OneValley and King Saud University

King Saud University and Global Silicon Valley Labs launch partnership to build a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

20th November 2019 - Unprecedented engagement for KSU students and aspiring Saudi entrepreneurs in the global innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through public-private partnership.

King Saud University (KSU) the Kingdom’s leading public university and GSVlabs, a global innovation services company headquartered in Silicon Valley, today launched an initiative to provide entrepreneurship support services to faculty and students of KSU and aspiring Saudi entrepreneurs. This new technology platform -- KSU Passport -- includes access to a global entrepreneurship community, venture capital from across the world, Saudi and international mentors and local and global resources to help build a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom. This innovative partnership is designed to support the achievement of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to create a vibrant society in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes, and ambitions to succeed in a thriving economy, and provide a platform for Saudi entrepreneurs to effectively participate in a global innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Through the KSU Passport platform, entrepreneurs at King Saud University will have access to KSU Passport, the University’s entrepreneurship platform which also includes unlimited access to GSV’s global Passport platform, the world’s largest virtual innovation center. Developed by GSVlabs in partnership with Riyadh Valley Company, KSU Passport includes a network of Saudi investors, mentors, and programs offered by Monsha’at, the Saudi government’s SME enablement organization and other public and private organizations, to build local capabilities, create a vibrant Saudi entrepreneurship ecosystem and help entrepreneurs take their startup from idea to market. In addition, GSVlabs’ global Passport platform will provide Saudi entrepreneurs access to a global community of more than 7,500 entrepreneurs, a network of over 100 mentors, 450 investors, and over $750,000 in discounts and credits from 75 leading technology service providers including AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce and Stripe.

"Riyadh Valley Company is pleased to launch this initiative with GSVlabs by contributing to empowering KSU employees and students to reach Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurship community and the world through KSU Passport.” said Riyadh Valley Company CEO Dr. Khalid Al- Saleh. “KSU Passport will connect entrepreneurs and university students with international experts and investors, enabling them to communicate, collaborate and build relationships easily, as well as benefit from many technical and administrative services supported through their journey in the business world.”

“As emerging technologies transform societies, and digital communities make distances irrelevant, access and connectivity to a global innovation ecosystem are distinct advantages that can set countries on a differentiated and accelerated pathway to progress,” said Dr. Nikhil Sinha, CEO of GSVlabs. “Our partnership with Riyadh Valley Company and King Saud University represents a milestone in GSVlabs’ expansion into the Middle East. “We are fully committed to supporting the Vision 2030 objectives and realizing the Kingdom’s potential to emerge as a diversified knowledge and technology-based economy.”

This partnership is part of GSVlabs’ deployment of Passport for Organizations which supports organizations around the world to manage and grow their entrepreneurial and innovation activity.

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ABOUT KING SAUD UNIVERSITY

King Saud University (KSU), the leading, knowledge-sharing university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia focuses on the highest quality of education, research, and entrepreneurship in order to prepare graduates for a brighter future. KSU aims to disseminate and promote knowledge in Saudi Arabia, widening its base of scientific and literary expertise, maintaining a competitive edge with other nations in the fields of Arts and Sciences, and contributing to discovery and invention. In addition, King Saud University strives to contribute to the revival of academic and scientific excellence of Islamic civilization and the articulation of its benefits and glories.

Learn More About King Saud University

ABOUT RIYADH VALLEY COMPANY

Riyadh Valley Company (RVC) serves as the investment arm of King Saud University, motivating the adoption of innovation culture in investment environments, encouraging entrepreneurship and exploiting tremendous research capabilities available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. RVC explores investment opportunities both nationally and internationally and holds strategic partnerships with governmental and private bodies inside and outside Saudi Arabia

Learn More About Riyadh Valley Company

ABOUT GSVLABS

Global Silicon Valley Labs - GSVlabs - is a worldwide innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley with over 7,000 members, 700 startups, 450 investors and 75 enterprise partners in our network. Our mission is to create the world’s premier global innovation platform - empowering entrepreneurs and democratizing innovation around the world. We create powerful network effects by supporting entrepreneurs, accelerating startups and enabling innovation in the world’s largest companies. We catalyse the world’s innovation ecosystem, and through our new digital platform GSV Passport connect Silicon Valley to the World and the World to Silicon Valley.

Learn More About GSVlabs

Learn More About Passport