More than 1,000 investors representing over $14.3 trillion in combined assets under management are expected to gather in Riyadh for LEAP 2026, as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen its position as a global hub for technology investment, venture capital and emerging innovation.
The fifth edition of LEAP will take place from August 31 through September 3, bringing together investors from more than 900 firms alongside founders, technology companies and other industry participants. The event follows LEAP 2025, which generated $14.9 billion in announced investments.
LEAP 2026 Puts Technology Investment at Center Stage
Organizers are positioning this year’s conference as more than a technology showcase, with a greater emphasis on connecting investment capital directly with companies seeking to expand.
Capital strategy will play a central role in the program. In addition to the Investor Stage, LEAP will offer pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings between startups and investors.
A broader matchmaking program will connect fund managers, capital providers, exhibitors and VIP participants. The LEAP app will also use AI-powered matchmaking to help attendees identify investors, founders and companies relevant to their business objectives.
For U.S. investors and technology companies looking toward international growth markets, the conference provides access to Saudi Arabia’s expanding technology ecosystem as well as investors and companies from other global markets.
Major Global and Saudi Investors Confirm Attendance
The investor roster includes prominent Saudi and international financial institutions and venture capital firms.
Confirmed participants include the Public Investment Fund, General Atlantic, HUMAIN, Aramco Ventures, Merak Capital, Impact46, 500 Global, Sanabil Investments, Raed Ventures, J.P. Morgan, STV, Gobi Partners, Morgan Stanley and MSA Capital, among others.
Saudi Arabia Expands Role in Global Technology Investment
Mazin Alzaidi, General Partner at STV, said the conference has developed into an increasingly significant meeting point for technology companies and investors.
“LEAP has become an increasingly important platform for bringing together the founders, investors, and industry leaders shaping the future of technology. As AI continues to transform industries worldwide, the ability to connect ambitious entrepreneurs with experienced investors and strategic partners has never been more critical. The concentration of innovation, capital, and global expertise at LEAP reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a destination for technology investment and long-term growth.”
Beyond direct investor meetings, Ecosystem Xchange will focus on investment readiness, market access, cross-border collaboration and support for companies entering new markets. Activities will include partner-led workshops, startup pitches and ecosystem showcases.
LEAP Connect will provide another networking environment for investors, founders and industry executives, while the Rocket Fuel program will connect selected startups with venture capital firms, institutional investors and strategic partners.
Rocket Fuel Startups Compete for $1 Million
Rocket Fuel, LEAP’s flagship startup competition, will feature 100 companies selected from more than 3,000 applications worldwide.
The startups represent more than 40 nationalities, 12 sectors and over 60 subsectors. Participants will pitch for a combined $1 million in equity-free funding.
Companies selected for the competition include Think AI, Zinki AI, Annot8, EleeN, Uvera, RightNowAI, DuoKey and AtomicaAI.
Startup Connections Can Extend Beyond the Conference
Organizers point to Saudi startup Ejari as an example of how connections formed during LEAP can lead to longer-term investment.
Ejari initially connected with an investor at LEAP 2023 and later secured a $400,000 investment that helped accelerate its expansion across Saudi Arabia. The company is returning for LEAP 2026.
The example reflects the conference’s broader effort to move beyond startup presentations by creating relationships that can lead to financing, market entry and commercial expansion.
LEAP Seeks to Turn Innovation Into Commercial Growth
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice-President and Co-Creator of LEAP, said the conference’s development over its first five years reflects an effort to connect technology innovation with practical investment opportunities.
“When LEAP launched five years ago, our ambition was to create more than a technology event. We wanted to build a platform where the people shaping the future of technology could come together to create lasting impact. Today, LEAP has become a place where ideas attract investment, partnerships drive innovation and emerging technologies scale into real businesses. That’s what makes LEAP different, and that’s the future we’re continuing to build.”
With more than $14.3 trillion in assets under management represented by participating investors, LEAP 2026 is set to bring substantial global capital into one venue. The conference’s focus on artificial intelligence, venture funding, startup growth and cross-border investment also underscores Riyadh’s increasing prominence in the international technology sector.
As LEAP enters its fifth edition, the August 31 to September 3 gathering will test how effectively those connections between investors and emerging companies translate into new financing, partnerships and long-term business growth.
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