KAUST Innovation Fund

KAUST Innovation Ventures, the venture capital arm of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), focuses on funding early-stage deep tech startups that address significant scientific and technological challenges. The fund invests in sectors such as energy, environment, food, water, advanced materials, robotics, ICT, and health, aligning closely with KAUST's main research areas. The fund supports startups from seed stages, with investments typically ranging from less than $200,000 to up to $2 million. KAUST Innovation Ventures not only provides financial backing but also strategic support, helping startups transition from research to commercialization through its comprehensive innovation ecosystem, which includes the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center and Technology Transfer Office. Notable startups backed by KAUST include Red Sea Farms, which uses saltwater-tolerant crops to address food security and water scarcity in arid regions, and Sadeem, a company developing multi-patented sensor solutions for flood, traffic, weather, and air quality monitoring​. These investments highlight KAUST's commitment to fostering innovation that has a significant impact on both the local Saudi economy and global markets.