TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST)
TAQADAM is King Abdullah University of Science and Technology's (KAUST) startup accelerator, run in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB). It is a six-month hybrid program. It starts with a pre-accelerator bootcamp, and teams that advance receive $40,000 in non-dilutive funding, mentorship and workshops. The top startups at the annual showcase receive a further $100,000 each. It accepts founders of any nationality, but international startups need a plan to expand to Saudi Arabia within a year.
At a glance
TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) key facts
- Investment
- $40K
- Equity
- No equity
- Deal terms
- Non-dilutive: $40,000 to every accepted team, plus $100,000 each to the top 10 at the annual showcase (up to $140,000 total per startup)
- Duration
- 6 months
- Format
- Hybrid
- Headquarters
- Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Cohort locations
- Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Stage
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Sectors
- general, deep tech, ai, health
- Application cycle
- 1 cohort a year
Verified November 4, 2026 against the sources below. Terms change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Timing
Cohort 10 applications closed July 5, 2026 (after a two-week extension), and the cohort is now in its six-month program. Cohort 9 (20 startups) finished with an investor showcase in late April 2026, where 10 startups won $100K each. The next call is expected after Cohort 10 ends; no date is published.
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Notable alumni
- Rize
- Faheem
- AlGooru
FAQ
Applying to TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST)
- How much does TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) invest?
- TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST)'s standard deal: Non-dilutive: $40,000 to every accepted team, plus $100,000 each to the top 10 at the annual showcase (up to $140,000 total per startup).
- How much equity does TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) take?
- TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) takes no equity.
- When is the TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) application deadline?
- Application cycle: 1 cohort a year. Cohort 10 applications closed July 5, 2026 (after a two-week extension), and the cohort is now in its six-month program. Cohort 9 (20 startups) finished with an investor showcase in late April 2026, where 10 startups won $100K each. The next call is expected after Cohort 10 ends; no date is published.
- Where is TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) based?
- TAQADAM Startup Accelerator (KAUST) is headquartered in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The program runs hybrid. Cohorts run in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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