Smart Solutions, Healthier Saudi: AI Meets Healthcare in Kingdom

Mar 27, 2025

Ghada Ismail

 

Saudi Arabia, a country historically famous for its oil reserves, is in the process of undergoing a revolutionary transition towards a knowledge economy. One of the most promising areas of this transformation is health technology or HealthTech. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 program has also placed a great emphasis on economic diversification and quality of life for its citizens, and healthcare forms the core of this vision. For this reason, the HealthTech sector of Saudi Arabia is transforming at a very rapid pace with government and private sector players alike at the helm, leveraging technology to seek solutions to the health challenges of the country.

 

The Healthcare Landscape in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi healthcare sector has long relied heavily on government spending, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been the controlling force for delivering healthcare. However, the Kingdom is being challenged by a high population growth rate, an increase in the occurrence of chronic conditions, and the pressing need to more efficiently deliver healthcare. All of these issues have created fertile ground for HealthTech innovation as the nation continues to modernize its healthcare facilities and improve patient outcomes.

 

The Saudi government has, nonetheless, recognized the potential of HealthTech in addressing these challenges and has been proactively promoting the use of digital health solutions. This has led to a growth in HealthTech startups and investment in HealthTech by both public and private sector entities.

 

Public Sector Initiatives and Key Players

The Saudi government has been the key driver of HealthTech innovation in the Kingdom, with several significant initiatives aimed at transforming the healthcare industry. All of these are linked to the overall goals of Vision 2030, which is geared towards making the economy more diversified and sustainable.

 

1. Ministry of Health (MOH): The MOH has been at the forefront of the adoption of HealthTech in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry has taken several digital health initiatives, including the formation of a national electronic health record (EHR) system, aimed at establishing a single platform for patient data across the country. The system will most probably increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery and reduce the burden on healthcare workers.

2. Saudi Health Council (SHC): The SHC is tasked with designing the healthcare policy of the Kingdom. It has been in the lead in promoting the adoption of HealthTech solutions, particularly telemedicine and remote patient monitoring. The SHC has also been involved in the creation of a national health information exchange (HIE) platform, which will facilitate the sharing of health information between different healthcare providers.

3. National Transformation Program (NTP): As part of Vision 2030, the NTP has lofty objectives for the health sector, including increasing the private sector's role in healthcare provision and improving the quality of health services. The NTP also identified HealthTech as a core enabler of these goals and has been busy promoting the adoption of digital health solutions.

4. Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA): The SFDA has been working actively to create a regulatory environment for HealthTech products, including medical devices and digital health apps. This is expected to provide clarity to HealthTech firms already operating in the Kingdom and encourage further innovation in the sector.

 

Seha Virtual Hospital: A Pioneering Initiative

The largest milestone in Saudi Arabia's HealthTech history is the establishment of the Seha Virtual Hospital, which is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest online medical initiative. The Saudi Ministry of Health launched Seha Virtual Hospital in 2022 and it is a giant leap in the Kingdom's healthcare delivery system. It employs cutting-edge technologies such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics to provide high-quality healthcare services to patients across the nation, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas.

 

Seha Virtual Hospital Key Achievements

1. Scale and Reach: Seha Virtual Hospital covers over 130 hospitals across Saudi Arabia and offers more than 30 specialized services, where the number of beneficiaries so far has reached 58550, and its capacity during the year reaches 400+ thousand beneficiaries. This has actually eradicated the need for patients to travel long distances for consultations, diagnostics, and treatment.

2. Telemedicine Services: The hospital has conducted over 2 million virtual consultations since its inception, and it is one of the busiest telemedicine platforms in the world. This has been especially useful for rural patients as they have limited access to specialist healthcare services.

3. AI-Assisted Diagnostics: Seha Virtual Hospital has integrated AI into its diagnostics, enabling faster and more accurate disease identification. For example, the hospital's AI-assisted radiology system has analyzed over 500,000 medical images, reducing diagnostic times by up to 30%. Artificial intelligence also contributes to giving priority to examinations that require urgent medical intervention through the use of medical imaging algorithms that are conducted on cases such as strokes in CT scans and chest x-rays; Which raises the quality of the doctor’s work for the case and makes the accuracy of diagnosing the target diseases up to 95%.

4. Chronic Disease Management: The hospital has set up special programs for chronic disease management such as diabetes and hypertension. They have touched 200,000 patients, with improved health outcomes and reduced hospital admissions.

5. Training and Capacity Building: Seha Virtual Hospital has so far trained over 10,000 healthcare professionals on the utilization of digital health technology in order to ensure that the Kingdom's healthcare workforce is capable of dealing with the challenges of a contemporary, technology-based healthcare system.

