership before age 30. 

His story highlights a broader truth: young Saudi founders are not restricted to app development and fintech but are pioneering climate solutions that align with worldwide sustainability commitments.

KAUST Innovators

Institutions like King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have become fertile ground for young innovators whose work straddles scientific research and practical application. In the 2025 Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 cohort alone, multiple KAUST students and alumni were recognized across science and technology categories. 

Among them:

• Aljawharah Alsharif, a Ph.D. candidate developing wearable health-monitoring technologies that can capture physiological signals without skin irritation, which is considered a breakthrough in long-term remote patient monitoring. 
• Esraa Fakeih, co-founder of ‘Gees’, a femtech venture developing a handheld saliva-based hormonal tracking device to help women manage conditions like PCOS at home. 
• Yousef Algoos, innovating ultra-miniaturized MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) for real-time impact detection in wearables like helmets and smart glasses — technology with potential applications in sports safety and occupational health. 

These founders illustrate how Saudi talent fostered in scientific environments can transform research excellence into startups targeting global markets, particularly in health, diagnostics, and wearable tech.

Culture, Creativity, and Beyond: Molham and the Creative Economy

The entrepreneurial wave isn’t limited to tech and environment — it extends to creative industries where Saudi youth are forging global cultural footprints. Molham Krayem, known simply as Molham, is a Saudi musician who has also grown into a business leader as the founder and CEO of Beyond Group, a creative venture builder behind brands like Sand Circus and MELT London. 

Recognized on Forbes Middle East’s 30 Under 30 for blending artistry with entrepreneurship, Molham exemplifies how creative talent can transcend cultural production and evolve into global entrepreneurial success. 

His journey speaks to a broader trend that Saudi youth are building ventures that cultivate cultural export alongside economic value, positioning the Kingdom as a contributor to global pop culture and creative sectors.

The Ecosystem Behind the Success

These success stories emerge within a rapidly evolving support system in Saudi Arabia. According to a recent report issued by the Saudi Gazette, citing the Ministry of Commerce, the number of commercial registrations held by young Saudis of both genders has surpassed 474,000, accounting for 38% of all active commercial records in Saudi Arabia as of the end of Q2 2025, with sectors like app development, artificial intelligence, and e-gaming experiencing strong growth. 

Meanwhile, Public-private partnerships, accelerators, and training programs are increasingly filling gaps that once hindered startups, from regulatory navigation to hands-on mentorship and access to international networks. Initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 are systematically equipping young entrepreneurs with digital, managerial, and leadership skills necessary for competing globally. 

Yet, despite this momentum, challenges persist. Scaling internationally requires not just a strong product but understanding foreign regulatory landscapes, building global trust, and navigating funding ecosystems where competition is intense. For many founders, striking that balance between domestic roots and global ambition requires resilience, community support, and a willingness to iterate rapidly in the face of obstacles.

Navigating Challenges and Scaling Beyond Borders

For young Saudi founders, scaling globally entails confronting unique challenges:

• Access to capital beyond early-stage funding can be limited, pushing founders to forge strategic partnerships, attract international investors, or bootstrap until traction is proven.
• Talent acquisition in specialized fields like AI or biotech means competing with established hubs in the U.S., Europe, and Asia — urging Saudi startups to cultivate local talent while remaining globally competitive.
• Regulatory alignment across borders calls for flexible business models and legal frameworks that anticipate international compliance, something many young founders navigate with guidance from global advisers.

But these challenges are also catalysts. Many founders pivot their offerings based on local needs first — building products that resonate globally because they solve universally relevant problems.

Impact Beyond Business: Ecosystem and Society

The significance of these young founders extends beyond money and valuations. They serve as role models, encouraging peers to experiment with risk, reimagining career horizons beyond traditional paths. Their achievements encourage educational institutions to integrate entrepreneurship into curricula, and investors to view Saudi talent as globally competitive.

Moreover, youth-led ventures contribute to employment, inspire innovation clusters, and diversify economic narratives once dominated by oil and government contracts. Each success feeds a virtuous cycle: raising visibility, attracting capital, and reinforcing the message that talent — when harnessed — can compete on the world stage.

Conclusion: A Generation in Motion

The stories of AILA’s educational transformation, NABATIK’s environmental innovation, KAUST’s scientific pioneers, and Molham’s cultural entrepreneurship illustrate a broader shift. A generation once viewed as a domestic workforce is now a cohort of global changemakers disrupting industries, building scalable ventures, and representing Saudi Arabia in conversations about the future of innovation, sustainability, and culture.

Under 30, yet increasingly on the global stage, these founders embody what the next decade could bring: a Saudi entrepreneurial ecosystem that not only contributes to Vision 2030 but also reshapes global markets in meaningful, lasting ways.

