Community Jameel Saudi Foundation concludes the 2026 university challenge and announces the Kingdom champions

StartSmart Saudi, a program backed by the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, concluded its University Challenge initiative in collaboration with five Saudi universities. The challenge aimed to equip university students with the skills to transform their technical ideas into AI-powered prototypes through hands-on learning, mentorship, and technical development.

The program, which launched in September, brought together 50 student teams from King Abdulaziz University, University of Jeddah, Effat University, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

After initial bootcamps in Riyadh and Jeddah, the top 15 teams received mentorship and guidance for a month. The final phase saw participants present their prototypes, showcasing their newfound skills in developing AI-driven solutions tailored to user needs and market demands. Among the three winning teams, Orion from the University of Jeddah took first place with an AI-driven platform assisting entrepreneurs in various aspects of business setup, Ejaz from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University claimed second place for their smart facility management system, and Manasak from the same university secured third place with a project focused on digital twins for crowd management during the Hajj season.

Community Jameel Saudi Foundation's Director, Mohammed Abdulgaffar, highlighted the program's success in providing students with a practical experience to foster innovation and AI utilization. Dr. Hassan Al-Shehri, Vice Dean of King Abdulaziz University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities, emphasized the program's contribution to shaping a new generation of tech entrepreneurs capable of driving Saudi Arabia's digital economy.

The organization announced the launch of the second edition of the University Challenge in 2027, with a broader participation of universities across the Kingdom, furthering their commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and fostering innovation in line with Vision 2030.