6. COVID-19 Response: Seha Virtual Hospital played a crucial role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. It provided virtual consultations to over 300,000 COVID-19 patients and helped the Ministry of Health monitor and track the virus spread.

7. Cost Efficiency: By reducing the need for physical infrastructure and optimizing resource allocation, Seha Virtual Hospital has saved the Saudi healthcare system approximately $200 million in operational costs.

 

Sehhaty Platform by the Sudi Ministry of Health

The Sehhaty platform, operated by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health, is a key digital healthcare solution that offers a wide range of services to citizens and residents. It is the unified platform of the Ministry of Health, which allows users to access health information and obtain several health services provided by various entities in the health sector in Saudi Arabia. 

 

The platform enables users to book appointments at MOH-affiliated facilities, access medical records, request prescription refills, and track fitness metrics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sehhaty played a crucial role in managing vaccination appointments, PCR test bookings, and displaying immunization status. The platform also supports telemedicine services, allowing virtual consultations with healthcare providers, while offering dedicated tools for children's healthcare management and mental well-being support. As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, Sehhaty has become a vital tool in enhancing healthcare accessibility and efficiency, serving millions across the Kingdom.

 

Private Sector Innovations and Key Players

While the public sector has led the uptake of health tech in Saudi Arabia, the private sector has not lagged behind in spurring the evolution of the health tech ecosystem. Increasing numbers of health tech startups and incumbent players are inundating the market with creative solutions to address the Kingdom's healthcare requirements.

 

1. Vezeeta: Vezeeta is one of the top Middle Eastern health technology startups, with an online platform that allows patients to schedule appointments, consult doctors, and see their medical history online. Vezeeta expanded rapidly in Saudi Arabia, where it has allied with several healthcare providers to offer its services.

2. Altibbi: Altibbi is yet another regional HealthTech leader offering a range of digital health offerings, including telemedicine, online consultations, and medical knowledge. Altibbi has a strong presence in Saudi Arabia where it has partnered with both public and private sector healthcare providers to facilitate access to healthcare services.

3. Cura: Cura is a Saudi HealthTech company that offers a digital healthcare facility management platform. The company's platform offers electronic medical records (EMR), scheduling, and billing among others, which makes it easier for healthcare providers to manage their operations. Cura has been making strides in the Kingdom, particularly with private healthcare providers.

4. Nabta Health: Nabta Health is a HealthTech company with operations in the UAE that has been expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia. Nabta Health is an organization that offers an online platform focused on women's health and provides telemedicine, monitoring of health, and personalized health advice. Nabta Health has been working together with healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia to increase access to women's health services.

5. Labayh: Labayh is a Saudi-based HealthTech platform that specializes in mental health support, offering confidential and accessible psychological services through digital solutions. Founded in 2016, Labayh connects users with licensed therapists and mental health professionals via secure, private consultations through its mobile app. The platform provides services such as individual therapy sessions, family counseling, and emotional well-being programs, catering to a wide range of mental health needs. Labayh has gained recognition for breaking cultural stigmas around mental health in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region by offering discreet, user-friendly support.

 

Emerging Trends in Saudi Arabia's HealthTech Scene

The Saudi HealthTech landscape is marked by a number of emerging trends that are defining the future of healthcare in the Kingdom. These trends are part of the wider global trend toward digital health but are also shaped by the specific healthcare challenges and opportunities of Saudi Arabia.

 

1. Telemedicine: Telemedicine is now one of the leading areas of interest in Saudi HealthTech due to a need to improve access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated telemedicine adoption in the Kingdom, with both private and public sector healthcare providers offering online consultations and remote monitoring.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning are increasingly being embraced in Saudi Arabia's healthcare system to improve diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient outcomes. Numerous HealthTech startups in the Kingdom are developing AI-based solutions, such as predictive analytics tools and treatment suggestions.

3. Wearable Technology: Wearable technology, such as smartwatches and fitness bands, is gaining popularity in Saudi Arabia, particularly among young consumers. The devices are being used to monitor health indicators, such as heart rate, sleep, and exercise, and are increasingly being paired with digital health platforms.

4. Healthcare Blockchain: Blockchain technology is considered a potential solution to making health information more secure and interoperable in Saudi Arabia. Various health technology startups in the country are building blockchain-based products to manage electronic health records and preserve the integrity of health data.

