WELCOME TO THE

OXAGON ACCELERATOR

There’s a new wave of start-ups across the kingdom ready to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Meet the companies that have made the shortlist to participate in the first-ever OXAGON Accelerator, powered by Blossom

From labs to market

EMPOWERING INNOVATORS TO CHANGE THE WORLD

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

Shape the future by developing your start-up into an investor-ready industry powerhouse? The 12-week program will give you access to the finest minds, best resources and help build your network to attract investors.

WHAT YOU NEED

  • A great idea that solves existing sector challenges within Saudi Arabia
  • A Saudi-based business with a Saudi national co-founder or a company headquartered out of Saudi Arabia
  • Passion to change the world alongside NEOM and Oxagon
  • The ability to attend in person and commit for 12 weeks in Riyadh
  • A project or start-up no older than five years old

Pick an area to focus on

CHOOSE THE INDUSTRY YOUR START-UP IS ALIGNED WITH

  • oxagon accelerator box water

    WATER

    Advanced desalination and brine management, water recycling and smart water reuse technologies.

  • oxagon accelerator box tech

    TECHNOLOGY

    General purpose robotics and platforms security, advanced augmented reality, big data analysis and artificial intelligence.

  • oxagon accelerator box energy

    E-FUELS

    Renewable energy sources, e-fuel futuristic solutions development, 100% clean energy.

  • oxagon accelerator box energy

    GREEN HYDROGEN

    Solar and wind energy generation, desalinated water, green hydrogren production, 100% clean energy.

YOUR CHALLENGE TOPICS & FOCUS CAPABILITIES

  • Advanced sensors and internet of things

    Advanced sensors and internet of things

  • Robotics, automated vehicles and drones

    Robotics, automated vehicles and drones

  • Big data analytics and artificial intelligence

    Big data analytics and artificial intelligence

  • Material science and nanotechnology

    Material science and nanotechnology

BENEFITS OF THE ACCELERATOR

  • GAIN THE SKILLS YOU NEED
    You have an early-stage business or idea and you need to quickly accelerate your progress. Gain comprehensive insight into how a business scales efficiently and effectively. The Oxagon Accelerator program and its mentors provide you with all the skills you need to learn and develop.
  • A LEVEL UP FOR YOUR
    START-UP

    The OXAGON Accelerator gives you access to the network you need to scale up your company. You will work with OXAGON’s brightest minds and thought leaders, each offering specialized advice and invaluable knowledge gained from years of experience. We tailor your mentoring experience to you, your business and chosen sector.


  • LAUNCH YOUR IDEA TO THE WORLD

    An inclusive and diverse community of innovators focused on launching your idea, and talent, talent before a global audience. You and your business will experience a unique incubation experience that will propel your idea forward across Saudi Arabia and the world.


BIG PRIZES FOR BIG IDEAS

OXAGON SELECTED START-UPS

The greatest reward is ultimately making your idea a successful commercial reality. In addition to the support you will receive from the Oxagon mentors, you may receive financial incentives from investors – transforming your business. You will get to physically build solutions within the future-thinking city of Oxagon.

Accelerator working people

TIME TO GROW

Take Your Startup to the Next Level

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oxagon accelerator

MEET THE MENTORS

Meet the experts you will work with

  • Lisa Norcross

    Lisa Norcross

    Industrial Innovation Director

    Lisa Norcross has 26 years of experience in operations, leadership and transformation across Europe, the US and Asia. She previously worked for E.ON, McKinsey and Ford. She is establishing a research and innovation campus for developing industrial businesses at Oxagon – from labs through to market.

Our Partners

FAQ

  • It is a 12-week program that equips participants with the knowledge, resources, network and business resilience to develop and deliver their solution from lab-to-market. Oxagon’s expert partners will offer expertise and technical knowledge, in order to help local start-ups convert their ideas into thriving businesses. Set to take place in Riyadh this year, the accelerator will attract more than 100 investors from across the Middle East and North Africa – giving start-ups plenty of fundraising opportunities.

