The Sanabil Accelerator program, managed by 500 Global and Sanabil Investments, has officially announced its eleventh batch of early-stage startups. This cohort brings together eight selected companies from a pool of more than 690 applications across the Middle East and North Africa.
These startups operate in sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare diagnostics, and digital risk management. Specifically, the program ran from April 5 to July 1, 2026, to support founders building foundational technologies. Meanwhile, the selected companies will present their businesses during a live Demo Day scheduled for July 1, 2026.
Startups Joining the Sanabil Accelerator
The eight participating companies address various regional challenges. Specifically, Carevision offers an AI platform for health-tech diagnostics, while Emtethal uses computer vision for food safety compliance. In addition, IBEA addresses B2B payment delays, and Kami provides tools for content creators to monetize fictional stories.
Furthermore, Melon Digital operates as an insurtech application, and Raid AI focuses on detecting deepfakes to prevent identity theft. Notably, TPP specializes in Arabic media intelligence, whereas Xsquare provides a unified view for business financial operations.
Program Adaptation and Hybrid Model
To address ongoing market uncertainty in the Middle East, the organizers modified the program format. Consequently, the first two phases of the Sanabil Accelerator were delivered entirely online. This hybrid approach allowed founders to maintain operational flexibility while building their businesses under changing market conditions.
Support and Mentorship for Founders
Participating entrepreneurs received targeted mentorship, operator-led workshops, and access to regional and global networks. Moreover, the program focused on hands-on execution support rather than a traditional standardized curriculum. This structure helped founders prepare for their upcoming presentations to ecosystem stakeholders.
“Batch 11 reflects the rising caliber and ambition of founders building from the region today. We are seeing entrepreneurs develop globally relevant companies with stronger execution, deeper innovation, and clearer paths to scale.”
Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA
Future Outlook and Next Cohort
As the eleventh cohort concludes in July, applications for the twelfth batch are now open to regional startups. Meanwhile, 500 Global continues to manage assets worth 2 billion USD as of December 31, 2025. The firm has backed more than 5,000 founders across 80 countries since its inception in 2010.
