- 500 Global and Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have announced the 11th cohort of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, selecting eight early-stage startups from more than 690 applications.
- The accelerator ran from 5 April to 1 July 2026 and supports startups developing solutions across artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare, fraud prevention, insurtech, compliance, and digital content, providing mentorship, operator-led workshops, investor exposure, and access to regional and global networks.
- The selected startups are Carevision, Emtethal, IBEA, Kami, Melon Digital, Raid AI, TPP, and Xsquare, with a strong focus on AI-enabled products and infrastructure technologies addressing regional challenges.
- The programme adopted a hybrid format, delivering its first two phases remotely in response to regional market conditions, while applications for the 12th cohort are now open to startups across the MENA region.
Press release:
500 Global, a multi-stage venture capital firm, and Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announce the eleventh batch of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, a hybrid program supporting early-stage founders building in sectors critical to the region’s future. Running from April 5 to July 1, 2026, the cohort brings together a highly selective group of eight startups, chosen from more than 690 applications, with companies building across AI-driven products, fintech and payment infrastructure, healthcare diagnostics, digital risk and fraud, insurance distribution, compliance, and content and IP monetization.
For this cohort, the team looked for companies that demonstrate the potential for strong operating discipline, clear business fundamentals and a sharp focus on execution, qualities we believe are important in this region. In response to ongoing uncertainty across the Middle East, the program has adapted its format, with Phases 1 and 2 delivered fully remotely as part of its hybrid model. The approach reflects how the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global continues to evolve alongside the MENA ecosystem, giving founders practical support while maintaining the flexibility needed to build through changing market conditions.
Participating founders have received targeted mentorship, operator-led workshops, access to regional and global networks, and exposure to ecosystem stakeholders ahead of Demo Day on July 1, 2026. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all accelerator model, Batch 11 has been designed around hands-on execution support, with a particular concentration of AI-enabled and infrastructure-driven companies addressing foundational challenges in the region.
“Batch 11 reflects the rising caliber and ambition of founders building from the region today,” said Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA. “We are seeing entrepreneurs develop globally relevant companies with stronger execution, deeper innovation, and clearer paths to scale. We remain committed to empowering these founders with the capital, mentorship, and network needed to help accelerate their growth.”
A spokesperson for Sanabil Investments added, “This cohort demonstrates the strength and relevance of the region’s next generation of founders, particularly those building solutions in sectors that matter most to long-term economic resilience and growth. Through the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, we remain committed to backing ambitious entrepreneurs with access, insight, and institutional support as they scale solutions with regional and global potential.”
The Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global Batch 11 companies are:
- Carevision – An AI platform that transforms any smartphone camera into a 60-second cardiometabolic risk scanner.
- Emtethal – A computer Vision and IoT technology helping hospitality operators detect and prevent food safety and operation violations in real-time.
- IBEA – Solves late B2B payments by turning them into revenue for buyers while giving suppliers early, debt-free access to capital.
- Kami – An AI-powered tools platform empowering Gen-Z content creators to monetize their work from day one by transforming short fictional stories into immersive, multi-format experiences.
- Melon Digital – An Insurtech app providing personalized coverage, transparent pricing, and AI-powered claims processing through mobile phones.
- Raid AI – Instantly detects deepfakes across channels, helping businesses prevent losses from identity theft and fraud.
- TPP – A media intelligence company that creates and scales Arabic content, helping brands make data-driven marketing investments.
- Xsquare – Helping businesses connect their financial operations in one unified view, saving them time from navigating disconnected tools to make sense of their money.
With Batch 11 concluding in July, applications for the next cohort are open. Startups from across the MENA region are invited to join the strong and growing community of ambitious founders shaping the future of innovation in the region. Apply here.
