Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association

What Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association does

The Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (VCPEA), founded in 2019 and headquartered in Riyadh, is a private non-profit industry association that supports and develops the venture capital and private equity ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Its core offerings are organized around three revenue-generating membership tiers — Institutional, Industry Partner, and Strategic Partner — supplemented by tiered training programs, sector research reports, standardized document templates (Model Term Sheet, ESOP platform via esopme.com, OQAL Note), and a calendar of conferences, dialogue sessions, and exclusive networking events. Distribution is conducted through online Typeform applications and direct outreach to VC/PE firms, family offices, corporate investors, and sector-enabling professional services firms.

The association's business model is a quote-based annual subscription recurring revenue structure, with anchor support from three core strategic partners — Jada Fund of Funds (PIF-established with SAR 4 billion), Saudi Venture Capital Company (USD 3 billion AUM across 50+ funds), and Waed Ventures (Aramco's entrepreneurial arm) — alongside a broader membership that includes OQAL, Falak, Franklin Templeton, BECO Capital, and EY. Marketing and thought leadership flow through vcpea.org.sa, a quarterly newsletter, social media, and participation in flagship Saudi events such as FII, LEAP, and Biban. The organization operates with a small core staff of 9 team members led by CEO Qusai Al-Saif and COO Abdul Rahman Al-Suhaimi.

Technology is not a productized component of the association's offering. Its digital footprint consists of the website, newsletter infrastructure, the esopme.com ESOP platform (operated by a partner law firm), and integrations with third-party member-benefit platforms such as Carta, Zest Equity, and PERQIN. The association's reported ecosystem outcomes — 69 members, SAR 60 billion in member assets under management, 16,300 jobs created by VC-backed startups, and a 2.66% contribution to Saudi Arabia's GDP — frame its positioning as a sector convener rather than a technology vendor.

Name

Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association

Legal name

Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (جمعية رأس المال الجريء والملكية الخاصة)

Website

https://vcpea.org.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (VCPEA) is a Riyadh-based non-profit industry association founded in 2019 that convenes Saudi VC/PE firms, corporate investors, family offices, and professional services firms through tiered memberships, training programs, standardized deal templates, and policy advocacy aligned with Vision 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital & Private Equity Industry Association

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Venture capital association
• Private equity network
• Investor training programs
• Industry association services
• Ecosystem development

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The association generates revenue through tiered membership subscriptions (Institutional Membership, Industry Partner Membership, Strategic Partner Membership). Members receive benefits including training discounts, event access, research reports, and networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (VCPEA) is a non-profit industry association that supports the VC/PE ecosystem in Saudi Arabia through tiered membership subscriptions, training programs co-developed with Harvard and Stanford, standardized deal documentation templates, and convening events. Its core deliverables include annual memberships (Institutional, Industry Partner, Strategic Partner), educational programs for fund managers and investors, sector research reports, and standardized legal document templates including the Model Term Sheet, ESOP Template, and OQAL Note.

Product overview

The Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (VCPEA) operates as a professional association providing a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a unified software platform. Its core offerings include: (1) Training Programs delivering educational content on venture capital and private equity topics in collaboration with universities like Harvard and Stanford; (2) Various Services providing member benefits including discounted access to HR platforms (ZenHR, Palm.hr), equity management tools (PERQIN), and educational platforms (Osarh); (3) Association Reports publishing research on exit infrastructure, liquidity structures, employee compensation, and investment trends in the Saudi VC/PE sector; and (4) Document Templates including Model Term Sheet, ESOP platform, and OQAL Note offering Islamic-compliant financing structures. The organization functions as an industry association connecting investors, fund managers, startups, and service providers rather than selling commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Institutional Membership Annual tiered subscription for VC/PE firms, family fund investors, and listed companies. Provides exclusive event access, 15% discount on training programs, collaboration opportunities, and limited access to association research and reports.
• Industry Partner Membership Annual subscription for law firms, accounting firms, and sector-enabling consultancies. Includes custom workshop design and leadership opportunities, 15% discount on training programs, and limited research access.
• Strategic Partner Membership Premium annual subscription for companies contributing to building the foundations of the VC/PE sector. Includes exclusive event access, 20% training discount with up to 3 reserved seats per program, marketing on digital platforms, research insights, and speaking opportunities at conferences.
• Training Programs Educational and development programs based on international standards for investment fund managers, emerging companies, investors, and those interested in the VC/PE sector. Includes the comprehensive training package developed with Harvard and Stanford.
• Debt Training Program Specialized training program focused on debt instruments targeting investment fund managers and VC/PE sector participants.
• Model Term Sheet Free downloadable term sheet template for VC/PE deals in the MENA region, developed in collaboration with STV, Latham & Watkins, and Salman Bin Muteb Al-Sudairi Law Firm to standardize deal documentation.
• ESOP Template Employee Stock Ownership Plan template and contractual framework for startups to create ESOP contracts seamlessly, developed in partnership with Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm.
• OQAL Note Islamic-compliant term sheet template from Oqal Group, incorporating Qard Hasan (interest-free loan) and promise for future share transfer structures for Sharia-compliant financing.
• Association Reports Sector research reports and detailed models defining the Saudi VC/PE sector, including exit infrastructure, liquidity windows, employee compensation studies, and investment guidance, available to members.
• Various Services (Member Benefits Package) Bundled benefits and discounted facilities for VCPEA members including discounted access to HR platforms (ZenHR 40-60% discount, Palm.hr 25% discount), equity management tools (PERQIN), and educational platforms (Osarh 20% discount).

