Saudi Deep Tech Needs Builders, Not Just Funding

Deep tech in Saudi isn’t lacking ideas. It’s lacking structured company creation. Funding alone won’t fix that. Builders will.

What’s missing

• A repeatable path from university IP to investable startup.

• Fair, founder-friendly equity models so future rounds don’t choke.

• Execution muscle: market validation, regulated pathways, and enterprise pilots.

My view of a working model

1. Sourcing: Proactively scout IP from universities, research centers, and corporate labs. Map it to real Saudi problems (energy, health, sustainability, industrial).

2. Venture Design: Pressure-test use-cases with end buyers in weeks, not months. Start with the specification of a first pilot, not a theoretical TAM slide.

3. Equity Discipline: Venture builders should take low, aligned equity with milestone-based step-ups—not land-grabs on Day 1.

4. Capital Stack: Blend grants, corporate PoC budgets, and seed checks. Movable pieces: non-dilutive grants to de-risk, then angels/VCs to accelerate.

5. Governance & Speed: Tight ICs, clear gates (TRL/MRL), and rapid kill/commit decisions.

Why this matters now

• Universities are producing more applied research than ever.

• Corporates need credible PoCs, not “innovation theater.”

• Global capital is watching Saudi. We should be shipping investable companies, not just reports.

Bottom line: If we want a deep-tech scene, we need professional venture builders with fair terms, industry-grade validation, and a blended finance approach. Builders first. Funding follows.