Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher:  Exel by Merak, a subsidiary of Merak Capital, announced wrapping up the Demo Day for its second gaming accelerator cohort, awarding $5.1 million to 17 startups through the Merak Gaming Fund. As per a recent press release, the event marked the completion of a 13-week program aimed at accelerating Saudi gaming studios’ growth and commercial readiness.

Hosted in Riyadh, Demo Day brought together founders, investors, and industry stakeholders, with participating startups presenting their games and showcasing progress made during the cohort. Over 13 weeks, the startups received hands-on support from Exel’s in-house team of global experts and guidance from 18 international mentors, focusing on product development, publishing readiness, and go-to-market strategies.

Faisal Sedrani, CEO of Exel by Merak, said the program supports innovation in the Kingdom by helping entrepreneurs build and scale gaming capabilities locally. He also confirmed that Cohort 3 will begin in the second quarter of 2026, continuing the accelerator’s mission to strengthen early-stage and scaling gaming startups.

The gaming accelerator operates under the Merak Gaming Fund (MGF), an $80 million fund backed by the National Development Fund, the Social Development Bank, and the Saudi Esports Federation. The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and the Ignite Digital Content Program to drive growth and innovation in the Kingdom’s gaming sector.