5. Digital Therapeutics: Digital therapeutics, where software-based interventions are used to treat conditions, are also gaining traction in Saudi Arabia. The solutions are being used to address chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and are also being integrated with traditional healthcare services.

 

Challenges and Opportunities

While the Saudi HealthTech environment is promising, it also has some challenges. These include regulatory barriers, limited awareness among healthcare professionals and patients, and the need for greater investment in HealthTech infrastructure. However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth and innovation, particularly for startups and existing companies who are prepared to navigate the complexities of the Saudi healthcare market.

 

One of the key opportunities in Saudi Arabia's HealthTech ecosystem is the possibility of partnership between private and public sector stakeholders. The government's emphasis on health tech innovation, combined with the flexibility and capabilities of the private sector, presents a rich ground for partnerships that can drive the development and deployment of digital health solutions.

 

Conclusion

The Saudi HealthTech ecosystem is in a fascinating phase, with public and private sector players leading innovation and developing the healthcare landscape. The Vision 2030 initiative of the Kingdom has provided a major thrust towards health tech implementation, and the government's focus on digital health is creating growth-friendly conditions.

 

As the HealthTech ecosystem in Saudi Arabia expands, we can look forward to seeing more innovative solutions being created, addressing the unique health requirements of the Kingdom and improving the quality of life of the people. By achieving the right balance of public sector enablement, private sector innovation, and regulatory clarity, Saudi Arabia has the potential to become a health tech regional leader, an example for other countries in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Tags

Share

Advertise here, Be the LEADER

Advertise Now

Latest Experts Thoughts

From Tabuk to Najran: Can Fintech Reach Saudi Arabia’s Remote Regions?

Ghada Ismail

 

Saudi Arabia’s fintech story reads like a tale of two kingdoms. In Riyadh and Jeddah, cash feels almost antique; it’s only a matter of phone taps, QR codes flash, and money moves in seconds. Yet a few hundred kilometers away, in Tabuk’s rugged northwest or Najran’s mountain valleys, daily commerce often sounds like the rustle of paper bills and the scratch of a pen across a ledger. The country’s financial future is unfolding at two different speeds.

 

It isn’t infrastructure that draws the line. Mobile penetration tops 95 percent, 5G towers rise even in sparsely populated stretches, and e-payments already dominate national retail transactions. The gap is more subtle: culture, trust, and the rhythms of rural life. Convincing a farmer in Al-Jawf to swap cash for code demands more than bandwidth; it calls for products that fit local habits, clear value that outweighs tradition, and a level of human connection that an app alone can’t supply.

 

Saudi Arabia has the digital highway; the challenge is building the entry points. Whether fintech can cross that last mile will determine if the Kingdom’s financial revolution remains an urban triumph or becomes a truly nationwide transformation.

 

Infrastructure: A Kingdom Already Wired

From an infrastructure perspective, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned. Internet penetration is extremely high (estimates are over 95%), mobile device ownership is widespread, and 4G/5G networks are expanding into previously marginal areas. These foundations matter: without reliable connectivity and devices, fintech is impossible. Already, electronic payments account for a large and growing share of retail transactions. The requisite backbone is largely in place.

 

Urban Comfort vs. Rural Reality

Still, real comfort with fintech is uneven. In Riyadh, merchants often expect digital payments; in remote towns, cash remains king. Limited bank branch presence in outlying areas means residents may need to travel far for physical banking. Older generations or those with less exposure to digital tools are often wary of apps because of perceived complexity, security risk, or distrust of unseen financial entities. Small businesses in remote regions may lack formal accounting or consistent electricity or internet service, undermining the good infrastructure in theory.

 

Simpler Fintech for Seniors: An Overlooked Opportunity

When designing fintech for broader inclusion, startups should think about older adults—not just young, tech-savvy users. For many seniors, a confusing interface or too many steps can be as big a barrier as a lack of connectivity. Startups that build apps designed with simplicity in mind—large readable text, simple menus, voice instructions, minimal jargon, offline support, and even human assistance options—could unlock fintech adoption among older generations in remote areas.

Such apps might include:

  • Simplified banking apps with fewer screens and more guidance.
  • “Lite” or basic versions of wallets that avoid overwhelming options.
  • Remote or agent-assisted onboarding, so elders who are less comfortable with tech can get help.
  • Voice or audio assistance in Arabic, possibly even local dialects.
  • Clear, transparent fees so there is no distrust arising from surprise costs.

