Endeavor Saudi Arabia-Backed Companies Generate $1.5 Billion in Annual Revenue

Companies supported by entrepreneurship network Endeavor Saudi Arabia generated more than $1.5 billion in revenue during 2025, reflecting the growth of businesses backed by the organisation since it began operating in the kingdom in 2012.

Managing Director Lateefa Al-Waalan told Arab News that the network had supported at least 63 entrepreneurs, benefited more than 850 companies and delivered over 2,500 hours of mentoring.

She said the combined annual revenue of companies supported by Endeavor had increased substantially since its early years.

“In Endeavor Saudi Arabia’s first four or five years, we had around nine entrepreneurs whose collective revenue did not exceed $45 million. Today, that has grown to $1.5 billion in revenue generated in 2025 alone,” Al-Waalan said.

The organisation’s work comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to expand the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in its economy under Vision 2030. The strategy aims to increase their contribution to gross domestic product from a revised baseline of 21.2 per cent to 35 per cent by 2030. Their contribution reached 22.9 per cent in 2024, exceeding that year’s target of 21.1 per cent.

Supporting entrepreneurs

Al-Waalan joined Endeavor as an entrepreneur in 2014 after founding Arabic coffee company Yatooq, which launched its brewing machine in 2013. She later established Aroom in 2016 and became managing director of Endeavor Saudi Arabia in 2018. Yatooq was sold in 2019.

She said the organisation’s selection process was designed not only to identify promising businesses but also to challenge founders and help them improve their strategies.

More than 10,000 candidates were screened globally in 2025, with 88 entrepreneurs eventually receiving unanimous approval from international selection panels. Three of those selected were from Saudi Arabia.

Al-Waalan said entrepreneurs could benefit from the assessment process even if they were not selected, as discussions often highlighted issues requiring immediate attention.

Endeavor’s international network includes more than 3,000 entrepreneurs across over 50 markets, providing members with access to business expertise and contacts that can support expansion into new countries.

Funding and talent challenges

Al-Waalan said access to early-stage funding in Saudi Arabia had improved over the past five years, partly through initiatives led by Saudi Venture Capital and Jada Fund of Funds. However, businesses seeking to expand beyond Series B funding rounds continued to face a shortage of capital.

Recruiting experienced employees was another challenge, particularly for middle-management positions, as many professionals continued to favour established companies and government organisations.

Data from Monsha’at showed that Saudi Arabia had 1.7 million active commercial registrations at the end of the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 2 per cent from the previous quarter. More than 80,000 new registrations were issued during the period.

Women-owned businesses accounted for 47 per cent of active registrations, while businesses owned by young people represented 38 per cent.

Al-Waalan said the next stage for Saudi entrepreneurship would involve helping locally developed businesses expand internationally and compete in global markets.