LEAP is returning for its fifth edition in 2026, and this time the focus is firmly on founders preparing for scale rather than spectacle. Organized by Tahaluf, the LEAP Startup and Scaleup Program will run from April 13 to April 16, 2026, with applications now open for early stage and growth stage startups from Saudi Arabia and international markets. The program is offering up to $1 million in equity free funding for eligible founders who are onboarded.
The 2026 edition reflects how LEAP itself has evolved over the past five years. What began as a high energy technology showcase has increasingly positioned itself as a platform designed around tangible founder outcomes, including funding access, enterprise connections, and sustained visibility across the regional and global tech ecosystem.
According to Tahaluf, this year’s Startup and Scaleup Program has been redesigned to prioritize depth over scale. New workshops, dedicated founder zones, and a more curated environment are intended to reduce noise and increase meaningful engagement between startups, investors, and enterprise stakeholders. Entire new zones within Hall 1A will be reserved specifically for startups, scaleups, investors, and ecosystem partners, signaling a shift toward more focused interactions rather than broad exposure.
The program is open to a wide range of founders, from early stage startups refining product market fit to more mature companies planning regional expansion, enterprise sales strategies, or fundraising. This broader scope mirrors a wider shift in Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem, where support is increasingly structured across multiple growth phases rather than concentrated solely at inception, a trend highlighted in recent ecosystem reporting by MAGNiTT.
LEAP’s evolution comes as Saudi Arabia continues to deepen its ambitions as a regional technology hub under Vision 2030. Venture funding in the Kingdom has stabilized following a volatile global investment cycle, while government backed initiatives are becoming more closely tied to real procurement opportunities. At the same time, founders are being encouraged to think globally earlier, positioning Saudi Arabia as a launchpad rather than a destination market.
The equity free nature of the funding remains one of the program’s strongest draws. For founders navigating long enterprise sales cycles, particularly in sectors such as B2B software, fintech, and deep tech, non dilutive capital can provide critical runway without adding complexity to cap tables ahead of future institutional rounds.
Beyond funding, Tahaluf says the 2026 program will place heavier emphasis on founder readiness. New content will focus on pitching and storytelling, regulatory awareness, enterprise sales, and scaling operations. These additions reflect a maturing ecosystem where access alone is no longer sufficient and preparedness increasingly determines which startups are able to convert opportunity into growth.
Another notable element of the 2026 edition is its alumni focus. The program explicitly calls out Tahaluf Founder Alumni, signaling a growing effort to build continuity and long term relationships rather than one off participation. This alumni-first approach aligns LEAP more closely with global technology platforms such as Web Summit, which increasingly prioritize sustained founder engagement over annual exposure.
For founders, the timing is significant. IPO conversations are resurfacing in the region, international capital is paying closer attention to Gulf markets, and Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a regional scale hub. In that context, platforms that combine funding, visibility, and access are becoming strategic assets rather than optional extras.
Applications for the LEAP 2026 Startup and Scaleup Program are currently open, and Tahaluf is encouraging founders to nominate peers who could benefit from the opportunity. As LEAP enters its fifth year, the message is increasingly clear: the ecosystem has grown, and expectations have grown with it. The focus is shifting from who shows up to who is ready for what comes next.
LEAP opens applications offering $1M in equity free funding for 2026