 

Some relevant observations:

  • Al Rajhi Bank’s app is praised for being user-friendly and for continuous improvements. But it is still a general-purpose banking app, not specifically tailored to seniors.
  • STC Pay and others provide digital wallets with simple features like QR payments, bill payments, etc. These features could serve seniors well if designed with accessibility in mind. But I saw no specific senior-oriented version. 
  • In lists of “budgeting” or “open banking” apps, ease of use is often mentioned, but not specifically accommodations for low digital literacy or elderly users

This suggests a gap in the market: there is room for fintech startups in Saudi Arabia that explicitly build for the last mile of inclusion—older adults in remote towns. The right design could make a big difference in whether fintech isn’t just available, but also usable for all.

 

Vision 2030’s Digital Mandate

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, together with the Financial Sector Development Program and the national Fintech Strategy, explicitly aims to make financial services more inclusive. Regulatory reforms—such as digital-banking licenses, open banking, and upgraded payment systems—are meant to lower barriers for innovators. Central bank policies and government incentives are pushing toward universal access, financial literacy initiatives, and infrastructure investment. These provide an enabling environment for fintech expansion—but regulatory support alone does not ensure adoption.

 

Business Models Built for the Last Mile

For fintechs to succeed beyond major cities, they must adapt business models to the realities of rural and remote regions. One promising route is agent networks: local shops or service points that act as touchpoints for users who prefer or need human interaction. Another is partnering with telecom companies, which already have reach and existing trust in many small towns. Retail chains, post offices, or municipality kiosks could also serve as infrastructure hubs. Products may need to be cheaper, simpler, and require minimal digital literacy to use.

 

Winning Hearts, Not Just Downloads

Building adoption is as much a question of trust and culture as tech and regulation. Transparent pricing, clear value, local language support, and human customer service are essential. For someone who has never used a fintech app, a failed transaction or confusing fee can be discouraging. Financial education programs tailored for rural communities, delivered through trusted local groups, can help. Even hybrid models—digital onboarding followed by in-person support—may work better than fully remote approaches in many small towns.

 

The Credit Gap: Data as Collateral

One area where fintech can make a big difference is credit access. Many small business owners outside big cities lack formal financial histories or audited accounts. Traditional lenders often reject their loan applications. Fintechs that use alternative data—mobile money flows, POS history, utility payments—can build credit profiles and offer small, short-term business loans or inventory financing. That could unlock productivity in sectors like agriculture, small retail, regional logistics, and crafts.

 

Public–Private Partnerships in Action

There are clear roles for both the state and private sector. Government subsidies or guarantees can de-risk fintech pilot projects in areas where margins are thin. Regulators can provide frameworks that balance innovation with consumer protection, especially for users less experienced with financial services. Banks with branch networks can collaborate with fintech startups to extend service reach. Telecommunications companies can help with distribution and customer chains. Examples include STC (Saudi Telecom Company), Mobily, and Zain.

The idea is that these companies already have:

  • Extensive physical presence through stores and service centers, even in remote towns.
  • Trusted customer relationships with millions of subscribers.
  • Existing billing and payment systems that can be integrated with fintech services.

Because of this reach, telecom companies can help distribute fintech products, handle customer sign-ups or cash-in/cash-out services, and support outreach in areas where banks or fintech startups have little presence.

 

Operations on the Ground

Fintech’s promise often runs into operational hurdles. Reliable power and internet are not uniformly guaranteed in remote areas. Cash-in and cash-out logistics are tricky: even if payments are done digitally, someone often needs to handle cash for daily expenses. Merchant acceptance is uneven, especially among small stores with thin margins. Fintech systems need to integrate smoothly with existing business workflows—if reconciliation is difficult, or if the app doesn’t handle local languages or dialects, adoption drops.

 

Measuring Real Impact

Success should be measured with more than download counts or the number of transactions. Key metrics include how fintech reduces time and cost for small businesses, increases savings or access to credit, reduces reliance on informal systems, improves incomes, and raises financial inclusion. Pilot programs should track outcomes over months or years, comparing communities with and without these services, and gather feedback to refine products.

 

From Connectivity to Inclusion

In the end, fintech in Saudi Arabia has moved closer than ever to being able to serve the Kingdom fully, from Tabuk to Najran. The infrastructure, regulation, and technology are largely in place. But for fintech to truly reach remote regions, providers must adapt: offering services in culturally relevant ways, building trust through human touchpoints, designing affordable and useful products, and partnering with existing local networks.

If they succeed, the result won’t just be more people using fintech apps; it will be a more inclusive economy in which rural and remote areas share more fully in the gains of digital finance. Vision 2030’s promise is big; now the test is whether fintech can land softly and stick across every valley, desert, and mountain of the Kingdom.

