LEAP: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
“LEAP brings together global technology companies, startups, investors and public-sector leaders to showcase innovation, support investment and advance dialogue across technology, policy and industry.” 2026: Rocket Fuel listed 100 pitches and a $1 million equity-free prize fund; the investor page listed 1,900+ investors, 1,600+ matchmaking moments and $22.2 trillion AUM; the Main Stage page reported over $20 billion in projects and deals announced to date.
- Next edition
- Apr 12–15, 2027 · LEAP 2027 source
- Where
- Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre, Malham, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia source
- Format
- in-person · 4 days (2026 edition).
- Tickets
- FREE–$3,500 (2027). source
- Startup pass
- Startup Pod price not published (2027). The Founder Pass is listed at $300 (1,118 SAR) and $600 (2,239 SAR) (2027). source
- Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition
- $1 Million in equity-free awards (2026). source
- Cadence
- Annual. Riyadh editions began in 2022. LEAP 2026 was listed for 13–16 April before being held on 31 August–3 September 2026; the next edition is announced for 12–15 April 2027.
GeneralistAIFintechHealth & biotechClimateDeeptechGamingSpaceRoboticsPre-seedSeedSeries AGrowthFoundersInvestorsCorporatesPolicy & governmentPress
Next edition
| Dates | Apr 12–15, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | LEAP 2027 |
| Venue | RECC Malham, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia source |
| Theme | Into New Worlds |
| Timezone | Asia/Riyadh |
| Tickets | onegiantleap.com source |
Ticket tiers as published
| Tier | Price | Includes | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Pass source | FREE; $50 (188 SAR) (2027) | Exhibition, full conference access across LEAP and DeepFest stages, pre- and post-event networking through the app, and Rocket Fuel viewing. | 2027 |
| Priority Pass source | $400 (1,491 SAR); $800 (2,982 SAR) (2027) | General Pass benefits, private workspaces, exclusive parking, premium app and matchmaking, early entry, Opening Ceremony access, premium lounges and LEAP Connect networking zone. | 2027 |
| VIP Pass source | $2,800 (10,438 SAR); $3,500 (13,047 SAR) (2027) | Priority benefits, on-site meeting concierge for two meetings, private dining, golf-cart transfers, Tech Tours, welcome kit, priority badge collection, hotel-rate access and valet service. | 2027 |
| Founder Pass source | $300 (1,118 SAR); $600 (2,239 SAR) (2027) | Founder-focused access including the Matchmaking Zone, premium app and matchmaking, founder bootcamps and mixers, LEAP Connect and Startup Clinic access. | 2027 |
| Investor Pass source | Application only (2027) | Matchmaking Zone, private workspaces, premium app and matchmaking, Investor Lounge, LP/GP closed-door sessions and Founder x Investor mixers. | 2027 |
| Student Pass source | FREE (2027) | Exhibition, full conference access across LEAP and DeepFest stages, app networking and Rocket Fuel viewing; verification required with a .edu email. | 2027 |
| Press Pass source | FREE (2027) | Exhibition and full conference access across LEAP and DeepFest stages, app networking and Rocket Fuel viewing; verified media only, with application using an official company email. | 2027 |
How founders get in
The organizer first listed LEAP 2026 for 2026-04-13–2026-04-16; the completed edition took place 2026-08-31–2026-09-03. The next announced edition is 2027-04-12–2027-04-15. LEAP describes the Startup Pod as a way to exhibit, pitch and raise visibility; the Founder Pass is for founders who want ecosystem connections without a physical pod.
- For a startup showcase, apply for a Startup Pod through LEAP’s startup programme form. The organizer describes this route for startups seeking to exhibit, pitch and meet investors; its current page offers registration of interest for 2027.
- To compete in Rocket Fuel, apply separately through the Startup Programme. Rocket Fuel applications for LEAP 2026 are closed; the organizer currently directs interested founders to register interest for 2027.
- If attending as an individual founder without exhibiting, buy a Founder Pass. The 2027 ticket page lists it at $300 (1,118 SAR) and $600 (2,239 SAR) (2027).
- For general attendance, register for a General Pass through the ticket page; the 2027 page displays FREE and $50 (188 SAR) (2027). Investor access is a separate application-based route.
| Startup programme | Apply for a Startup Pod through the Startup & Scaleup Program form if you want to exhibit. A Founder Pass is the ticketed, non-exhibiting route for individual founders. Rocket Fuel requires a separate application within the Startup Programme; 2026 applications are closed and the organizer offers a 2027 register-interest form. source |
|---|---|
| Startup price | Startup Pod price not published (2027). The Founder Pass is listed at $300 (1,118 SAR) and $600 (2,239 SAR) (2027). source |
| Includes | Startup Pod: a dedicated show-floor pod, access to investors, enterprises and government stakeholders, Ecosystem Xchange sessions, private AI-powered matchmaking, a meeting concierge, a pitch-coaching workshop and team exhibitor passes. Founder Pass: investor and founder matchmaking, Ecosystem Xchange sessions, curated meetups and inclusion in the Founder Directory; no pod or team passes. |
| Students | A limited FREE Student Pass is listed for LEAP 2027; student status is verified using a .edu email (2027). |
| Investor pass | Apply for Investor Access through LEAP’s investor application / community route; it is not a generally purchasable pass. source |
| Investor eligibility | Reserved for active, qualified investors; applications are reviewed and require approval before purchase (2027). |
| Press | A limited free pass is available to verified media; apply using an official company email (2027). |
| Application required | No, tickets are purchased |
Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition
| Prize | $1 Million in equity-free awards (2026). source |
|---|---|
| Format | Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition (2026): 100 startups pitch over the first three days; selected founders advance to a Grand Finale, where 10 pitch before leading investors and industry experts and seven winners are selected. The organizer describes a three-minute pitch format (2026). |
| Eligibility | For founders building high-growth technology companies. Eligibility is assessed through a separate application as part of the Startup Programme; the organizer says selection considers size, scale, social impact, funding raised, years in operation and team size (2026). |
Winners
- Waspito (2026) — LEAP Grand Prize — $250,000 source
- Carevision (2026) — LEAP Landing Award source
- SARsatX (2026) — Into New Worlds Award source
- Ferveret (2026) — Scaling Star Award source
- Melt Water (2026) — Tech for Humanity Award source
- Imagine Devices (2026) — Shooting Star Award source
- Kanz (2026) — LEAP Founder Award source
Judges
- Esther Wong, Founder and CEO at 3C AGI Partners source
- Ahmed Al-Darwish, Managing Partner at Noa Capital Partners source
- SC Moatti, Managing Partner at Mighty Capital source
- Heba Ali, Venture Investor & Development Economist source
- JF Gauthier, CEO at Startup Genome source
- Mark Rayner, Managing Partner at Goldtrack Ventures source
- Manaf Kayal, CEO/CIO at Takamol Ventures source
- Eric Martineau-Fortin, Chairman and CEO at White Star Capital source
- Emon Shakoor, Founder & CEO at Blossom Accelerator source
- Homam Meaddawi, General Partner at Khwarizmi Ventures source
- Kashaf Jamal, VP - Investments & Monitoring at Fatima Gobi Ventures source
- Eyad Albayouk, Partner at F6 Ventures source
- Fahed Qteishat, Executive Director at MEVP source
- Robin Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer & Acting Chief Investment Officer at HUMAIN source
- Halah Al-Jubeir, Managing Director - Saudi Arabia (MENAP) at Antler source
- Kelvin Au, Chief Venture Officer at 3Ventures source
- Omar A. Almajdouie, Founding Partner at Raed Ventures source
- Armineh Baghoomian, Managing Director, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Partners for Growth source
- Jussof Breshna, CEO / Managing Director at Graphit Holding source
- Mohammed Bakhsh, Investment Director at Wa'ed Ventures source
- Mohamed Amine Merah, Managing Partner & CEO at BIM Ventures source
- Salem Washeely, Co-founder, Board Member, Managing Director & CFO at Sadu Capital source
Meeting investors there
The organizer describes matching startups with investors by industry and growth stage, with personalized schedules and access to investors from early stage to Series C (2026). Investor access is application-based and includes concierge startup matching, closed-door sessions and the Investor Lounge (2027). The organizer’s co-organizer MCIT reported nearly $15 billion in announcements, investments and agreements at LEAP 2026; examples included Al Moammar Information Systems’ $1.2 billion data-centre expansion, AWS’s planned investment of more than $5.3 billion, and Adobe’s commitment of more than $4 billion (2026). source
| Investors attending | 1,900+ investors; over $22.2 trillion in assets under management represented (2026). source |
|---|---|
| Formats | Private, AI-powered startup–investor matchmaking with personalized schedules (2026). · Investor Lounge and Matchmaking Zone (2026). · Invite-only Investor Dinner and investor networking (2026). · Investor & Founder Stage, investor-focused sessions and mentoring (2026). · LP/GP Nexus and closed-door sessions for investors (2026). |
| Meetings arranged | 1,600+ matchmaking moments (2026; organiser’s published label). source |
Investor firms the organiser lists (LEAP 2026 (completed 31 August–3 September 2026; LEAP reported $20 billion+ in new projects and deals announced on its main stage and 1,900+ investors with $22.2 trillion in represented AUM). Next announced edition: LEAP 2027, 12–15 April 2027, RECC Malham, Saudi Arabia.)
3C AGI PartnersNoa Capital PartnersMighty CapitalStartup GenomeGoldtrack VenturesTakamol VenturesWhite Star CapitalBlossom AcceleratorKhwarizmi VenturesFatima Gobi VenturesF6 VenturesMEVPHUMAINAntler3VenturesRaed VenturesPartners for GrowthGraphit HoldingWa'ed VenturesBIM VenturesSadu Capital
The full investor list is available to registered attendees; see the official investor page.
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Who speaks (LEAP 2026 (completed 31 August–3 September 2026; LEAP reported $20 billion+ in new projects and deals announced on its main stage and 1,900+ investors with $22.2 trillion in represented AUM). Next announced edition: LEAP 2027, 12–15 April 2027, RECC Malham, Saudi Arabia.)
- H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communication & Information Technology · Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Lisa Su, Chair & CEO · AMD
- Chuck Robbins, Chair & CEO · Cisco
- Shantanu Narayen, Chair & CEO · Adobe
- Tareq Amin, CEO · HUMAIN
- Michio Kaku, Professor of Theoretical Physics · City College of New York
- Qasar Younis, Co-Founder & CEO · Applied Intuition
- JF Gauthier, CEO · Startup Genome
- H.E. Abdulsalam Haykal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology · Government of Syria
- Abir El Saghir, Joy Award Winner & Global Culinary Content Creator
- Mohit Joshi, CEO and Managing Director · Tech Mahindra
- Rishad Premji, Executive Chairman · Wipro
- HRH Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, Secretary General · Alwaleed Philanthropies
- Jennifer Li, CFO & Head of International Operations · WeRide
- H.E. Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information, Communications & Technology · Kingdom of Eswatini
- H.E. Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunications · Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Ahmad Al Khowaiter, EVP Technology & Innovation · Aramco
- Sol Campbell, Former England Footballer; Investor and Sports Technology Entrepreneur
- H.E. Alrebdi Fahad Alrebdi, President · National Data Management Office
- H.E. Alexander Proell, State Secretary for Digitalisation and e-Governance · Republic of Austria
Full lineup: official speakers page.
Notable past speakers
- Maëlle Gavet, CEO of Techstars · Techstars (2023)
- will.i.am, Tech Enthusiast, Investor (2023)
Sponsors and partners
Strategic Partner 1
STC
Strategic 9
SDAIAAlJammaz TechnologiesEjadaGo TelecomLenovoMISSalamSalesforceThe Garage
Energy & Innovation Partner 1
Aramco
Knowledge Partner 1
EY
Business Solution Partner 1
Elm
Secure Technologies Partner 1
SITE
Economic Transformation Partner 1
Takamol
AI Enablement Partner 1
Cisco
Digital Transformation Partner 1
Tamkeen Tech
Asia Strategic Partner 1
EW Partners
Navigation Partner 1
Hudhud Maps
Diamond 8
AdobeAWSCloud SolutionsEricssonGAPPNTT DataOracleZain
AI & Data Partner 1
PwC
Helicopter 1
The Helicopter Company
Platinum 4
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseIntegrated DawiyatMoznSwarm Technologies
AI Cloud Partner 1
Google Cloud
Generative AI Partner 1
Accenture
AI Transformation Partner 1
Devoteam
Gold 11
AiyusrDell TechnologiesFoodicsMasdrNutanix2P Perfect PresentationRaya HoldingsSnowflakeT2 Business SimplifiedTechnical Links ServicesWakeb
Silver 7
Emaar ExecutiveFortinetKing Salman Global Academy for Arabic LanguageMindwareNaseejNokiaTawal
Critical Communication Partner 1
specialized by stc
Bronze 5
AXBARQData DogDeloitteIntel
+36 more sponsors and partners on the official partners page.
Media partners: Sky News Arabia, Bloomberg, CNN Arabic, Economy Middle East, The Saudi Times, Fast Company Middle East, SportsBusiness, Tahawul Tech, Entrepreneur Middle East, Business Today ME, Arab News, The Fintech Times, entARABI, MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East, Caixin Global, HackerNoon, Eye of Riyadh, Arabian Business, AIT News, Sifted, MenaTech, Argaam, Arab Times News, Inc Arabia, AI Magazine, Majarra, GEC Newswire, Augustus Media, Lovin Riyadh, Fintech Magazine, Smashi Business, Technology Magazine, Cyber Magazine, Intelligent Global Media, AlBayan Magazine, Jawlah, Alweeam, Financial IT, Tech Revolt, n3xt Sports
Government partners: Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Guard, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Ministry of Culture, General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque
Full list: official partners page.
Startups there
600+ startups (LEAP 2026; public headline figure, not separately labelled as an exhibitor-only count) · official startup directory
Alumni the organiser highlights
- Lisan AI (2025) — LEAP identifies it as a 2025 Shooting Star Award winner; LEAP later reported $2.6 million ARR and government customers (reported 2026). source
Programme
| Awards | Rocket Fuel is the published startup awards programme. For LEAP 2026, the organizer listed seven equity-free awards: LEAP Award — $250,000; Shooting Star — $150,000; Scaling Star — $150,000; Tech for Humanity — $150,000; Into New Worlds — $150,000; LEAP Landing — $100,000; and LEAP Founder — $50,000 (2026). |
|---|---|
| Call for speakers | The organizer provides a 2027 speaker register-interest form. No submission deadline is published on that page: https://onegiantleap.com/register-your-interest-for-2026 |
| Official app | LEAP 2026 |
| Hashtag | #LEAP27 (announced edition); #LEAP26 (completed edition) |
Past editions, as published
| Edition | Dates | Attendees | Investors | Startups | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · Rescheduled from the original 13–16 April 2026 listing to 31 August–3 September 2026. source | Aug 31 – Sep 3, 2026 | — | 1,397 investors from 1,027 firms across 72 countries, representing US$18.3 trillion in AUM (2026); more than US$15 billion in technology investments and strategic partnerships announced on Day One (2026). | 100 Rocket Fuel semi-finalists; seven awardees: Waspito (LEAP Award), Imagine Devices (Shooting Star), Ferveret (Scaling Star), SarsatX (Into New Worlds), Melt Water (Tech for Humanity), Carevision (LEAP Landing), and Kanz (Founder Award) (2026). | recap |
| 2025 source | Feb 9–12, 2025 | 200,000 industry professionals (2025). | More than 1,900 investors; US$22 trillion combined AUM; 74% travelled from overseas; over US$15 billion in confirmed and committed onsite investments (2025). | 680 startups exhibited (2025); Rocket Fuel received more than 2,500 applications from over 30 countries and awarded a USD 1 million equity-free prize pool (2025). | recap · report |
| 2024 source | Mar 4–7, 2024 | Over 215,000 attendees (2024). | — | Rocket Fuel prize pool exceeded US$1,000,000 across six award categories (2024). | |
| 2022 · Inaugural edition. source | Feb 1–3, 2022 | 100,000+ attendees (2022). | US$6.4 billion in investments reported for the inaugural edition (2022). | Maqsam was identified as a winner of LEAP’s Rocket Fuel competition (2022). | |
| 2023 source | — | 172,000+ attendees (2023). | More than US$9 billion in total investment announcements (2023). | — |
Cities: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2022–2026)
Who attends
| Breakdown | The official pages reviewed do not publish a percentage breakdown of 2026 attendees by role. source |
|---|---|
| Geography | The investor programme reported investors from 80+ countries (2026); no event-wide attendee-country total is stated on the official pages reviewed. source |
| Roles | Founders, Investors, Corporates, Policy & government, Press |
| Stages | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Growth |
Official links and socials
Travel & apps
In the press
- Saudi Arabia’s Year of Artificial Intelligence Sets the Stage for LEAP 2026 in Riyadh — Inc Arabia (2026)
- Saudi Arabia didn’t just host a tech event — it’s one of the world’s biggest ones — Fast Company Middle East (2026)