Noha Gad

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a historic transformation in its labor market, driven by Vision 2030 and a commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive, and globally competitive workforce. Recent figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that the overall unemployment rate in the Kingdom, for Saudis and non-Saudis, reached 3.4% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, showing a yearly decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the same quarter in 2024. 

The ‘State of Hiring in Saudi Arabia’ report by Jisr, which surveyed over 360,000 hiring cases across more than 4,700 Saudi companies and establishments, stated that new hires in the Kingdom saw a dramatic %154.5 surge between January 2024 and January 2025. In the first half (H1) of 2025, the average number of new hires per month increased by 51.5% to 24,155 from 15,942 in 2024. Additionally, the Saudi market saw a remarkable surge in manpower from January 2024 to July 2025, as the total number of employees increased by 124% in 19 months from 140,562 to 315,250 employees.

The food and beverages (F&B) sector led the hiring activity in the Saudi labor market with 71,120 new hires, followed by retail, wholesale, and distribution (over 41,500 new hires), general services (nearly 37,247 new hires), construction and building (nearly 28,777 new hires), and healthcare and medical services ( 20,141 new hires).

The human resources (HR) sector plays a pivotal role in driving the Kingdom’s economic growth, with Vision 2030 driving major changes such as Saudization, which aims to increase jobs for Saudi nationals. To support this shift, HR teams now focus on skills training, talent hiring, and employee well-being.

According to Jisr’s report, Saudis accounted for 49% of the hiring landscape, making up nearly one-third of all new appointments. 51% of companies now rely more heavily on national talent, while 45% of surveyed HR practitioners reported a decline in the number of foreign employees compared to local hires over the past two years.

As rapid workforce expansion creates needs for better recruitment, performance tracking, and staff retention, traditional HR methods often struggle with high volumes of data and changing job demands. This paved the way for new tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to improve efficiency. The integration of AI into HR can speed up hiring by screening resumes and matching candidates to roles, predict employee turnover, and personalize training programs. 

In Saudi Arabia, the AI HR market, valued at $330 million, saw a profound growth driven by the increasing adoption of AI technologies in human resources, aimed at enhancing efficiency and decision-making processes, as stated in a recent report by Ken Research. The demand for AI-driven solutions is fueled by the need for improved recruitment, employee engagement, and performance management systems, with over half of Saudi companies expected to adopt AI-powered HR systems for these functions. AI-powered recruitment platforms are transforming hiring processes through automated resume screening, intelligent candidate matching, and predictive analytics, supporting Saudization goals and reducing time-to-hire by up to 60%. Jisr is one of the key players in the Saudi market, serving more than 700,000 users across the Kingdom. As a leading AI-powered recruitment platform in the Kingdom and the MENA region, Jisr integrates all HR operations into one platform, enabling organizations to grow and innovate by providing the necessary tools to make the most of HR technology.

Applications of AI in the HR sector in Saudi Arabia

• Talent acquisition and recruitment. AI screens large applicant pools, matches skills, drafts job descriptions, reduces bias, and streamlines hiring. It scans resumes using natural language processing (NLP) to match skills and cultural fit, handling Arabic dialects for accurate sourcing and screening. Predictive analytics forecasts candidate success and market trends, minimizing bad hires, while chatbots provide personalized job recommendations and instant feedback, enhancing candidate engagement. 
• Employee management. AI automates onboarding, payroll, attendance, benefits, and policy queries. This automation ensures greater efficiency, accuracy, and 24/7 service for employees. The true strategic value, however, lies in the transformational shift this enables. By removing the administrative burden, freeing HR for strategic tasks. 
• Employee Experience. AI chatbots provide instant answers on policies, benefits, and career support. By offering personalized guidance for career development and internal mobility, AI tools empower employees, reduce friction, and create a more supportive and responsive work environment, which directly strengthens engagement and retention.

