Salam Award Promising Projects: Empowering Five Emerging Startups at DeveGo 25
The Salam Award for Promising Projects has officially recognized five innovative Saudi startups during the second edition of the DeveGo 25 forum in Riyadh. As a strategic sponsor of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum, Etihad Salam Telecom Company (Salam) used the platform to reinforce its role as a digital enabler for the Kingdom’s growing SME ecosystem.
The Context: Supporting National Talent
The award is a core component of Salam’s broader strategy to empower local entrepreneurs. By providing a stage for national talent, the initiative helps founders convert creative concepts into scalable business models that align with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives of economic diversification.
Why This Matters: Driving Innovation
The competition attracted widespread participation from startups across various regions. To ensure high standards, the evaluation committee utilized four specific pillars to select the winners:
- Creativity: The uniqueness of the proposed solution.
- Originality: The novelty of the idea in the local market.
- Feasibility: The practical potential for real-world application.
- Market Impact: The expected influence on the Saudi economy.
Meet the Winners
The 2025 winners represent a diverse cross-section of industries, showcasing the breadth of the Saudi entrepreneurial landscape. The recognized projects include:
- BioNet: Founded by Lama Abdulaziz Al-Rashid.
- Qad Bisalama: Founded by Ahmed Abdallah Al-Misfar.
- Nefhasaha: Founded by Khamis Al-Hamad.
- Bayyin: Founded by Abdulrahman bin Rashid.
- Qawel Tech: Founded by Mohammed Nasser Al Anqidan.
Each winner received a cash prize to support their future growth and development.
Eng. Ahmed Al-Anqari, CEO of Salam, noted that empowering SMEs is a fundamental requirement for building a sustainable digital economy. He emphasized that the Salam Award for Promising Projects reflects the company’s dedication to fostering ambitious ideas that enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi private sector.
Future Outlook
Salam continues to position itself as a long-term partner for startups, offering both digital infrastructure and mentorship platforms. This commitment supports the national goal of increasing SME contribution to GDP as outlined in the Vision 2030 strategy.