- LEAP 2025: Inaugural Tech Arena to offer ‘Live TV’ platform for next-gen innovations — Economy Middle East (2025)
- LEAP 2025 to Showcase Next-Gen Tech at Inaugural Tech Arena — TechXMedia (2025)
- Ericsson Showcases Connectivity Innovations at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh — TechAfrica News (2025)
- Ericsson To Showcase Innovation Leadership at LEAP 2025 — ITP.net (2025)
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 7, 2026:
- apps.apple.com/us/app/leap-2026/id1599149271
- connect.onegiantleap.com/event/leap2026
- onegiantleap.com
- onegiantleap.com/2026-speakers
- onegiantleap.com/about-us/key-information
- onegiantleap.com/attend/2027-tickets
- onegiantleap.com/faq
- onegiantleap.com/form/download-show-report
- onegiantleap.com/ja/node/2818
- onegiantleap.com/news/press-and-media
- onegiantleap.com/our-partners?page=1
- onegiantleap.com/partners/government-partners
- onegiantleap.com/session/event-wrap
- onegiantleap.com/sponsors-partners
- onegiantleap.com/start-ups
- onegiantleap.com/startup/become-a-start-up
- onegiantleap.com/startup/investor-program
- onegiantleap.com/startup/rocketfuel-pitch-competition-stage
- onegiantleap.com/startup/startup-program
- onegiantleap.com/ur/node/4996
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swapcard.apps.android.leap
- tahaluf.com/leap-2025
- einpresswire.com/article/939677644/leap-5-closes-as-riyadh-brings-together-the-global-technology-ecosystem-for-landmark-fifth-edition
- insights.onegiantleap.com
- insights.onegiantleap.com/blogs
- insights.onegiantleap.com/videos
- instagram.com/leapandinnovate
- instagram.com/p/Dd5-OFKF3yG
- linkedin.com/company/leap-expo
- onegiantleap.com/en/home.html
- spa.gov.sa/en/N2053965
- spa.gov.sa/en/N2056967
- spa.gov.sa/en/N2257909
- youtube.com/channel/UCG8jQ9A7VuhhZXK8VCU9gaQ
LEAP: frequently asked
When is LEAP 2027?
LEAP 2027 runs Apr 12–15, 2027 at Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre, Malham, Riyadh, according to the organiser's published dates.
How much does LEAP cost?
Published ticket prices run FREE–$3,500 (2027).. Startups: Apply for a Startup Pod through the Startup & Scaleup Program form if you want to exhibit. A Founder Pass is the ticketed, non-exhibiting route for individual founders. Rocket Fuel requires a separate application within the Startup Programme; 2026 applications are closed and the organizer offers a 2027 register-interest form. (Startup Pod price not published (2027). The Founder Pass is listed at $300 (1,118 SAR) and $600 (2,239 SAR) (2027).).
How do startups get into LEAP?
Apply for a Startup Pod through the Startup & Scaleup Program form if you want to exhibit. A Founder Pass is the ticketed, non-exhibiting route for individual founders. Rocket Fuel requires a separate application within the Startup Programme; 2026 applications are closed and the organizer offers a 2027 register-interest form.
How many investors attend LEAP?
The organiser reports 1,900+ investors; over $22.2 trillion in assets under management represented (2026). investors. The organizer describes matching startups with investors by industry and growth stage, with personalized schedules and access to investors from early stage to Series C (2026). Investor access is application-based and includes concierge startup matching, closed-door sessions and the Investor Lounge (2027). The organizer’s co-organizer MCIT reported nearly $15 billion in announcements, investments and agreements at LEAP 2026; examples included Al Moammar Information Systems’ $1.2 billion data-centre expansion, AWS’s planned investment of more than $5.3 billion, and Adobe’s commitment of more than $4 billion (2026).
What is Rocket Fuel Pitch Competition?
LEAP's pitch competition. Prize as published: $1 Million in equity-free awards (2026).. Eligibility: For founders building high-growth technology companies. Eligibility is assessed through a separate application as part of the Startup Programme; the organizer says selection considers size, scale, social impact, funding raised, years in operation and team size (2026).
How big is LEAP?
201,000+ visitors (2026; organiser-published figure). attendees, 600+ startups overall; Rocket Fuel featured 100 pitches and a $1 million equity-free prize fund (2026). startups, per the organiser.