The entrepreneurship environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing rapid growth supported by specialized initiatives and centers, among the most prominent is “Karaj,” which plays a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of startups and transforming innovative ideas into promising projects. “Karaj” provides support, guidance, and necessary resources to entrepreneurs, contributing to enhancing their ability to compete and achieve their ambitions in a rapidly evolving market.

In the fast-paced entrepreneurship scene, “Karaj” stands out as a platform that embraces ideas and drives them from vision to achievement. The place is no longer just an incubator for startups but has become an integrated environment that accelerates growth, opens new horizons for young ambitions, and provides support tools and guidance to turn dreams into competitive and impactful projects.

In the heart of historic Diriyah, “Karaj” pulses as a vital center for innovation and entrepreneurship. It is not just a workspace but a comprehensive community and nurturing environment that ignites the first spark of ideas, accelerates startup growth, and transforms ambitious visions into tangible realities. Here, the future is made.

The idea of Karaj began with a firm belief in the capabilities of Saudi youth and the latent energy in the Kingdom’s innovative environment. Inspired by the spirit of the traditional “karaj” as a place for raw innovation and bold experiments, a historic industrial space was transformed into a modern edifice combining the essence of the past with future aspirations.

Karaj encourages thinking outside the box, experimentation, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. It is committed to providing entrepreneurs with the resources and guidance necessary to turn their ideas into sustainable and successful businesses.

Karaj’s startup valuation exceeded 3.7 billion SAR within the “Incubator” and “Accelerator” programs aimed at accelerating the growth of startups in various technical fields. Karaj provides a stimulating and supportive environment for innovation, enhancing the ability of innovators and entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.

Through startups, Karaj has contributed to creating more than 7,000 job opportunities and supporting over 600 local and international companies from more than 60 countries, stimulating innovation and competitiveness across various sectors. Karaj also includes several programs dedicated to accelerating business growth, such as the “Accelerator” program for companies that have passed the prototype stage aiming to speed up the launch phase, and the “Incubator” program dedicated to deep-tech companies in early stages up to the prototype.

Karaj offers a range of benefits for tech startups, including access to investors, participation in major conferences and events, provision of private and shared offices, issuing support letters for investment licenses, and training programs in partnership with leading global companies. Karaj aims to empower innovators and creators in the tech sector and support their innovations to meet the needs of the local and global labor market.

Karaj Academy is one of the recent initiatives launched in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, offering a variety of advanced training programs in collaboration with many global partners, contributing to developing entrepreneurs’ skills and enhancing their chances of success.

Karaj was launched during the Leap 22 conference as a leading destination to empower startups in technical fields, in partnership between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

Karaj includes the “Accelerator,” a program dedicated to tech startups that have passed the prototype stage, aiming to support company expansion and provide consulting support and intensive training to accelerate the launch phase. Benefits include private offices, entry into the Boost program, access to investors, foreign investment licenses, and networking. The “Incubator” supports entrepreneurs in early stages up to the prototype by providing a dedicated workspace and workshops to develop the concept into a testable initial product. Benefits include shared offices, entry into the Boost program, access to investors, foreign investment licenses, networking, specialized workshops, access to KACST labs, mentors, and trainers.

Karaj works to simplify corporate innovation by linking major companies with leading entrepreneurs, working side by side to achieve goals, enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, discover innovative production lines, and identify promising companies that may become future partners.

More than 600 tech startups have graduated from Karaj and its hosted academy programs. The total number of jobs generated by these companies, both direct and indirect, exceeds 7,500. The valuation of startups at Karaj has surpassed 3.7 billion SAR over two years.