Saudi’s BIAC Signs 4 Agreements to Support Tech Entrepreneurship Programmes

Business Incubators and Accelerators Company (BIAC), a subsidiary of the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA), owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the signing of four agreements to strengthen its strategic partnerships and provide support to technology startups specifically in the fields of finance, health insurance, telecommunication and travel and tourism industries.

BIAC signed the four agreements with Social Development Bank (SDB), Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Almosafer, and Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Company, during its participation at the GITEX Technology Week 2019 in Dubai.

The agreement signed between BIAC and SDB aims to provide the necessary funding for startups enrolled in incubators and accelerators managed and operated by BIAC in Saudi Arabia through SDB’s funding. In addition, the agreement also aims to deliver non-financial services by qualifying beneficiary groups through its qualification and training programmes. Under the agreement, SDB will provide funding support to startups, as per SDB's financing policies and regulations for the technology startup portfolio amounting to $266 billion (SAR 1 billion).

The second agreement signed between BIAC and STC discusses that the latter shall provide facilities to the startups by offering different telecommunication services at competitive prices, to support startups and contribute to reducing their operational costs. The third agreement signed with Seera Group's flagship consumer travel brand Almosafer will offer technology startups special offers, and discounts on hotel bookings, tourist packages, and air tickets.

The fourth agreement signed between BIAC and Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Company focuses on covering the employees of technology startups and their families with health insurance through a range of services and affordable insurance products.

The agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed by Nawaf Al Sahhaf, CEO of BIAC, with Saeed Al-Zahrani, Assistant Director General of SDB; Abdulrahman Mutrib, Deputy CEO of Seera Group Holding; Mohammed Al Hakbani, Vice President of Enterprise Sales at STC, and Shadi Hassan, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Department at Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Company., respectively.

Established in 2017, BIAC aims to operate and manage entrepreneurship support platforms, innovation and technology transfer programs, as well as project management, specialised consultancy, training services and human resource capacity building.

BIAC has a diverse portfolio of programmes, projects, and initiatives that center around the development of entrepreneurship, innovation and investment, such as Dulani Business Center, Badir Technology Incubators and Accelerators, Water Innovation Centre, Industrial Entreprises Accelerator, along with an accelerator for participants of last years’ Hajj Hackathon.