Women Drive Growth at Biban 2025 Startups Track
Female entrepreneurs accounted for 18.5% of startups at Biban 2025, showcasing innovation in tech, digital solutions, and creative sectors while gaining access to investors and support programs.
At the Biban 2025 Forum in Riyadh, women entrepreneurs made a notable impact at the “Startups Gateway” track, representing roughly 18.5 percent of over 1,000 participating startups. Their strong presence highlights the expanding role of women in Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial landscape, particularly in technology, creative industries, and service sectors.
Female-led startups spanned a wide range of industries, including communications, information technology, digital health, innovative financial services, culture, entertainment, and trade. Many of these startups are built on digital solutions, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, offering scalable products for local and regional markets.
The Startups Gateway track provides practical support for entrepreneurs through live investor pitch sessions, exhibition booths, and networking zones that connect startups with accelerators and enablers. One-on-one meetings also facilitate access to financing, partnerships, and distribution channels, helping women-led startups grow and thrive.
Monsha’at, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, continues to empower women entrepreneurs through programs targeting business establishment, capacity building, and market access. Initiatives like these align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost private sector participation and strengthen the role of women in driving economic growth.
During the forum, Monsha’at signed a memorandum of understanding with Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia to collaborate on the “Women and Technology” Future Makers Program. This global acceleration initiative supports female founders of technology-based startups. The agreement was signed by Saud Al-Sabhan, deputy governor for Entrepreneurship at Monsha’at, and Mazen Al-Bunyan, CEO of Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia.
Now in its third year in the Kingdom, the Women in Tech program has already supported 30 Saudi startups with mentorship, nine of which received a combined $145,000 in non-equity seed funding. The program strengthens gender diversity and inclusion in the technology sector while enabling women-led startups to scale their businesses effectively.
This collaboration highlights Monsha’at’s strategy of building partnerships with international financial institutions to support women entrepreneurs, demonstrating their growing influence in driving innovation and economic development in Saudi Arabia.