Dyna.Ai: Powering Saudi Arabia’s AI-Driven Financial Future under Vision 2030

Kholoud Hussein 

 

In today’s rapidly transforming digital economy, artificial intelligence has emerged as both a disruptor and an enabler, redefining how industries operate and compete. Nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the financial services sector, where AI is powering new models of efficiency, personalization, and compliance. With global investment in AI accelerating, and financial institutions seeking tools that balance innovation with trust, the conversation around AI’s role has never been more critical.

Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global hub for AI and digital transformation under Vision 2030, investing billions to cultivate expertise, infrastructure, and sustainable innovation. The Kingdom’s ambitious agenda has created fertile ground for technology leaders to collaborate with regulators, enterprises, and entrepreneurs in building a robust digital economy.

It is in this context that Sharikat Mubasher sat down exclusively with Tomas Skoumal, Chairman & Co-founder of Dyna.Ai, to discuss how the company’s Agentic AI Suite and enterprise solutions are reshaping the financial landscape. In this interview, Skoumal outlines Dyna.Ai’s competitive edge, the challenges it helps financial institutions overcome, and the company’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a regional AI powerhouse.

 

Dyna.Ai positions itself as a leader in AI-as-a-Service, with solutions already reshaping finance and beyond. How do you define your unique edge in such a competitive and fast-moving AI market?

Our edge is the ability to combine deep financial services experience with modern AI solutions that are enterprise-ready and built for measurable business outcomes. In the financial services sector, technology adoption isn’t about deploying the most recent innovation, but it’s about delivering results such as improving customer engagement, reducing operational risk, and generating new revenue streams.

Our flagship Agentic AI Suite and our Enterprise Solutions Suite for financial services provide multi-modal, multi-channel engagement with 95%+ accuracy and sub-200 millisecond response times. Products like VoiceGPT and AvatarGPT power AI employees that enable our customers to scale hyper-personalization, multilingual support, and real-time interactions in banking and insurance workflows. It is this combination of advanced platform capabilities and practical industry integration, underpinned by industry-leading security, that sets us apart.

 

AI is becoming central to financial services worldwide. From your perspective, what specific challenges in banking and fintech is Dyna.Ai solving most effectively today?

Banks and fintechs are being tested across a few major priorities: personalizing customer services at scale, managing risk in real time, and remaining compliant within complex regulatory environments. Our AI copilots and digital agents redefine personalized engagement, while other enterprise solutions like E-KYC solutions address the core needs of Saudi Arabia’s $39.9 billion fintech market, which is projected to reach $125 billion by 2034.

With 75% of Saudi financial transactions already digital and job postings in AI growing 54% annually, our Agent Studio enables institutions not only to deploy AI but to train their own AI teams and build long-term capabilities. These solutions help financial institutions stay ahead of customer expectations while enhancing trust, compliance, and efficiency.

 

Your expertise spans advanced AI models, human-AI interaction, and big data analytics. How are you combining these capabilities to deliver solutions that are both cutting-edge and practical for clients?

We see the future of finance requiring systems that can communicate with human fluency and operate with the precision of advanced data analytics. Our approach integrates commercial LLMs with our proprietary Dyna LLM through the Agent Studio platform, giving banks the flexibility to meet local regulatory requirements while setting new global standards. Our suite of highly tailored Agentic AI products, with culturally adapted capabilities, allows for intuitive engagement in culturally relevant ways. Add to this data-rich applications like fraud prevention and AI-driven decision engines, and the result is a suite of tools that are cutting-edge yet embedded in clear business cases such as Shariah-compliant products, compliance monitoring, and customer service.

 

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in AI and digital transformation under Vision 2030. How do you see Dyna.Ai contributing to this national agenda, and what opportunities excite you most in the Kingdom?

Saudi Arabia plans to train 20,000 AI specialists by 2030 and has pledged $20 billion in AI investments. With 66 of Vision 2030’s 96 goals tied to data and AI, this is one of the world’s most ambitious transformations. Dyna.Ai directly supports these efforts through our Agentic AI Suite, including Agent Studio, VoiceGPT, and AvatarGPT. Our Saudi office and growing local team reflect our commitment to long-term capability building. As we grow our partnerships across industries, including banking, fintechs, government, telecommunications, etc, we are excited to provide enterprise-ready tools that not only scale operations but also build indigenous AI expertise, ultimately positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional AI hub.

 

The global debate around AI often touches on trust, ethics, and transparency. How is Dyna.Ai addressing these concerns to ensure clients can scale AI responsibly?

