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University programme · Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

TAQADAM Startup Accelerator

KAUST's six-month hybrid accelerator, run with SAB, gives teams US$40,000 after a bootcamp and up to US$100,000 more at an annual showcase, in non-dilutive funding; founders of any nationality can apply.

Status unknown Run by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), with SAB

Visit the programme's site

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
US$40,000 US$40,000 at the close of the bootcamp; ten startups can receive follow-on funding of US$100,000 each at the annual showcase, for up to US$140,000 per startup.
Instrument
Grant
Equity taken
not published KAUST describes the funding as non-dilutive.
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
Hybrid
Stages
Pre-seed, seed, post-seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
Anywhere
Perks
  • Mentoring
  • Visa and flight support for international founders attending in-person events

Six-month programme, mostly virtual with some sessions at KAUST. Up to 60 startups are selected for the pre-accelerator bootcamp each year.

Application dates

Status unknown

Dates not published. One cohort a year ending in an annual investor showcase; the site takes registrations of interest when applications are not open.

Usual timing: One cohort a year ending in an annual investor showcase; the site takes registrations of interest when applications are not open.

Who can apply

  • Open to all nationalities, with no age limit
  • At least two founders per team
  • International startups plan to expand to Saudi Arabia within one year of the programme start
  • Not enrolled in another accelerator during the programme, except case by case
  • Stage: pre-seed, seed, post-seed

What founders should check

  1. Equity: KAUST describes the funding as non-dilutive. Ask for the exact stake before you accept a place.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It mixes remote and in-person sessions in Thuwal. Ask how much time on site it expects.
  4. Dates for the next cohort are not published. One cohort a year ending in an annual investor showcase; the site takes registrations of interest when applications are not open.

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