Quantifiable outcome

• 69 members (VC/PE firms and sector enablers) as of the latest reporting period
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core, major and minor.

• Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law FirmsupportingTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2024Building on the ESOPME launch, the law firm continues to collaborate with the association on the ESOP platform (esopme.com) to reduce time and cost of creating equity agreements for startups.
• BIM VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2024BIM Ventures (a startup studio/business development incubator) signed a strategic partnership agreement with the association to enhance cooperation, integration, and empowerment between the two parties. The partnership aims to provide educational and statistical resources, enrich investment and entrepreneurship content, and activate the role of startup studios in the VC/PE ecosystem to reduce risks for investors, entrepreneurs, and startups.
• tali ventures (stc Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024tali ventures, the stc Group's investment fund, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the association. The partnership aims to enhance joint cooperation, raise awareness of the VC/PE sector, and organize events and workshops that contribute to enriching sector content and supporting entrepreneurship and private equity.
• Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2024The association launched the largest package of training programs for the VC/PE sector in collaboration with SVC and the Jada Fund of Funds. Programs are developed with global universities (Harvard, Stanford) and international investment firms to enhance professionalism in the sector.
• Jada Fund of Funds (جدا)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2024Jada Fund of Funds co-launched a comprehensive training program package with the association and SVC. Jada is committed to supporting emerging fund managers and providing training programs to develop Saudi talent in the VC/PE sector.
• EVCA (European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association) & Silicon Valley Venture & InnovationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 December 2023A dialogue session hosted by the association featuring EVCA and Silicon Valley Venture & Innovation to share international best practices and experiences with the Saudi VC/PE ecosystem.
• King & SpaldingsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2023King & Spalding co-hosted 'The Future of Private Credit' workshop with the association, contributing expertise on private credit markets and deal structuring.
• The Financial AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2023The association signed a cooperation agreement with The Financial Academy to launch comprehensive training programs and conduct detailed research aimed at increasing sector awareness and promoting professionalism in venture investment and private equity in the Kingdom.
• Oqal GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2023The association collaborated with Oqal Group to publish a free Model Term Sheet template and the OQAL Note (Islamic-compliant financing document). Oqal provides a platform connecting angel investors with entrepreneurs and startup founders.
• Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law FirmsupportingTechnology or Integration · 4 January 2023The law firm launched the ESOPME digital platform in collaboration with the association to help startups create Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) contracts seamlessly. The platform reduces the time and cost of creating equity agreements while ensuring legal compliance.
• Latham & Watkins LLPsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 December 2021The international law firm collaborated with the association and STV on developing the open-source Model Term Sheet template for MENA, providing legal expertise aligned with international market practices.
• Salman Bin Muteb Al-Sudairi Law FirmsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 December 2021The law firm partnered with the association and STV to support the development of the open-source Model Term Sheet template for the MENA region, ensuring alignment with local regulatory requirements.
• Majles TechminorOthersA service provider offering discounted facilities to association members as part of the various services offering.
• Labayh BusinessminorOthersA service provider offering discounted facilities to association members as part of the various services offering.
• ZenHRminorOthersHR system provider offering 40-60% discount to VC funds, helping HR departments and employees streamline payroll, attendance, and compliance with Saudi labor laws.
• Palm.hrminorOthersComprehensive HR management system offering 25% discount to association members, covering employee management, attendance, and payroll.
• Osarh (عصارة)minorOthersEducational platform extracting insights from the best trainers globally, offering 20% discount to association members for developmental solutions for companies.
• Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association hosted a workshop between ZATCA and its members to explore cooperation opportunities and address sector-specific regulatory and tax matters.
