Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2026 will see the return of the Startup Den event, providing hospitality entrepreneurs with an opportunity to enhance their presence before investors and industry leaders, benefit from mentorship and funding opportunities, expand their network, and explore new horizons for growth and expansion.

The “Startup Platform” is one of the most anticipated events within the Future Hospitality Summit, as it provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to showcase their ideas, projects, products and services to an elite group of leaders in the hospitality and tourism sectors worldwide, in addition to building a professional network and presenting their projects to a judging panel that includes a group of the most prominent experts and specialists in the sector.

The finalists for the Startup Platform at the Future Hospitality Summit in Saudi Arabia this year include: Abdulrahman Joud, co-founder and CEO of Imtithal; Rakan Alrasheed, founder and CEO of Arabian Haven; Noura Alsdon, founder of High Home; Michaela Johnston, founder of Real Stay; Sabreen Shennawy, CEO of Monsabo; and Fayez Ali, director at Chief Paisa Merchant Payments. The participants will present their pitches live to the audience and a judging panel. The winner will receive a complimentary pass to the World Future Hospitality Summit, hosted by Dubai this September, along with select meetings with leading investment and venture capital firms.

Ali Shahid, CEO of The Bench, the organizer of the Future Hospitality Summit, said: “Innovation, creativity, and sustainability are key pillars of the Future Hospitality Summit’s vision in Saudi Arabia, while entrepreneurship continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the growth and development of the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism sectors. The Startup Platform is witnessing continuous expansion year after year, attracting innovative ideas, solutions, products, and services from entrepreneurs who have the potential to make a tangible impact on the sector and reshape its landscape. The Platform team and the judging panel are continuing their preparations to receive a new batch of outstanding submissions this year, and we look forward to announcing the winner during the Future Hospitality Summit in Saudi Arabia later this month.”

Eligibility criteria for the Startup Platform include companies offering products or services in the fields of hotel technology, restaurant and food and beverage technology, food delivery and last-mile logistics, cloud kitchens and virtual brands, travel and tourism, data analytics, sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards, and fintech tailored to the hospitality sector. Applicants must be active in the hospitality or food and beverage technology sectors, based in the Middle East or aiming to expand into the MENA region, have between 2 and 50 employees, annual revenue not exceeding US$3 million, and funding not exceeding US$2 million. Full terms and conditions are available via the dedicated website.

This year’s judging panel includes: Reema Al-Yahya, Vice President at Mirak Capital; Yasser Faisal Al-Sharif, CEO of Tour Act; and Saad Shubeir, Senior Director at Takamul Ventures.

Last year’s edition of the Startup Platform at the Future Hospitality Summit in Saudi Arabia saw Asif Aldeenah, founder and CEO of Intello AI, win for the UK’s first AI-powered concierge service. This service combines interactive AI with smart agents to engage with guests and enhance hotel operations. Aldeenah is a prominent figure in hotel technology, with over a decade of experience developing innovative solutions for the hospitality sector. Since his win in Riyadh last year, Intello AI has participated in both the World Future Hospitality Summit and the Future Hospitality Africa Summit, where it secured its first major client through a partnership with City Blue Hotels.

Asif Al-Deena said: “Last year was a very important milestone for Intilo AI, as winning the Startup Platform opened up broad horizons and multiple opportunities to connect with hotel operators, owners and investors, not only in the Middle East region, but also in other global markets. We appreciate the role played by The Bench and the Future Hospitality Summit in supporting our journey, and we wish all participants in this year’s Startup Platform every success during the summit and in their future growth stages.”

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