Ten startups from across the Middle East and North Africa will pitch in Dubai on 14 October for a share of US$45,000 in non dilutive funding.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 12 October 2026: London Business School (LBS) has selected 10 startups for the final of its MENA Startup Competition 2026. The finalists emerged from nearly 100 applications submitted by founders across the Middle East and North Africa.
The finalists will present their businesses on 14 October in Dubai before a panel of investors, entrepreneurs and leaders from the regional startup community. The three winners will share a US$45,000 prize pool without giving up equity in their businesses.
Supported by LBS’s Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital (IEPC), the annual competition helps early stage startups connect with investors, mentors and experienced entrepreneurs. It also gives founders access to the school’s global alumni and faculty network.
Here are the 10 MENA startup finalists selected by London Business School
The selected startups work across industries ranging from artificial intelligence and healthcare to agriculture, education and financial services.
- P Vita (UAE and Egypt): Develops natural fertilisers and bio based feed supplements by turning agricultural waste into useful products through algae based technology.
- Arusto Inc. (UAE): Provides AI creation and governance tools for enterprise training in regulated industries.
- NSBH (Saudi Arabia): Builds trade credit infrastructure to support small and medium sized businesses in Saudi Arabia.
- SDM (Saudi Arabia): Uses artificial intelligence to support the early detection and prediction of chronic diseases.
- Persium (UAE and UK): Combines Internet of Things sensors with digital twin modelling to monitor air quality, noise and other environmental data.
- Beaver Edu (Lebanon): Offers educational construction kits and curriculum aligned activities that help children learn through hands on experimentation.
- ReachLLM (UAE): Provides an enterprise AI platform where autonomous agents handle growth tasks such as research, content, digital PR, distribution and measurement.
- Kwelio (UAE): Connects patients with insurers through a verified data layer.
- UpSkillMe (Saudi Arabia): Combines guided learning, assessed certification and a labour marketplace to support blue collar workers.
- FRANK AI (UAE): Develops an agent operating system for independent real estate professionals across the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
A regional competition for early stage founders
This year’s competition attracted nearly 100 applications and shortlisted 20 startups for the semi final stage. Their founders came from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Syria, with 11 female founders represented among the shortlisted teams.
The judging panel selected the 10 finalists across eight sectors: AI and enterprise software, health technology, agricultural technology and biotechnology, educational technology, climate technology, financial technology, property technology, and human resources technology and workforce solutions.
Judges assessed each startup on its business potential, early traction, founding team, ability to solve a clear problem and potential to benefit from LBS’s network and mentoring. All 20 semi finalists received guidance from LBS alumni and experienced volunteers to help refine their pitches before the final.
Connecting startups with investors and mentors
Jane Khedair, Executive Director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at London Business School, will serve as one of the judges at the final.
“I’m delighted to see the LBS MENA Startup Competition continue to build on the success of previous years,” Khedair said.
She added that the competition helps bring founders and investors closer together by giving startups access to connections, exposure and support that can help them grow.
The 2026 competition is organised by Ihab Tabbara and Dr Nasir Khan, Co Presidents of the LBS Entrepreneurship Club, MENA, alongside student organising team members Karim Hasab El Nabi and Nouf F. Alyousef. The event also receives support from LBS alumni, the school’s student community and strategic partners, including MARIHUB.
The final on 14 October will give the 10 startups an opportunity to present their business models, meet potential investors and compete for a share of the prize pool.
About the MENA Startup Competition
The LBS MENA Startup Competition is an annual venture competition for high potential seed and late pre seed startups across the Middle East and North Africa. Founded by the London Business School Entrepreneurship Club, it is supported by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital and aims to connect founders with venture capitalists, investors and experienced professionals.