Responsible AI is fundamental to our mission. From the start, we designed the Agentic AI Suite with guardrails such as transparency, explainability, and compliance monitoring. Governance features allow clients to understand, audit, and control how AI-driven decisions are made, whether in lending, fraud detection, or customer engagement. For example, our AI employee products provide explainable interactions in Arabic and other languages. We work closely with regulators to ensure our solutions meet both global and Saudi standards. This commitment builds the trust needed for sustainable scaling across the financial services ecosystem.

 

As you participate in Money 20/20 Saudi Arabia, what do you hope to achieve from this gathering of global financial leaders, and how does it align with your growth ambitions in the region?

Money20/20 allows us to show, not just tell. Through live demonstrations of the Agentic AI Suite, including real-time Arabic engagements, we want financial leaders to witness the business impact of AI in action. With Saudi fintech projected to reach $125 billion by 2034 and AI expected to add $320 billion to the MENA economy by 2030, we see this event as a chance to build strategic partnerships that align with the Kingdom’s economic trajectory. Our presence at the event is about reinforcing our commitment to Vision 2030 and partnering with Saudi banks, insurers, and fintechs to innovate at scale.

 

As Tomas Skoumal highlights, Dyna.Ai is not just deploying advanced technology but building trust and long-term capability in financial services. Through its Agentic AI Suite, the company is enabling hyper-personalized engagement, compliance-driven innovation, and scalable digital solutions that align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. With its growing local presence and commitment to responsible AI, Dyna.Ai positions itself as a strategic partner in turning the Kingdom’s AI ambitions into reality.

Pivoting for Startups: Turning Setbacks into Opportunities

Ghada Ismail

In startups, the original idea is rarely the winning one. Markets shift, customer needs evolve, and sometimes the product simply doesn’t click. The difference between failure and breakthrough often comes down to one thing: the ability to pivot.

A pivot isn’t about giving up. It’s about adjusting course to find what truly works. For founders, especially in fast-growing ecosystems like Saudi Arabia, knowing when and how to pivot can turn setbacks into opportunities and keep a startup alive long enough to thrive.

 

What Is a Pivot?

A pivot is not about tearing everything down and starting from scratch. It’s about keeping the vision intact while changing the route to get there. Think of it as a course correction rather than a restart.

Instagram is a classic example. Before becoming the photo-sharing giant we know today, it was a clunky app called Burbn that let users check into locations. The team noticed that people loved the photo feature more than anything else and decided to pivot around it. The rest is history.

 

When Should Startups Pivot?

The decision to pivot isn’t easy. Founders often wrestle with sunk costs and pride. But the market doesn’t lie. Common signals that it might be time include:

  • No traction despite strong execution: The product works, but users aren’t sticking around.
  • Customer behavior doesn’t match expectations: Feedback points to a different problem or need than originally targeted.
  • High acquisition costs with low retention: You’re paying heavily to bring people in, but they don’t stay.
  • Competitors gaining ground: A rival is growing faster with a different approach, forcing you to reconsider your model.

Listening carefully to customers and tracking metrics honestly will often reveal whether you’re on the wrong track.

 

Different Types of Pivots

Not all pivots look the same. Some involve small tweaks, others a major shift. A few common ones are:

  • Product pivot: Focusing on one feature that resonates and dropping the rest.
  • Market pivot: Targeting a new customer segment or geography.
  • Revenue model pivot: Changing how you monetize—say, from subscriptions to transaction fees.
  • Channel pivot: Finding new ways to reach customers, such as moving from offline distribution to digital-first.

Each requires discipline and clear communication with stakeholders, especially investors and employees.

 

How to Pivot Without Losing Focus

A pivot can feel like a setback if not framed well. But handled correctly, it can re-energize a startup. A few principles help:

  • Protect the vision: Stay clear on the “why,” even if the “how” changes.
  • Test before leaping: Run small experiments to validate the new direction before committing fully.
  • Be transparent: Keep investors, team members, and early customers informed. Trust is easier to maintain when you bring people along for the ride.
  • Maintain morale: Remind your team that adaptability is strength, not weakness.

 

Wrapping Things Up…

Startups don’t succeed by sticking rigidly to their first idea. They succeed by learning, adapting, and sometimes changing direction altogether. Pivoting isn’t a mark of failure—it’s often the very thing that unlocks growth.

