As Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve, bringing founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders together is key to creating new opportunities, sharing insights, and supporting businesses as they scale.

To bring these communities together, COLABS Narjis, in collaboration with Deloitte Private and DotZero, hosted the Founders & Funders KSA Mixer | Fast 50 Edition, bringing together founders, funders, and ecosystem leaders from across Riyadh for an evening of conversations around entrepreneurship, investment, and what it takes to build and scale companies in the Kingdom. The event marked one of the first initiatives of its kind from the Riyadh campus, bringing the wider startup community together at COLABS Narjis.

The event also came at a meaningful moment for COLABS, following our feature in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Middle East and Cyprus report. COLABS was highlighted in the report’s Spotlight section alongside organizations including KAUST, Plug and Play, and Dubai Founders HQ, as part of a curated group of ecosystem providers and operators helping shape innovation across the region.

A key highlight of the evening was the panel discussion, “Built to Scale: Inside the Kingdom’s Fastest Growing Companies.” Hosted by Riley Gonta, Head of Growth at DotZero, the conversation featured Lateefa Alwaalan, Managing Director at Endeavor Saudi; Waleed Talat, Founder & CEO of Arib; and Omar Shah, Founder & CEO of COLABS.

The discussion explored the realities of scaling businesses in Saudi Arabia, from building strong foundations and navigating growth challenges to understanding investment opportunities in a rapidly developing market. Each speaker shared insights from their own experience, highlighting the importance of strategic decision-making, strong networks, and the right support system as companies move through different stages of growth.

Following the panel, founders, funders, and ecosystem leaders had the opportunity to connect through open networking, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. The conversations throughout the evening reflected the value of bringing different parts of the entrepreneurial community together and creating opportunities for relationships to develop beyond the event itself.

At COLABS, we’re committed to creating spaces where ambitious people can connect, exchange ideas, and build what’s next. Through initiatives like the Founders & Funders KSA Mixer, we’re continuing to support the founders, investors, and businesses shaping the future of entrepreneurship in the Kingdom.