Our Thesis

From 2025 to Vision 2030, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has shifted strategy from rapid expansion to local ecosystem development and sustained value creation. PIF’s 2026-2030 roadmap focuses on six domestic economic ecosystems: Advanced Manufacturing, Industrials & Logistics, Clean Energy, NEOM, Urban Development, and Tourism—with explicit demand for private sector participation.

7startup is the bridge between Western deep tech startups and PIF’s ecosystem vision. We partner with proven AI, robotics, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing scaleups, connecting innovations to PIF’s strategic asset development and domestic industrial resilience priorities.

Our Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS) model combines global innovation with local execution, enabling founders to secure PIF-adjacent contracts, build competitive domestic capabilities, and scale profitably.

7startup’s VCaaS Model = Your Path to PIF Ecosystem Integration

We don’t just help our portfolio scale in Saudi Arabia, we position them to be local industrial champion .Through our VCaaS model, Western tech founders gain:

PIF Ecosystem Alignment – Technology solutions mapped to one of six strategic domestic ecosystems
Local Industrial Development – Transitioning from foreign vendor to embedded local supply chain partner, supporting PIF’s “domestically anchored investment” strategy
Strategic Asset Integration – Integration with PIF portfolio companies and giga-projects (NEOM, major industrial zones, renewable infrastructure)
Non-Oil GDP Contribution – Your revenue becomes part of PIF’s success metric: contributions to non-oil GDP (PIF contributed over $243 billion to non-oil GDP between 2021-2024)
Private Sector Leadership – Position as an ecosystem anchor or national champion with global scaling potential

7startup is the bridge between Western deep tech startups and PIF’s ecosystem vision.

Our Sectors

At 7startup, we seek proven-product, revenue-generating companies ready to scale into these strategic sectors. We localise technologies for government efficiency, defence, security, and infrastructure.

Deep Tech Scaleups

The technological advances are driving exponential data growth, opening vast opportunities in deep tech. This includes innovations beyond AI such as next-gen nuclear reactors and advanced material science. In Saudi Arabia, these breakthroughs hold the potential for transformative impact across key sectors.

Net Zero Tech

With global efforts toward a net zero future accelerating, Saudi Arabia’s commitment to this goal offers fertile ground for innovation. Scaleups in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and carbon capture are poised to benefit from this transformation.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is reshaping economies, and Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this transformation through Vision 2030. AI-driven solutions are crucial for boosting efficiency and solving challenges in energy, finance, and urban development.

Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS)

At 7startup, we don’t just provide growth capital, we deliver hands-on support and deep local expertise in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Our Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS) model combines capital investment with operational scaling to ensure that our portfolio companies succeed in this high-potential market. By managing business operations locally, we mitigate the high risks typically associated with traditional VC models, accelerating both market entry and growth.

1. Selection

We partner with post-revenue startups that are ready to scale in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing industrial and technological sectors. Our focus is on companies with at least £500k in revenue, year-over-year growth, a strong team, and defensible IP. We look for startups that have the potential to make a significant impact in the region while benefiting from our operational support and market-entry expertise.

2. POC

Our local presence in Riyadh enables us to secure Proof of Concept (POC) agreements by tapping into our network of investors, leaders, and decision-makers. This real-world validation phase allows startups to assess their product’s market potential in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging our channel partners and sales network, we rapidly scale marketing, support, and sales efforts, ensuring a fast and effective path to market.

3. Investment

In the third phase, we strategically deploy capital into validated portfolio companies through the 7startup Fund. Following successful POCs and the establishment of a robust pipeline in Saudi Arabia, these companies undergo a thorough evaluation by our investment committee. Those that meet our stringent criteria receive a blend of local in-kind and direct investments, positioning them for rapid growth in the region.

Net Zero Tech

The global push for net zero presents huge opportunities for startups in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and carbon capture. Saudi Arabia, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2060, is investing heavily in solar, wind, and the Saudi Green Initiative, making it a prime market for cleantech innovation.

Renewable Energy -ambition and the art of the possible in the search for a hydrogen economy.

Mobility and Transport – electricity from renewables and clean hydrogen are crucial for zero-emission transport, enabled by advancements in electric vehicles and smart systems.

Built Environment -smart cities of the future incorporate sustainable technologies, reducing emissions and improving efficiency.

Industrial & Business Processes – electrifying processes and leveraging digital transformation can enhance transparency and efficiency, driving innovation.

Deep Tech

We seek Deep tech startups, combining visionary ambition with pragmatic execution, to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges while delivering commercially viable results, transforming entire industries in the process.7startup builds robust sales pipelines, securing customer acquisition, and rapidly scaling business operations in Saudi Arabia.

AI & Machine Learning – We prioritize startups pushing the boundaries of AI & ML beyond application layers, focusing on real-world use cases in Saudi Arabia. These include developing deep learning algorithms for autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and manufacturing, as well as cutting-edge computer vision technologies.

Robotics -The convergence of advanced hardware, AI, and automation offers game-changing innovations. From autonomous vehicles and industrial automation to breakthroughs in logistics, supply chain, and even construction and retail, we focus on driving disruptive change in traditional sectors.

How VCaaS Transforms You

Metric 1: Ecosystem Anchor Valuation Multiplier Traditional VC invests in companies; VCaaS invests in ecosystem anchors. Your valuation multiplier isn’t just revenue growth, it’s your contribution to “leveraging synergies across strategic sectors, maximizing value for portfolio companies, and driving the growth of the local economy”. When you’re embedded in multiple PIF ecosystem projects, follow-on valuations reflect strategic importance, not just ARR.

Metric 2: Domestically Anchored Revenue Base PIF prioritizes “domestically anchored investment that strengthens Saudi industries and local supply chains.” Your Saudi revenue base isn’t volatile export opportunity—it’s a permanent, strengthened domestic foundation. This creates resilience and valuation stability.

Metric 3: Non-Oil GDP Contribution = Strategic Asset Status PIF’s success metric: contributions to non-oil GDP (PIF contributed $243B 2021-2024). Your growth becomes measurable in the Kingdom’s economic transformation framework. This creates political/strategic value beyond financial returns—PIF portfolio companies prioritize partners that strengthen this metric.

Metric 4: Supply Chain Moat + Multi-Ecosystem Scaling Once embedded in one PIF ecosystem (manufacturing, logistics, energy, NEOM), scaling to the next ecosystem is friction-free—you’re already operating locally, already integrated into PIF networks, already contributing to non-oil GDP. Your moat strengthens with each additional ecosystem anchor position.

Why Now? PIF’s 2026–2030 Ecosystem Window is Open

“The PIF 2026–2030 Strategy establishes that the PIF “enables Saudi Arabia’s private sector to invest in high-value fields by developing supply chains that use centralised infrastructure at data centres and large-scale green energy projects.

At 7startup, we are committed to backing scaleups who are shaping this future, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where Vision 2030 creates the ideal environment for Deep Tech to scale and thrive.” – Amit Khanna, CEO, 7startup