For founders, the key is to treat pivoting not as a last resort but as part of the entrepreneurial journey. Because in the end, the startup that survives is the 

Understanding Venture Builders: Redefining Startup Creation

Kholoud Hussein 

 

In the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, new models continue to emerge that challenge traditional methods of building companies. Among these, the concept of the venture builder—sometimes referred to as a startup studio, company builder, or venture studio—has gained significant traction. This model does not simply support startups; it creates them from the ground up, offering a systematic and professionalized approach to innovation. To understand how venture builders are shaping the future of startups, it is important to define what they are, how they operate, and why they have become a critical part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

 

What Is a Venture Builder?

At its core, a venture builder is an organization dedicated to systematically creating new startups. Unlike accelerators or incubators, which primarily support external founders, venture builders conceive, launch, and scale companies internally. They start with ideas generated within the studio, validate those ideas, and assemble founding teams to execute them. The venture builder typically provides shared resources such as technical expertise, legal and financial support, HR, marketing, and office infrastructure.

 

The key distinction is that venture builders are not passive supporters but active co-founders of the startups they produce. They hold equity, share the risks, and are deeply involved in the strategic and operational aspects of each venture.

 

How Do Venture Builders Operate?

The venture builder model follows a structured process that often includes:

 

  • Ideation and Validation: The studio generates multiple business ideas, then rigorously tests them for market potential, scalability, and alignment with macro trends.
  • Team Formation: Once validated, the venture builder recruits or appoints entrepreneurs-in-residence, technical experts, and business leaders to form the founding team.
  • Resource Allocation: Unlike a standalone startup that begins with limited means, the new venture benefits from shared services—legal, finance, HR, branding—that reduce overhead and accelerate execution.
  • Seed Funding: Venture builders typically provide the initial capital to kickstart operations, giving startups the momentum needed to reach product-market fit.
  • Scale and Spin-Off: Once the company gains traction, it may raise external funding, often with the backing and credibility of the venture builder.

This systematic approach significantly de-risks early-stage entrepreneurship by testing ideas before making large-scale commitments and ensuring professional execution from the outset.

 

Venture Builders and Startups: The Relationship

The relationship between venture builders and startups is symbiotic. Startups gain access to resources, expertise, and capital that would otherwise be out of reach. Venture builders, on the other hand, benefit from diversified portfolios of ventures, increasing their chances of producing a successful company.

 

For founders, joining a venture builder can mean reduced autonomy compared to starting independently, but it also means reduced risk, greater support, and a higher likelihood of success. For investors, venture builders serve as deal flow engines, systematically generating startups that are vetted, structured, and investment-ready.

 

Why Venture Builders Are Becoming More Relevant

Several trends explain the rise of venture builders globally:

 

  • High Failure Rates of Startups: With most startups failing in their first few years, venture builders offer a model to improve survival rates.
  • Need for Speed: In fast-changing markets, venture builders accelerate the path from idea to market-ready business.
  • Capital Efficiency: Shared resources lower costs and reduce duplication across ventures.
  • Alignment with Corporate Innovation: Many corporations are launching internal venture builders to diversify revenue streams and stay ahead of disruption.

 

The Future of Venture Builders in the Startup Ecosystem

Venture builders represent a new paradigm where entrepreneurship is less about individual heroics and more about structured, professional execution. They are particularly relevant in emerging markets like the Middle East and North Africa, where ecosystems are still developing and where access to resources and mentorship can make or break a startup.

 

By blending creativity with discipline, venture builders are redefining how startups are born. They offer a hybrid model that balances innovation with risk management, creating companies that are not just ideas with funding, but fully operational businesses with infrastructure, teams, and strategic roadmaps.

 

Finally, a venture builder is more than a support mechanism—it is a startup factory that systematically transforms ideas into companies. Its relationship with startups is one of co-creation, shared risk, and mutual benefit. In a world where agility, capital efficiency, and execution speed are paramount, venture builders are poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

 

How multi-layered securities unlock the future of digital wallets

Noha Gad

 

Digital wallets have become central to the way consumers conduct payments and manage their finances, offering convenience and seamless digital transactions. Their widespread adoption in retail, banking, and peer-to-peer transfers has made them a preferred alternative to cash and physical cards. 

These wallets handle increasing volumes of sensitive financial data; thus, robust security measures cannot be overstated. Traditional password protections alone are no longer sufficient to combat sophisticated cyber threats and fraud schemes targeting these platforms.  

 

Emerging security technologies, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), decentralized identity (DID) solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and tokenization, are addressing these demands by introducing multi-layered protection methods.

 

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

The MFA technology significantly enhances digital wallet security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple independent factors before granting access. Common MFA methods in digital wallets include one-time passwords (OTPs) sent via SMS or email, biometric verification through fingerprint or facial scans, and hardware tokens that generate secure codes. This layered approach makes unauthorized access much more difficult for attackers.

