Egypt-Saudi Firm Plans $14.3M for 50 New Startups by 2026

Starting up a business in the Middle East just got easier thanks to a $14.3 million commitment from an advisory firm betting big on innovation.

Wider Consulting, a joint Egyptian-Saudi company, announced plans to invest across healthcare, software, education, and construction technology over the next four years. The firm aims to establish 50 startups in both markets by the end of 2026.

Founded in mid-2025 by Omar Hamdy, Wider Consulting already operates in six countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Germany, and Australia. This global footprint gives the firm unique access to investors, academic talent, and economic opportunities across continents.

The company is launching a startup accelerator designed to identify promising ideas and connect founders with international funding. Wider currently incubates three startups from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, proving the model works before scaling up.

Wider has forged partnerships with universities including Al-Hussein Technical University in Jordan and the University of Sydney. These collaborations help transform academic research into tangible products and services that solve real problems.

Egypt stands out as a strategic opportunity for the firm. The country offers a strong academic ecosystem and rising demand for Arabic-language technology solutions that serve the region's 400 million speakers.

The Ripple Effect

This investment does more than fund individual companies. By bridging the gap between universities and venture capital, Wider creates a pipeline that turns classroom innovations into job-creating businesses.

The firm plans to retain controlling stakes in select ventures while listing 15% to 40% of portfolio companies on stock markets as they mature. This approach ensures long-term strategic alignment while giving everyday investors a chance to participate in startup success.

With partnerships across venture capital firms in Saudi Arabia and academic institutions region-wide, Wider is building an ecosystem where ideas flow freely across borders. The focus on early-stage innovation means supporting entrepreneurs at their most vulnerable moment, when belief matters as much as capital.

Three startups are already being nurtured. Forty-seven more are on the way, each one representing someone's dream of building something meaningful.