LEAP returns to Riyadh from August 31 to September 3 for its fifth edition, with more than 1,000 investors from over 900 firms representing $14.3 trillion in combined assets under management confirmed to attend, reinforcing Riyadh's growing position as a global destination for technology investment.
LEAP 2025 saw $14.9 billion in investment announcements. Now entering its fifth edition, LEAP is evolving beyond a showcase for innovation into a platform designed to connect capital with companies ready to scale, with a programme that brings investors, founders and market-ready opportunities together.
Capital strategy sits at the heart of LEAP 2026. Alongside the Investor Stage, pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings will connect startups directly with investors, supported by a wider matchmaking programme for fund managers, capital providers, exhibitors and VIPs. AI-powered matchmaking through the LEAP app will also help participants identify and connect with relevant investors, founders and businesses across the event.
The programme extends beyond direct investor matching. Ecosystem Xchange will focus on market access, investment readiness, soft-landing support and cross-border collaboration through partner-led workshops, startup pitches and ecosystem showcases. LEAP Connect will provide a dedicated networking environment for investors, founders and industry leaders to build relationships beyond formal meetings, while Rocket Fuel will connect selected startups with venture capital firms, institutional investors and strategic partners.
Leading Saudi and international investors confirmed to attend include Public Investment Fund (PIF), General Atlantic, HUMAIN, Aramco Ventures, Merak Capital, Impact46, 500 Global, Sanabil Investments, Raed Ventures, J.P. Morgan, STV, Gobi Partners, Morgan Stanley and MSA Capital among others.
Mazin Alzaidi, General Partner at STV commented: “LEAP has become an increasingly important platform for bringing together the founders, investors, and industry leaders shaping the future of technology. As AI continues to transform industries worldwide, the ability to connect ambitious entrepreneurs with experienced investors and strategic partners has never been more critical. The concentration of innovation, capital, and global expertise at LEAP reflects Saudi Arabia's growing role as a destination for technology investment and long-term growth.”
Rocket Fuel, LEAP's flagship startup competition, has become a launchpad for high-growth startups expanding into Saudi Arabia, connecting founders with investors, customers, government stakeholders and strategic partners. Selected from more than 3,000 applications worldwide, 100 startups representing more than 40 nationalities across 12 sectors and over 60 subsectors will pitch live for USD 1 million in equity-free funding. Participating companies include Think AI, Zinki AI, Annot8, EleeN, Uvera, RightNowAI, DuoKey and AtomicaAI.
LEAP's impact doesn't end when the event closes. Saudi startup Ejari first connected with an investor at LEAP 2023 before securing a $400,000 investment that accelerated its expansion across Saudi Arabia. Returning to LEAP 2026, the company demonstrates how connections made at the event can translate into investment and long-term commercial growth.
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice-President and Co-Creator of LEAP, said: "When LEAP launched five years ago, our ambition was to create more than a technology event. We wanted to build a platform where the people shaping the future of technology could come together to create lasting impact. Today, LEAP has become a place where ideas attract investment, partnerships drive innovation and emerging technologies scale into real businesses. That's what makes LEAP different, and that's the future we're continuing to build." -TradeArabia News Service