 

Another type of factor used is certificate-based authentication, which relies on a digital certificate, also called a soft token, to identify a user, machine, or device before granting access. Most enterprise solutions already support certificate-based authentication, and many wallets, such as those by Google Pay and Apple Pay, deploy this in coordination with traditional methods such as a username and password/PIN. 

 

Although the integration of the MFA reduces fraud rates and unauthorized account access, challenges remain in ensuring universal adoption and maintaining user convenience without compromising security. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, MFA represents a foundational barrier that protects users’ financial assets and sensitive information from theft and compromise. Its continued evolution and adoption will remain critical to maintaining trust in digital payment ecosystems.

 

Decentralized identity (DID) solutions

A decentralized Identifier (DID) is a unique identifier that can be issued by a decentralized platform and acts as proof of ownership of a digital identity. DID solutions use cryptography and distributed systems, often blockchain technology, to give individuals total control over their digital ID, which is seen as a more tamper-resistant and privacy-preserving method. 

Unlike traditional identity systems that rely on centralized authorities to issue and manage identities, decentralized identity empowers users to create, control, and manage their own digital identities without depending on any single entity. This shift reduces vulnerabilities inherent in centralized databases, which are prime targets for cyberattacks and data breaches. 

This modern approach enables individuals to have full ownership and control over their personal data, allowing them to decide what information to disclose, to whom, and for how long. For digital wallets, DID integration means users can authenticate themselves and verify transactions without exposing unnecessary personal or sensitive data, thereby reducing the attack surface and building user trust by preventing mass data leaks.

 

AI & ML in fraud detection

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) play a pivotal role in advancing fraud detection capabilities within digital wallets as they analyze vast amounts of transactional data in real time and identify patterns and behaviors that deviate from normal usage. AI and ML algorithms can adapt to evolving fraud tactics, enabling proactive detection and prevention before fraudulent transactions are completed.

 

AI-driven systems harness advanced techniques such as anomaly detection, risk scoring, and predictive modeling to assess each transaction's legitimacy. This dynamic assessment improves the accuracy of fraud detection compared to static rule-based systems that may either miss complex fraud schemes or generate excessive false alarms.

Meanwhile, ML models in digital wallets leverage user behavior analytics, tracking factors like device usage, login patterns, and payment frequency to establish individualized risk profiles that distinguish genuine users from potential fraudsters more effectively, ultimately minimizing disruptions caused by unnecessary transaction denials. 

 

Integrating AL and ML technologies into digital wallets not only minimizes fraud losses but also promotes operational efficiency by automating risk management processes. These technologies are expected to offer more advanced defenses, including real-time threat hunting and adaptive authentication that dynamically adjusts security measures based on assessed risk levels.

 

Tokenization 

This technology is crucial for securing digital wallet transactions as it replaces sensitive payment information with unique, non-sensitive identifiers called tokens, which carry the necessary transaction data without exposing actual card numbers or bank details during payment processing. 

Unlike traditional encryption methods, tokenization stores actual account information in highly secure token vaults, isolated from merchants and payment processors.

 

Digital wallet providers have widely adopted tokenization to comply with stringent security standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), enhancing consumer confidence and regulatory compliance. 

Along with protecting sensitive information, tokenization creates opportunities for innovative payment experiences, standing as a foundational security element that ensures transactions remain secure, seamless, and user-friendly.

 

Saudi Arabia has been significantly integrating emerging technologies to enhance the security of digital wallets, in line with Vision 2030’s goal of promoting a cashless society and digital economy. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) is a key contributor to this transformation, starting from regulating digital payment providers under comprehensive frameworks to creating an enabling environment for digital wallets to adopt advanced security technologies.

 

The Kingdom is actively incorporating AI and ML into the national fintech ecosystem to enhance transaction monitoring, fraud detection, and risk assessment, thereby increasing transparency and accountability while ensuring a secure cashless transaction environment.

 

Along with technology adoption, Saudi Arabia backs fintech innovation through significant investments supported by government entities and partnerships with regulatory bodies, aiming to stimulate the development and market reach of advanced digital wallet solutions incorporating MFA, AI, DIDs, and tokenization.

 

Finally, digital wallets continue to transform payments by merging convenience with cutting-edge security technologies to protect user data and ensure transaction integrity. These technologies provide a multi-layered defense framework that ensures digital wallets remain secure, seamless, and trustworthy in an increasingly digital financial environment. The integration of these multi-layered protections will definitely establish a strong foundation for sustainable digital finance growth, while prioritizing security innovation.