Jeddah hosted the third day of the second edition of the Saudi Industry Forum, where Umm Al-Qura University presented pathways to transform innovative concepts into scalable, bankable ventures.
According to SPA, Dr. Sharaf Al Sharaf, Pharmathon Founder and Associate Professor at Umm Al-Qura University, outlined the entrepreneurial lifecycle. He stated the process starts with identifying market needs and validating feasibility, followed by product development and market fit, and ends with securing capital and scaling for sustainable growth.
The session detailed investor requirements, including team competency, addressable market size, competitive advantage, economic viability, and capital allocation plans. It also identified essential skills such as leadership, negotiation, strategic planning, adaptability, and risk and resource management.
Al Sharaf concluded that moving from innovation to investment needs an integrated roadmap based on commercial viability and market validation before expansion and external financing.
What was the focus of the Umm Al-Qura University presentation at the Saudi Industry Forum? The presentation delivered by Dr. Sharaf Al Sharaf focused on the pathways for transforming innovative concepts into bankable and scalable ventures. It detailed the entrepreneurial lifecycle, which begins with identifying a genuine market need and validating feasibility, then advances through product development and achieving market fit, and finally culminates in securing capital and scaling operations for sustainable growth.
What metrics do investors look for according to the forum session? Investors seek specific metrics including team competency and the size of the addressable market. Additionally, the presentation highlighted the importance of a proven economic viability, a precise plan for capital allocation, and a clear competitive advantage when evaluating ventures for investment.
Which entrepreneurial skills were highlighted during the session in Jeddah? The session identified several critical skills required for entrepreneurs, including leadership and negotiation. Other essential skills mentioned by Dr. Sharaf Al Sharaf included strategic planning, adaptability, and the management of both resources and risks.