Key players in the Saudi market

• Resquad AI is a pioneering provider of AI-driven technical recruitment solutions in Saudi Arabia. It automates key stages of the recruitment process, including screening, matching, pricing, compliance, and payments, allowing companies to reduce hiring timelines by up to 99%. Its AI-powered SaaS solution and global B2B marketplace for developers enable companies to access technical talent beyond geographical boundaries. 
• SBR is an AI-powered platform, specializing in evaluation technologies and data analytics using AI. It leverages AI algorithms to analyze candidates beyond resumes, measure real competencies, and reveal hidden indicators, providing a comprehensive and objective report that supports confident hiring decisions. Its system relies on analyzing past hiring and performance data to predict candidate efficiency and retention likelihood, enabling HR departments to make decisions based on realistic, data-driven performance indicators.
• Talowiz is an AI-powered Source-to-Hire solution that automates recruitment with intelligent sourcing, personalized outreach, and seamless applicant tracking systems (ATS) integration. Talowiz’s AI Recruiting agents are trained to instantly build talent pipelines using the Largest Talent Database, engage them across channels, and manage the entire hiring process. Its AI Reachout Agent can reach 10x more candidates and connect across channels, providing personalized outreach and instant responses.
• Hurr is a Saudi-based digital platform that established itself as a leader in the freelance market, thanks to its secure, user-friendly platform that supports both entrepreneurs and freelancers. It connects owners with the best professional freelancers in over 100 fields across the Arab world, helping them complete tasks easily and securely. In a recent interview with Sharikat Mubasher, Founder and CEO, Muna Balhamar, noted that Hurr focuses on advancing its AI-powered tools, such as AI-generated job descriptions, smarter AI matching to connect owners with the best candidates instantly, and automated filtering to reduce time spent on reviewing profiles.

Concerns about integrating AI in HR

While AI promises transformative efficiency in the HR sector, its integration raises critical concerns that demand careful navigation:

• Data privacy and compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
• Algorithmic bias and fairness in hiring processes.
• AI hallucinations and accuracy in candidate matching.
• Talent and skill shortages for AI implementation.
• Job displacement fears among HR professionals.
• System integration challenges with legacy tools.

In conclusion, the labor market in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a foundational transformation, powered by ambitious national projects and the strategic imperatives of Vision 2030. This growth places the HR function at the very center of national progress, entrusted with the dual mandate of scaling the workforce efficiently and ensuring its long-term competitiveness and satisfaction. 

As evidenced by platforms like Jisr, Resquad AI, and SBR, AI-powered tools are accelerating hiring by intelligently matching Saudi talent to new opportunities, automating administrative burdens to free HR for strategic roles, and personalizing the employee journey to foster engagement and retention. This technological integration directly supports core national goals such as Saudization by making talent processes more objective, data-driven, and scalable. 

To succeed, companies must address key challenges like data privacy, biased algorithms, and employee training. This requires a careful balance: using AI as a powerful tool that is always guided by human judgment, strong ethics, and ongoing investment in people's skills.

Ghada Ismail

Smart money refers to an investment that delivers more than capital. It comes from investors who actively contribute to a startup’s success by offering expertise, strategic guidance, and access to valuable networks. These investors are often experienced founders, sector-focused venture capital firms, or angels who have scaled businesses before. Their involvement is hands-on, with a focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term financial returns.

Understanding Why Capital Source Matters

Fundraising is often approached as a race to secure the largest cheque, but the identity of the investor can shape a company’s direction just as much as the funding itself. Smart money turns fundraising into a partnership, where investors are aligned with the startup’s mission and growth trajectory, not just its valuation.

Learning from Proven Experience

One of the strongest advantages of smart money is access to real-world experience. Founders benefit from lessons learned across multiple ventures, helping them avoid common pitfalls. This support often includes:

• Advice on when to scale and when to pause
• Guidance on building leadership teams
• Early identification of financial or operational risks

These insights help founders make smarter decisions under pressure.

Unlocking High-Value Networks

Smart investors bring credibility and connections that can accelerate market entry and expansion. Through their networks, startups can:

• Reach strategic customers and enterprise clients
• Form partnerships faster
• Secure follow-on funding more efficiently

For early-stage companies, these introductions can be transformational.

Strengthening Strategy and Decision-Making

Beyond introductions, smart money improves how founders think. Value-adding investors challenge assumptions and sharpen strategic focus. This typically involves:

• Refining the business model and pricing strategy
• Stress-testing growth plans
• Encouraging sustainable, long-term growth

This guidance reduces the risk of premature or misaligned expansion.

Building Operational Discipline

As startups scale, operational structure becomes critical. Smart money often supports this transition by helping founders professionalize the business. Investor involvement may include:

• Improving governance and reporting standards
• Preparing for future funding rounds
• Supporting leadership development and internal processes

This foundation strengthens resilience and scalability.

Ensuring Alignment and Partnership

Smart money is only effective when there is strong alignment. Entrepreneurs must ensure investors share their vision, time horizon, and growth philosophy. A misaligned investor, even with experience, can slow progress and create unnecessary friction.

To Wrap Things Up…

Fundraising should be viewed as the start of a partnership, not just a financial transaction. Entrepreneurs who choose smart money gain more than funding. They gain insight, access, and long-term support that can shape the trajectory of their company. In today’s competitive startup environment, smart money often makes the difference between surviving and scaling successfully.