Two-hundred-fifty startups from 81 countries have qualified for the Entrepreneurship World Cup virtual bootcamp, held in collaboration with Esade Ramon Llull University.

The qualified startups are distributed by their stage of development: 9% are in the idea stage, 51% are in the seed stage, and 40% are in the growth stage. Notably, 12% of the projects specialize in space technology, highlighting a growing trend of innovation in new and promising sectors globally.

The global finals of the competition will be hosted in Riyadh by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), in partnership with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk) and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, reflecting the Kingdom's rising prominence as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The three-day virtual bootcamp will include theoretical and practical sessions, along with 20 specialized workshops. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with over five local and international investors and connect with nine entities within the Saudi entrepreneurship ecosystem. Ultimately, 100 projects will qualify for the global finals, to be held during the Biban Forum in Riyadh.

This year's competition saw unprecedented interest, with more than 10,000 businesses from 169 countries applying—double the number of entries from last year.

The Entrepreneurship World Cup is the largest competition of its kind, bringing the world’s top 100 startups to Riyadh to compete for  $1.5 million in cash prizes, as well as investment opportunities and strategic partnerships. Hosting this event reinforces Riyadh's position as a global center for innovation and entrepreneurship and its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs.