Entrepreneurship World Cup

What Entrepreneurship World Cup does

Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is a global startup pitch competition and support program founded in 2019, co-hosted by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), a nonprofit incorporated in Virginia, USA, and Monsha'at, Saudi Arabia's Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority. The competition engages entrepreneurs from 191+ countries and operates across four tracks—Idea Stage, Early Stage, Growth Stage, and AI Sub-Tracks—with cumulative cash prizes of $6.5 million and over $150 million in unlocked in-kind support since inception. The annual competition cycle progresses from a self-serve online application through a virtual bootcamp for the top 250 (delivered in collaboration with Esade Ramon Llull University) to a Global Finals event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, held as part of the Biban Forum.

The program offers equity-free cash awards across more than 12 winners, with the Early Stage and Growth Stage tracks each distributing up to $490,000 and the Idea Stage offering $50,000+, while AI Sub-Tracks provide $50,000 per category. Finalists receive mentorship, investor introductions, and soft-landing support for Saudi Arabia and MENA market entry, with access to partners including NEOM, MISA (Ministry of Investment), CST (Communications, Space & Technology Commission), Microsoft, SparkLabs Group, and Saudi financial institutions (SNB, Riyadh Bank, SME Bank). The 2025 cycle drew over 10,000 applications from 169 countries, with 250 startups from 81 countries in the bootcamp and 100 finalists from 46 countries competing at the Global Finals.

EWC does not generate revenue from participants—no application fee is charged and all prizes are non-dilutive. Operations are funded through sponsorship arrangements with Monsha'at and GEN as global hosts, Misk as founding partner, Saudi banks and corporate entities as sponsors, and 82+ ecosystem partners as global distribution affiliates. The legal operating entity is Global Entrepreneurship Network, Inc., a nonprofit, and EWC is not structured as a venture-backed or publicly traded company. The GTM motion is event-driven and ecosystem-mediated: applications are captured digitally through the official website and ecosystem partners, with the annual Riyadh Global Finals functioning as the primary brand, media, and deal-making moment.

Name

Entrepreneurship World Cup

Legal name

Global Entrepreneurship Network, Inc.

Website

https://entrepreneurshipworldcup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Entrepreneurship World Cup is a global startup pitch competition co-hosted by GEN and Monsha'at, offering equity-free cash prizes across Idea, Early, Growth, and AI tracks. It has engaged 420,000+ entrepreneurs from 191+ countries, with annual Global Finals held in Riyadh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup pitch competition and entrepreneurship support services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL), Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

Keywords

• Global startup pitch competition
• Entrepreneurship support program
• Equity-free cash prizes
• Startup mentorship network
• MENA market entry program

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Competition Sponsorship: EWC is funded through sponsorship arrangements with global hosts (Monsha'at and GEN), founding partners (Misk), sponsors (Saudi banks, corporations), and ecosystem partners. The competition offers prizes as non-dilutive cash awards funded by these partners. No direct revenue is generated from participants as there is no application fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is a global startup pitch competition and support program that invites entrepreneurs from idea through growth stage to compete for equity-free cash prizes, mentorship, investor connections, and market-entry support. Each annual cycle progresses from open online applications to a virtual bootcamp for the top 250 and culminates in a Global Finals live pitching event in Riyadh as part of the Biban Forum. The program also provides finalists with a soft-landing pathway for scaling into Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

Product overview

The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) is a single unified global startup competition platform—not a modular software product—offering multiple competition tracks (Idea, Early, Growth, and AI Sub-Tracks) where startups progress through applications, virtual bootcamp, and live Global Finals. The platform provides integrated support services including mentorship, investor access, and soft-landing programs for market entry into Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. Prize structures vary by track, with total prizes exceeding $1 million annually. The EWC operates as an annual competition cycle rather than an ongoing software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EWC 100: Top 100 finalists selected to compete at the Global Finals
• EWC 250
• Global Finals

Products and services

• Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) Competition Platform Annual global startup pitch competition and support program with multiple tracks (Idea, Early, Growth, AI) offering equity-free cash prizes, mentorship, investor access, and market entry support; culminates in the Global Finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of Biban Forum.
• Idea Stage Track Competition track for entrepreneurs with a concept or prototype seeking validation and initial building; awards include Grand Prize of $30,000 and Runner Up of $20,000.
• Early Stage Track Competition track for startups with a product in market and early revenue seeking traction; awards include Grand Prize of $200,000, Runner Up of $150,000, 3rd Place of $90,000, and 4th Place of $50,000.
• Growth Stage Track Competition track for established companies scaling operations and expanding into new markets; awards include Grand Prize of $160,000 and Runner Up of $100,000.
• AI Sub-Tracks Specialized prize categories for AI-focused startups, including AI Infrastructure & Platforms, Smart Manufacturing & Mobility, Energy/Water/Sustainable Systems, and Gaming & Immersive Tech, with $50,000 prize awarded in each sub-track.
• Virtual Bootcamp Intensive program for the top 250 startups featuring theoretical and practical sessions, specialized workshops, mentorship, pitch training, and investor prep, conducted in collaboration with Esade Ramon Llull University.
• EWC 100 Program Top 100 finalists program providing access to mentorship, investor networking, media visibility, soft-landing support for Saudi Arabia and MENA region market entry, and connection to 200+ strategic entities and 40+ government-backed incentives.
• Global Finals Event Annual live pitching competition held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of Biban Forum, where finalists compete for a share of USD 1 million in equity-free cash prizes with all-expenses-paid travel support.
• Soft-Landing Support Program Market entry support service for startups scaling into Saudi Arabia and the MENA Region, including 100% company ownership eligibility and a streamlined pathway to operational readiness for international founders.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEN is the global host and co-organizer of EWC, providing the international entrepreneurship ecosystem network, judging panels, and global brand presence. GEN President Jonathan Ortmans participates in winner ceremonies.
• Monsha'at (Saudi SME Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonsha'at is the global host and co-organizer of EWC, providing Saudi government backing, hosting the Global Finals in Riyadh, and connecting participants with Saudi market opportunities aligned with Vision 2030.
• Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMisk is the founding partner of EWC, providing foundational support and resources for the competition. Misk CEO Dr. Badr Al-Badr participates in winner ceremonies.
• Esade Ramon Llull UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with EWC to deliver the virtual bootcamp for the top 250 startups, providing theoretical and practical training sessions, 20 specialized workshops, and academic credibility to the mentorship program.
• Premium ResidencyminorOthersPremium Residency program is a sponsor offering residency benefits to eligible EWC winners, supporting their ability to establish operations in Saudi Arabia.
• MicrosoftflagshipTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is a partner of EWC, providing technology resources, cloud services, and potentially mentorship related to technology and AI for participating startups.
• NEOMflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEOM is a partner of EWC, offering startups potential access to NEOM's mega-project ecosystem and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia's futuristic city development.
• MISA (Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMISA is a partner of EWC, facilitating investment opportunities and providing regulatory guidance for international startups looking to invest or establish operations in Saudi Arabia.
• CST (Communications, Space & Technology Commission)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST is a strategic partner of EWC, supporting technology and space tech track participants with regulatory expertise and connections to Saudi Arabia's technology sector.
• Global Innovation Institute (GINI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGINI participates as an ecosystem partner, providing innovation expertise and connections through Executive Director C. Anthony Mills.
• Biban ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiban Forum hosts the EWC Global Finals as part of its annual entrepreneurship event, providing the venue, audience, and ecosystem connections for the competition.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield: TechCrunch's flagship pitch competition at the Disrupt conference, awarding a $100K equity-free prize and intense media exposure to early-stage startups. Comparable as a high-profile global pitch competition, though more US-centric in judging and audience.
• Hult Prize: A global social entrepreneurship pitch competition and accelerator run in partnership with the United Nations and Hult International Business School. Directly comparable as a multi-stage global pitch competition with regionals, a global finals, and equity-free prize funding targeting impact-oriented startups.
• Seedstars: A Geneva-based organization running the Seedstars World Competition, a global pitch competition focused on emerging-market startups with a $500K equity-free prize pool. Comparable in geographic focus on emerging markets, equity-free prizes, and a regional-qualifier → global finals format.
• Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC): A global student-led pitch competition for social enterprises run out of UC Berkeley Haas. Comparable as a global pitch competition awarding equity-free cash prizes to impact-driven startups, though with a narrower focus on student founders and social enterprise.
• Startup World Cup: A global startup pitch competition organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures that culminates in a $1M grand prize at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale. Directly comparable in format (multi-stage regional qualifying → global finals), target audience (Idea/Seed/Growth stage founders), and equity-free prize structure.

Emerging players

• Station F: The world's largest startup campus in Paris, hosting accelerator programs from global partners including government-backed initiatives. Comparable as a government-supported global startup platform, though structured as a year-round campus rather than a single annual competition.
• MassChallenge: A global nonprofit startup accelerator with cohorts in multiple countries, including the MENA region. Comparable as a nonprofit-led, equity-free startup support program with a global footprint, but more focused on multi-month acceleration cohorts than a single annual pitch finale.

Broad incumbents

• Web Summit: One of the world's largest tech conferences hosting PITCH, its startup competition for early-stage companies. Comparable as a global venue that combines pitch competitions with massive investor and media exposure, though Web Summit's core product is the conference itself.
• Plug and Play: A global innovation platform and accelerator running vertical-specific startup programs (including in MENA via Plug and Play MENA). Comparable in providing corporate-sponsored startup support and ecosystem access, though structured as multi-week accelerators rather than annual pitch finals.
• Forbes 30 Under 30: An annual list and affiliated summit (30 Under 30 Summit) recognizing young entrepreneurs and providing investor exposure. Comparable as a high-visibility global platform that funnels founders toward investors, though structured as recognition + summit rather than a traditional pitch competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ewc_global
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EntrepreneurshipWorldCupGlobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/EntrepreneurshipWorldCup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/entrepreneurship-world-cup
• Instagraminstagram.com/entrepreneurshipworldcup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments4 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Entrepreneurship World Cup