Saudi Arabia launched The Garage, the region's largest business accelerator, in an event at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh.
The Garage's new headquarters opened on an area of 28,000 square meters on the main campus of King Abdulaziz University for Sciences and Technology (KAUST) in the presence of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Swaha, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed al-Hogail, and Minister of Media Salman al-Dossary.
The Garage is a startup district focusing on local and international startups, scouting and inviting them to join its programs and events. It encompasses over 300 startups, features 24 meeting rooms, an event space accommodating over 1,000 attendees, and dedicated training workshop areas.
The Garage began fostering startups since its inception in April 2022 in collaboration with various partners, including Google for Startups and the National Technology Development Program, KAUST Destination Deep Tech, and the Ministry of Investment.
The accelerator offers six distinct programs: Garage Plus, ACCESS Disability Technologies Accelerator, Garage Incubator, MVP Lab, GAIA Business Accelerator, and the Middle East's first iteration of the Antler program.
Garage has supported ten batches throughout these programs, encompassing over 230 startups and 450 founders from more than 50 countries.
The startups have achieved significant milestones, earning combined revenues of $6.5 million, securing investments exceeding $57.3 million, and engaging in extensive training programs.
Moreover, The Garage hosted over 40 events, with the participation of 150 local and international startups and attendance surpassing 3,500 guests, including partners, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.
The inauguration of Garage marks a significant step in the startup ecosystem, locally and globally, as it allows entrepreneurs to join a comprehensive community of partners and founders.
Garage was first introduced at the inaugural Leap Conference in 2022, positioning itself as a primary hub for Saudi and global promising ventures from the heart of Riyadh.