• General Authority for CompetitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association facilitated a cooperation meeting between the General Authority for Competition and its members to discuss fair competition policies in the VC/PE sector.
• Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association facilitated a cooperation meeting between CST and its members to explore collaboration in the technology and communications sector.
• Ministry of InvestmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and SVC, hosted an exclusive gathering at the Investors Majlis to connect members with government investment stakeholders.
• AON CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA dialogue session hosted by the association with AON Company covering insurance and risk management topics relevant to the VC/PE sector.
• Hourani & PartnersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry partner of the association — a leading commercial law firm in the Middle East with former 'Big Law' attorneys committed to the markets they serve.
• EYminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry partner of the association — providing auditing, tax advisory, and consulting services to help create long-term value for clients and build trust in capital markets.
• Albayouk Chartered AccountantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry partner of the association — providing auditing, Zakat and tax consultations, and administrative advisory services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Latin American Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (LAVCA): LAVCA serves as the industry association for PE/VC across Latin America with a focus on emerging-market ecosystem development — closely analogous to VCPEA's mandate to develop Saudi Arabia's emerging VC/PE ecosystem. Both organizations focus on institutionalizing nascent markets through standards, training, and policy engagement.
• Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA): IVCA represents VC/PE in India with tiered membership, training programs, policy advocacy, and research reports. IVCA's role in formalizing India's VC/PE sector provides a developmental template directly comparable to VCPEA's mandate in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation.
• National Venture Capital Association (NVCA): NVCA is the leading US venture capital trade association, providing advocacy, model legal documents (including NVCA standard docs that became an industry default), training, and events. VCPEA's Model Term Sheet and ESOP templates follow the same playbook NVCA used to institutionalize VC deal practice in the US.
• Australian Investment Council (formerly AVCAL): The Australian Investment Council is the industry body representing Australian private capital, offering policy advocacy and member services. Its evolution from AVCAL into a broader private-capital association illustrates how a national VC/PE body can mature alongside its market — a relevant trajectory for VCPEA.
• British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA): BVCA is the UK industry body for PE and VC, offering tiered memberships, training programs, model legal documents, policy advocacy, and conferences — directly mirroring VCPEA's three-tier membership and standardization role. Its scale (hundreds of members, decades-long track record) provides a template for VCPEA's potential trajectory.
• EMPEA (Emerging Markets Private Equity Association): EMPEA is the global industry association connecting Limited Partners and General Partners across emerging markets including MENA. Its focus on cross-border LP-GP connectivity in developing private capital markets is structurally identical to VCPEA's mission to organize the Saudi VC/PE value chain.
• Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA): CVCA is Canada's industry association for VC and PE, providing advocacy, research, training, networking events, and member services to funds and ecosystem partners. Its mid-sized market focus and three-tier membership structure align closely with VCPEA's operating model.
• Invest Europe: Invest Europe (formerly EVCA) is the European private equity and venture capital industry association representing 1,000+ members across PE, VC, and LP communities — the closest structural analog to VCPEA. The two organizations jointly hosted a Saudi dialogue session, demonstrating direct comparability in convening role and member-serving model.
• Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA): HKVCA is a non-profit industry association serving Greater China VC/PE, offering tiered memberships, training, and policy advocacy. Its position as the convening body for an emerging-market hub closely parallels VCPEA's role in Saudi Arabia within the broader MENA region.

Regional players

• Hub71: Hub71 is an Abu Dhabi-backed tech ecosystem platform backed by Mubadala that supports VC, startups, and ecosystem development across MENA. While not a pure industry association, its role as a regional convening platform for VC/startups overlaps meaningfully with parts of VCPEA's mandate and represents the most consequential regional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saudi-venture-capital-and-private-equity-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association