Riyadh-based RAÝH Innovations has officially launched as a corporate venture builder dedicated to creating startups from within large institutions rather than sourcing ideas externally. Positioned as an execution-focused partner, the firm targets national companies, family offices, government entities, and investors seeking to convert underutilized assets into scalable ventures. The launch adds a new institutional innovation player to Saudi Arabia’s evolving startup ecosystem as the Kingdom accelerates its Vision 2030 transformation.
Building Startups From Inside Institutions
RAÝH Innovations is built on the belief that many of the most valuable opportunities are already embedded in an organization’s existing assets, data, capabilities, and market access. Instead of offering traditional advisory services, the firm enters as a hands-on partner that co-creates, validates, and spins out independent startups in close collaboration with its clients. This model is designed to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, turning corporate innovation from slideware into operational companies.
Evidence-Based Venture Building Methodology
The company’s venture-building process is anchored in a structured framework based on “Evidence Gates,” where each stage is subjected to rigorous validation before progressing. Through this approach, RAÝH Innovations aims to validate ideas within approximately 21 days, then move to a functional prototype in around 90 days, shortening the time between concept and market test. By forcing clear evidence at every gate, the firm seeks to minimize both operational and investment risk in the earliest and most uncertain phases of venture creation.
From Opportunity Discovery to Spin-Out Launch
RAÝH Innovations structures its work around two core phases that take ideas from internal insight to independent startup. The first focuses on opportunity discovery and validation, where the firm analyzes a partner’s assets and operations to identify concepts that are credible, buildable, and strategically aligned. The second phase is dedicated to building and execution, culminating in the launch of a standalone spin-out that remains linked to the parent entity while retaining the agility and focus of a startup.
Sector Focus and Strategic Positioning
While positioned as sector-agnostic within the broader innovation landscape, RAÝH Innovations is especially focused on domains where institutional scale and infrastructure provide an edge. These include financial technology, software, digital marketplaces, health, clean energy, mobility, government technology, digital insurance, and digital infrastructure, where the combination of regulatory access, data, and distribution can unlock defensible models. The firm’s thesis is that when these capabilities are systematically leveraged, large entities can generate startups that are both investment-ready and rooted in real market needs.
Leadership and Ecosystem Backing
RAÝH Innovations is led by founder and chief executive officer Ahmed Al-Thukair, an ecosystem builder and startup mentor with experience at the intersection of innovation and execution. He is joined by co-founder Faisal Al-Abdulsalam, a chairman, CEO, strategic investor, and long-time tech ecosystem builder who has publicly highlighted his conviction that “the future is built from within.” The platform is also backed by Core Vision Investment and ecosystem partners who view corporate venture building as a strategic lever to unlock new growth engines for major Saudi organizations.
Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030
The founders frame RAÝH Innovations as part of the broader push to position Riyadh as a leading hub for technology, innovation, and high-growth ventures under Saudi Vision 2030. By enabling local corporations and institutions to generate investable startups from their own balance sheets, relationships, and operational strengths, the firm directly supports diversification away from traditional revenue models. In doing so, it aims to contribute to a more dynamic innovation pipeline that keeps ownership, talent, and value creation anchored in the Kingdom and the wider GCC region.
With its launch in Riyadh, RAÝH Innovations enters the market as a corporate venture builder focused on turning dormant institutional assets into scalable startups through a disciplined, evidence-based process. Combining a rapid validation and prototyping framework with a hands-on partnership model, the firm positions itself as a bridge between capital, corporate capability, and entrepreneurial execution. As it begins rolling out its first projects and partnerships, RAÝH Innovations is set to become a notable player in shaping the next wave of Saudi and regional innovation.