Biban 2025: Monsha'at, Standard Chartered Collaborate to Empower Women in Tech
Saudi entrepreneurs showcase digital innovations as authority partners with bank to support women-led startups.
Riyadh: The Biban 2025 Forum highlighted the growing influence of Saudi women in entrepreneurship, especially within technology sectors.
Female-founded companies made up approximately 18.5% of the over 1,000 businesses at the 'Startups Gateway' segment of the event.
This presence underscores an increasing trend in which women are playing a more significant role in Saudi Arabia's startup ecosystem—particularly in fields such as tech, creative industries, and services.
The startups spanned various domains including IT communications, digital healthcare, innovative financial solutions, culture, entertainment, and trade.
Many of these firms presented business models based on digital technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to cater to both local and regional markets.
The Startups Gateway at Biban provides practical support for entrepreneurs through investor pitch sessions, exhibition spaces, and networking zones with accelerators and enablers.
One-on-one meetings are also facilitated to assist startups in accessing funding, partnerships, and distribution channels.
These efforts align with Monsha'at's strategy to empower women entrepreneurs by offering programs focused on business establishment, capacity development, market access, and investor connections.
Biban 2025, held from November 5th to 8th at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme "A Global Destination for Opportunities," serves as a national platform and international opportunity hub.
It aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia's entrepreneurial environment in line with Vision 2030 by encouraging private sector participation and promoting women's economic roles.
Additionally, Monsha'at signed an agreement with Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia at the forum to collaborate on the 'Women and Technology' Future Makers Program, a global initiative aimed at supporting female tech startup founders.
The memorandum was signed by Saud Al-Sabhan, Deputy Governor for Entrepreneurship at Monsha'at, and Mazen Al-Bunyan, CEO of Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia.
The Women in Tech program, now in its third round in the Kingdom, aims to enhance gender diversity within the tech sector.
Initiated under Standard Chartered's global Future Makers program, it has provided mentorship support to 30 Saudi startups with nine receiving a combined $145,000 non-equity seed funding to expand their businesses.
This partnership reinforces Monsha'at's focus on collaborating with international financial institutions in order to bolster women-led enterprises and contribute to economic growth and innovation.
Female-founded companies made up approximately 18.5% of the over 1,000 businesses at the 'Startups Gateway' segment of the event.
This presence underscores an increasing trend in which women are playing a more significant role in Saudi Arabia's startup ecosystem—particularly in fields such as tech, creative industries, and services.
The startups spanned various domains including IT communications, digital healthcare, innovative financial solutions, culture, entertainment, and trade.
Many of these firms presented business models based on digital technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to cater to both local and regional markets.
The Startups Gateway at Biban provides practical support for entrepreneurs through investor pitch sessions, exhibition spaces, and networking zones with accelerators and enablers.
One-on-one meetings are also facilitated to assist startups in accessing funding, partnerships, and distribution channels.
These efforts align with Monsha'at's strategy to empower women entrepreneurs by offering programs focused on business establishment, capacity development, market access, and investor connections.
Biban 2025, held from November 5th to 8th at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center under the theme "A Global Destination for Opportunities," serves as a national platform and international opportunity hub.
It aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia's entrepreneurial environment in line with Vision 2030 by encouraging private sector participation and promoting women's economic roles.
Additionally, Monsha'at signed an agreement with Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia at the forum to collaborate on the 'Women and Technology' Future Makers Program, a global initiative aimed at supporting female tech startup founders.
The memorandum was signed by Saud Al-Sabhan, Deputy Governor for Entrepreneurship at Monsha'at, and Mazen Al-Bunyan, CEO of Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia.
The Women in Tech program, now in its third round in the Kingdom, aims to enhance gender diversity within the tech sector.
Initiated under Standard Chartered's global Future Makers program, it has provided mentorship support to 30 Saudi startups with nine receiving a combined $145,000 non-equity seed funding to expand their businesses.
This partnership reinforces Monsha'at's focus on collaborating with international financial institutions in order to bolster women-led enterprises and contribute to economic growth and innovation.