    • Attract top-tier Saudi talent to participate in the program.
    • Teach start-ups entrepreneurship, agile methods and innovation.
    • Turn ideas into viable businesses.
    • Create more deal flow for fully inclusive tech companies in Saudi Arabia.
    • Support early-stage founders and start-ups in building expert and investor networks.
    • Empower participants to solve specific challenges in important sectors.
  • Founders and visionaries with existing start-ups

  • Team sizes are three to six people. We recommend that each member brings different skills to the table (i.e. software development, engineering, finance, design, research, energy expertise). Teams will be well place if they have at least one developer, one subject matter expert and one creative person. Other than diversity of skillsets, we will also assess the diversity of your team – in terms of background, gender and neurodiversity. There are specific questions in the application that you are required to fill out in order to be assessed for admissions to the accelerator program.

  • You should apply with only one idea and focus on refining it throughout the 12-week program.

  • We will be informing people of the decision, by email, between October 1-21, 2022.

  • No. We do not guarantee direct funding. However, we do introduce you to leading venture capitalists and angel investors in the MENA ecosystem – increasing the chances of investment. If the start-up is the right fit, there also will be funding opportunities as well.

  • Absolutely. We encourage participants from as diverse backgrounds as possible, for we welcome unique perspectives. If the sectors sound interesting to you, we encourage you to apply.

  • We would recommend having at least one technical person on the team, but this is not a requirement.

  • We accept ideas and start-ups in these four main sectors:

    • Technology in the service of people: general purpose robotics and platforms security, advanced augmented reality, big data analysis and artificial intelligence.
    • Water innovation: advanced desalination and brine management, water recycling and smart water reuse technologies.
    • E-fuels: Renewable energy sources, e-fuel futuristic solutions development, 100% clean energy.
    • Green hydrogen: Solar and wind energy generation, green hydrogen production, 100% clean energy.

    Additionally, these are the technologies that should be used when developing your start-up:

    • Big data analytics and artificial intelligence
    • Advanced sensors and internet of things
    • Material science and nanotechnology
    • Robotics, automated vehicles and drones
  • To be successful, you should demonstrate all or most of the following:

    • Clear problem
    • Proposed solution that is unique    
    • Target customers
    • Feasible business model
    • Market entry plan 
    • Market size
    • Competitive advantage 
    • Working prototype, a sign of traction or early validation 
    • Diverse, versatile and committed team
    • Presentation of a solution within the four sectors, using the deep tech capabilities outlined
  • Oxagon does not sign NDAs with participants. By participating, you are consenting to openly share your project idea and relevant information related to it with other participants, the organizing team, mentors, partners and investors – and to share your idea publicly. Oxagon and the organizing team hold no responsibility for idea theft. Our policy is that we encourage participants to actually share as much as possible. We believe the idea is only 1%, while 99% of the success will come from the team’s ability to execute.

  • While we have some sessions that are bilingual, in Arabic or English, and an array of local and international speakers – the main language of instruction will be in English. This program is ideal for candidates that are bilingual, in English and Arabic. Please note, the whole start-up team does not need to speak English fluently. As long as one team member or co-founder can, this should be sufficient.

  • Yes, but not in its entirety. The accelerator is hybrid. For the in-person segment, it will be taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There are many face-to-face sessions that require at least two people from each start-up to attend in person and be willing to travel and stay in Riyadh for said specific sessions. Outside of this, attendance will be virtual. More information will be shared to accepted candidates.

    • Access to a world class network of OXAGON experts and an array of exceptional founders, and investors, in the MENA and Saudi start-up ecosystem.
    • Opportunities to get investment. We do not guarantee funding, but we can increase your chances with investors.
    • Top tier knowledge on everything relating to start-ups, entrepreneurship and business.
  • Your start-up should own their own IP. By getting accepted into the accelerator, Oxagon or NEOM will not own any part of your company. This is an equity-free program. And there are no admission fees either.

  • Potentially. This is something that the start-up and the Oxagon team can discuss and look into further, if there is interest from each party.

  • We look for startup companies with complete teams that are anywhere between a few months in to a maximum company maturity of 5 years. We welcome teams of passionate co-founders committed to building out their company and are still in the earlier stages of being less than a year old.

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