A total of 100 startups from 46 countries have qualified for the finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) 2025, which will take place in Riyadh as part of the Biban 2025 forum.

The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) is organizing the event, which is scheduled for November 5–8 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre. The theme is “A Global Destination for Opportunity.”

According to the Saudi Press Agency, hosting the EWC finals within Biban 2025 underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global innovation and entrepreneurship. It also reflects the Kingdom’s progress in attracting international startups, investment, and talent, supporting its Vision 2030 economic diversification and sustainable development goals.

Recognized as one of the world’s largest entrepreneurship competitions, this year’s Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is being held by Monsha’at, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Misk Foundation.

Finalists will compete for a share of over $1.5 million in prize funding in an event expected to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from around the world, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for innovation and enterprise.

The competition received more than 10,300 applications from 169 countries, with entries undergoing a multi-stage evaluation process that began in May. From this pool, 250 startups advanced to a virtual training camp organized with Esade Ramon Llull University in Spain, where the top 100 finalists were selected.

Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom are among the countries with the strongest representation in this year’s finals. The selected startups span various emerging sectors, including communications, health, and space technologies.

Beyond the competition, the EWC provides a global platform for entrepreneurs to engage with investors and venture capital funds. Finalists also benefit from mentorship, training, and networking programs designed to refine their business models and support the international scaling of their ventures.