LEAP 2026 draws investors managing $14.3 trillion to Riyadh

LEAP 2026 returns to Riyadh from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 with more than 1,000 investors from over 900 firms, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s push to become a global technology investment hub. The event will focus on pairing capital with startups through scheduled meetings, matchmaking tools and a $1 million equity-free startup competition.

Why it matters: - LEAP 2026 is positioning Riyadh as a direct meeting point for sovereign wealth, venture capital and technology founders. - More than 1,000 investors from over 900 firms are confirmed, representing $14.3 trillion in combined assets under management. - The event is designed to turn conference attendance into investment, partnerships and market expansion. - LEAP 2025 generated $14.9 billion in investment announcements, setting a high bar for this year’s deal-making.

What happened: - LEAP returns to Riyadh from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 for its fifth edition. - The event will bring together investors, founders and market-ready companies. - Confirmed investors include Public Investment Fund, General Atlantic, HUMAIN, Aramco Ventures, Merak Capital, Impact46, 500 Global, Sanabil Investments, Raed Ventures, J.P. Morgan, STV, Gobi Partners, Morgan Stanley and MSA Capital. - Ticket information and programme details are available on One Giant Leap.

The details: - The Investor Stage will anchor the capital-focused agenda. - Pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings will connect startups directly with investors. - A broader matchmaking programme will also link fund managers, capital providers, exhibitors and VIPs. - AI-powered matchmaking in the LEAP app will help participants identify relevant investors, founders and businesses. - Ecosystem Xchange will focus on market access, investment readiness, soft-landing support and cross-border collaboration. - Ecosystem Xchange programming includes partner-led workshops, startup pitches and ecosystem showcases. - LEAP Connect will provide a dedicated networking environment for investors, founders and industry leaders. - Rocket Fuel will connect selected startups with venture capital firms, institutional investors and strategic partners. - Rocket Fuel selected 100 startups from more than 3,000 applications worldwide. - The participating startups represent more than 40 nationalities, 12 sectors and over 60 subsectors. - Rocket Fuel finalists will pitch live for $1 million in equity-free funding. - Participating companies include Think AI, Zinki AI, Annot8, EleeN, Uvera, RightNowAI, DuoKey and AtomicaAI.

Between the lines: - LEAP is moving beyond a technology showcase and into a capital allocation platform. - The mix of sovereign wealth, global banks, venture firms and startups signals a broad attempt to make Riyadh a recurring stop for deal flow. - The startup competition is also serving as proof of concept for LEAP’s ability to create outcomes beyond event-week visibility. - Saudi startup Ejari first met an investor at LEAP 2023, later secured a $400,000 investment and returned to LEAP 2026 as an example of the event’s commercial impact. - Mazin Alzaidi, general partner at STV, said LEAP is increasingly important for bringing together founders, investors and industry leaders shaping the future of technology. - Annabelle Mander, executive vice-president and co-creator of LEAP, said the event was built to create lasting impact and help ideas attract investment and scale into real businesses.

What's next: - LEAP 2026 will run through Sept. 3 in Riyadh. - Selected Rocket Fuel startups will compete live for funding during the event. - Organizers are using the platform to deepen long-term investor-founder connections and expand Saudi Arabia’s technology investment footprint. - More information about Tahaluf is available on the company’s website.

The bottom line: - LEAP 2026 is doubling down on Saudi Arabia’s pitch as a global hub where capital, startups and technology scale together.