ACCELERATING THE FUTURE
In 2013, Flat6Labs made its first regional presence in Saudi Arabia, with the goal of supporting Saudi entrepreneurs to successfully launch their businesses and reach regional and global markets.
Today, as per MAGNiTT’s KSA VC report, Flat6Labs is deemed the most active investor in KSA startups in 2023. In that year, Flat6Labs’ Startup Seed Fund (SSF) reached the highest number of pre-seed and seed transactions in one year in recorded KSA history through the Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program, with almost 1,000 startup applications, and 20 startups invested in from a variety of industries including SaaS, FinTech, EdTech, HealthTech, PropTech, Legal Tech, Social Commerce, and Robotics.
This brings us to the question, what are the hidden opportunities in the Saudi market? How could an investor/VC implement a diversified and structured investment process in the region?
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Why do we think Saudi Arabia possesses hidden opportunities?
1- The hidden potential is not correlated with the conventional KSA economy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that the Saudi economy is undergoing a transformation as reforms are being implemented to reduce dependence on oil, diversify sources of income, and enhance competitiveness. Progress has been most notably reflected in non-oil growth, which has accelerated since 2021, averaging 4.8% in 2022.
Today, FinTech ranked first among industries in the Kingdom as the top industry of choice for investors for deals and capital deployed, contributing to 51% of the country’s capital deployed, followed by e-commerce/retail, enterprise software, EdTech, and healthcare.
The growth of these industries shows global and regional investors that Saudi Arabia has surpassed the tradition related to its conventional economy and is now headed towards a preference for entrepreneurship and tech industries.
2- Early-Stage Startups Are an Underserved Opportunity
While Series C funding saw a notable increase in Saudi Arabia during 2023, pre-seed and seed stages remain more or less flat and appear less observed compared to later stages. This gap in early-stage funding points to an opportunity for institutional investors to be active and take advantage of favorable market dynamics.
3- The Saudi Market Attracts Innovative Entrepreneurs
With a population of over 35 million, Saudi Arabia possesses a large and dynamic consumer market that is exceptionally ideal for tech startups to expand in for the following reasons:
- Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd among countries in internet inclusivity.
- Saudi Arabia has become the biggest user of YouTube per capita in the world, and has the 6th highest active social media penetration in the world, with 99% of the population active on social media.
- Saudi Arabia is proven to have one of the highest and fastest-growing credit card penetration rates in the MENA region.
Besides the attractive consumer market, over 15 million young people will enter the workforce in the region within the next 10 years. Saudi Arabia, with its rapidly growing and youthful population, will represent a large portion of these direly needed jobs, as it attracts immigrants from all around the region.
4- Structural Reforms of The Kingdom
Saudi Vision 2030 builds on the unique position of the Kingdom at the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, being an investment powerhouse, and the hub connecting three continents.
One of Saudi Vision 2030’s goals is to raise the share of non-oil exports in non-oil GDP to 50% and increase non-oil government revenue to SAR 1 Trillion.
As per that vision, digital transformation has and will continue to have a momentous positive impact on the Saudi economy, particularly with the diversification of the economy away from its reliance on the oil industry.
In addition, the Saudi government seeks to raise its ranking in the Government Effectiveness Index to 20 worldwide by increasing the effectiveness of its e-government systems, as well as raising its rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rank to one of the top 15 economies.
5- Future Prospects
The startup market in Saudi Arabia is growing with a clear government-backed mandate and strategic plans. These plans included boosting the development of the SME sector by the formation of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development, the SME Bank, the announcement of free zones, and notable updates to the companies’ laws. Lately, SMEs in Saudi Arabia have represented almost 93% of total enterprises but account for about 60% of total employment.
Also, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is aiming to become one of the top 20 countries in ease of doing business.
6- The Untapped Potential for Investors and VCs
Despite the potential in the KSA startup ecosystem, the LP (Limited Partner) base and local funding sources still lag behind international counterparts.
This gap provides opportunities for investors and VCs to tap into the ecosystem early and potentially outperform traditional asset classes. By strategically investing in viable startups, investors can potentially capture significant returns and reap the benefits of early involvement in a thriving ecosystem.
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Lessons learned from a decade of early-stage investing
First: Early-stage VC is key to a truly diversified portfolio
Integrating various asset classes is pivotal for constructing a truly diversified portfolio for investors and VCs. Adding relatively small positions in alternative investments provides investors with enhanced returns for the same level of risk. Therefore, funds and other pooled investment vehicles provide an efficient tool to access a large number of investment positions within an asset class.
Throughout our 11-year history, we’ve observed a consistent lack of correlation (and alpha) between the performance of our investment portfolio and the public market equity indices in the MENA region. This highlights the significance of early-stage investments to achieve a truly diversified portfolio.
Second: Open and neutral investment platforms enable market efficiency
Choosing an open and neutral investment platform is integral to nurture a thriving startup ecosystem and enable price discovery and market efficiency. It ultimately benefits all stakeholders, enhancing trust and optimizing resource allocation within the market ecosystem.
Third: There are different fundamental drivers at play compared to other asset classes in the same geography
The KSA startup ecosystem is fueled by unique fundamental drivers that differentiate it from other asset classes in the same geographic region. Government support, a youthful and tech-savvy population, and a strategic Saudi Vision 2030 have created an environment that is ripe for innovation and growth. These drivers have led to the emergence of a distinct investment landscape that offers investors and VCs the chance to tap into untapped potential and capture strong returns.
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Flat6Labs’ Fingerprint in Early Stage Startups Funding
After assessing the gap in the market and the risks and opportunities at hand, Flat6Labs became an active investor in the Riyadh ecosystem with strategic positioning and de-risking priorities in mind.
- Strategic Positioning: Flat6Labs’ early-stage focus in Saudi Arabia is a competitive edge, allowing it to fill the market void and lock in attractive valuations for up-and-coming startups.
- Riyadh Seed Program De-Risked Advantage: With a targeted accelerator approach, Flat6Labs’ programs are set to de-risk opportunities by instilling best practices to catalyze growth in the early-stage sector that’s ripe for investment.
What’s next?
The ecosystem in Saudi Arabia possesses untapped potential that deserves to be invested in. From that standpoint, Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program supports startups with high growth potential to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and create a space for the Saudi youth to develop their startups and scale up their business in the MENA region.
If you are an early-stage Saudi-based startup, join our Riyadh Seed Program to get cash seed funding, strategic mentorship, networking opportunities, and a multitude of perks and services.