Conclusion of the "Saudi Growth Accelerator P16" program in Riyadh organized by Flow and IFC in partnership with Parachute 16

SadaNews - The Flow business accelerator, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Parachute 16, concluded the Saudi Growth Accelerator P16 program, a year-long initiative designed to support Palestinian startups in expanding into the Saudi market. The Demo Day, hosted at "The Garage" in Riyadh, served as the program's final event, organized collaboratively between Parachute 16 and the Innovative Private Sector Development Project (IPSD) to maximize resource and expertise utilization to serve regional entrepreneurship.

Throughout the year, the program provided participating startups with a comprehensive package of support designed to accelerate their readiness to enter the dynamic Saudi market. The components included:

•    Company Assessment: Conducting a thorough evaluation of startups to identify projects with the highest potential for commercial success in Saudi Arabia, ensuring their readiness for regional expansion and capacity to attract subsequent investments.

•    Market Understanding and Preparation: Intensive engagement to gain in-depth knowledge of the Saudi business environment, with on-site presence and tailored guidance providing founders with insights related to their sectors and business models.

•    Investment Readiness: Refining value propositions, improving presentation skills, and enhancing the quality of pitches to investors, which increased their ability to attract capital and business partners.

•    Business Connections: Facilitating targeted business meetings and connecting startups with key stakeholders in the Saudi market to build impactful and sustainable business relationships.

•    Legal and Commercial Foundation: Direct support to help companies comply with the legal framework, establish an official presence, register with relevant government portals, and prepare for sustainable operations in the market.

•    Access to Capital: Demo Day was a culmination of the program's efforts in accessing funding, providing companies with a direct opportunity to engage with investors, venture capital funds, and major companies in Riyadh.

During Demo Day, five out of six participating startups presented their innovative solutions to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem pioneers:

•    Zemar: A social learning platform for training centers, influencers, and communities, integrating courses, community, and monetization tools in one place, providing tailored applications and digital stores, offering Arabic support to empower creators and educators to build and develop their educational spaces.

•    DataQ: An AI voice platform that helps enterprises automate and enhance customer interactions through integration with CRM, ERP, and VOIP systems, offering products that include voice agents, real-time analytics, and agent assistance tools.

•    Flexir: An AI-powered platform to simplify compliance with global travel procedures through expedited visa processing for individuals and companies, ranging from tourist to business visas.

•    The Middle Frame: A generative AI-based solution for creating authentic Arab images, in addition to licensing image and video databases for AI companies to contribute to reducing bias and enhancing representation in smart systems.

•    Turuqat: A suite of digital solutions to facilitate access to vehicle maintenance and repair services, through a mobile application that connects car owners and drivers with trusted providers around the clock.

•    Floulish: An intelligent application that helps water facilities and farmers enhance operational efficiency and resource management through intelligent monitoring powered by AI for fault detection and cost reduction.
These six companies reflect the diversity and depth of Flow's comprehensive support model for startups, which covers the entire entrepreneurial cycle. These companies joined the Saudi Growth Accelerator program through the first assessment component via various pathways:

•    Zemar, Flexir, and Floulish participated in the Upscale program via the expansion and growth pathway.

•    The Middle Frame and DataQ participated in two consecutive Orange Corners programs in the pre-acceleration stage followed by the Upscale program. 

•    Turuqat was specifically recruited for this program as a promising project for expansion in Saudi Arabia.
The Flow accelerator is currently seeking to enhance its approach to ensure sustainable impact and growing value for startups by designing programs that not only achieve quick results but also build solid foundations for long-term success.

Flow is working to strengthen its framework to enable access to market networks and capital by mobilizing smart partnerships that connect startups with the right growth pathways. This includes expanding and deepening ties with government programs, venture capital funds, and various support organizations to build a tangible bridge connecting Palestinian entrepreneurs with the broader regional and international ecosystem.

At the core of this approach, Flow is committed to developing, maintaining, and expanding networks that provide continuous access to markets and capital, enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of acceleration efforts, and ensuring long-term impact and greater scalability for its programs and initiatives.

It is worth noting that the Saudi Growth Accelerator P16 program is part of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (EIP) in Palestine, implemented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem by improving the enabling environment, expanding access to financing, and enhancing global connections.

About the International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group and is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on empowering the private sector to address the most pressing developmental challenges worldwide. The organization works with private companies in more than 100 countries, leveraging its capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate poverty and promote shared prosperity.

About Flow Business Accelerator

Flow is the first entrepreneurial accelerator platform in Palestine that supports innovators and empowers them to turn their ideas into scalable and impactful startups with real economic and social effects. Through its integrated support model — which begins from the idea generation stage to soft landing programs — Flow provides practical pathways for market fit validation, value creation, and growth, backed by innovative financing mechanisms. With a portfolio of over 180 startups across various sectors, Flow continues to lead the journey of sustainable entrepreneurship, enhancing the Palestinian economy and connecting it to regional and global markets.