India & Saudi Arabia Deepen Startup Synergy: Innovation Roundtable Marks a New Era of Cross-Border Collaboration

When India and Saudi Arabia sit across the table to talk innovation, it’s no longer just diplomacy — it’s the beginning of a high-velocity economic partnership shaped by technology, talent, and a shared ambition to lead the future. That spirit was unmistakable on 12th November 2025, when more than 50 of India’s most influential unicorns and soonicorns converged with top Saudi investors and policymakers for the India–Saudi Innovation and Unicorn Roundtable, a landmark initiative aimed at reshaping how the two countries build and scale innovation together.

Hosted jointly by Startup India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and the Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (MISA), the high-level dialogue was led by Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment — a signal of just how strategically both nations view this partnership.

A Rising Partnership Finds Its Momentum

The roundtable didn’t simply bring two delegations together; it brought together two visions. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions for diversified, knowledge-driven growth met India’s thriving startup engine — one of the world’s youngest, fastest-scaling, and most diverse.

Opening the session, Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasised the need to accelerate collaborative pathways as India and Saudi Arabia increasingly become natural partners in tech-driven entrepreneurship. His message set the tone for a day of intense discussions, strategic alignments, and forward-looking ideas.

With ministries, government bodies, venture funds, and innovation organisations seated in the same room, the gathering reflected a deep mutual intent: to turn India–Saudi startup cooperation into a long-term, global play.

Who Showed Up: A Powerful Lineup on Both Sides

The Saudi delegation included heavyweights who are shaping the country’s tech renaissance:

• Aramco Ventures

• Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC)

• Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Investment Promotion Authority

On the Indian side, the energy was equally strong. More than 50 unicorns, soonicorns, and fast-growing startups joined leading VCs — a collective snapshot of India’s evolving innovation depth, ranging from deeptech and fintech to AI, R&D, and enterprise tech.

The turnout reinforced a clear narrative: India’s startup ecosystem is no longer confined by geography. It’s becoming a global partner of choice for emerging innovation hubs.

Deeptech, R&D, and Joint Innovation Take Centre Stage

At the heart of the discussions was one shared belief — India and Saudi Arabia have complementary strengths.

India’s robust talent pool, cost-effective R&D, and strong university system align seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s capital availability, infrastructure, and aggressive innovation mandates under Vision 2030.

Key themes that dominated the roundtable:

1. Building Deeptech Pipelines

Both countries explored ways to connect Indian universities with Saudi academic and research institutions. The focus:

• Joint research programs

• IP-sharing frameworks

• Talent and researcher exchange

• Co-development of high-impact technologies

The goal is simple but transformative — to jointly build deeptech solutions that can compete globally.

2. Expanding the India–Saudi Startup Bridge

Participants evaluated a stronger version of the existing collaboration framework, aimed at:

• Supporting cross-border co-investments

• Launching joint incubators and accelerators

• Facilitating easier market access for startups

• Enabling startups to expand seamlessly across both regions

3. Co-Investment and Venture Collaboration

Saudi investors expressed interest in exploring India’s vibrant innovation landscape, especially in sectors aligned with the kingdom’s strategic priorities — deeptech, fintech, cleantech, AI, digital public infrastructure, and enterprise solutions.

A New Wave of Opportunity for Startup Founders

This roundtable ultimately signals a milestone — not just a meeting, but the beginning of a sustained economic corridor for next-generation innovation.

By aligning India’s startup maturity with Saudi Arabia’s investment vision, the partnership opens the doors to:

• Access to new markets in the Middle East

• High-value R&D cooperation

• Large-scale co-investment opportunities

• Deeptech commercialisation

• Strengthened ties for emerging industries across both nations

With this collaboration, India’s global startup diplomacy continues to rise. Indian startups are increasingly becoming central to international innovation alliances, attracting capital, forging partnerships, and leading new technological frontiers in emerging markets.