Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas, UQU President and the Chairman of Wadi Makkah Company, launched the E-portal of the First Saudi Forum for start-ups organized by Umm Al Qura University represented in Wadi Makkah Company, and sponsored by the Crown Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Emir of Makkah and advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The Forum shall be inaugurated by the Crown Prince Emir Abdullah bin Bandr bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud Deputy of Emir of Mekka during 15 - 17 Safar 1439H. corresponding to 4 - 6 November 2017 at Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jeddah.

The E-portal launching ceremonies conducted at President office in Al-Abdiyah were attended by Dr. Hany bin Othman bin Yassin Ghazi, the Vice President for Academic Development and Deputy Chairman of the Wadi Makkah;Vice-President Dr. Yasser bin Sulleiman Shosho; Vice-President for Branches Dr. Abdulmajeed bin Saeed Al Ghamdi; and the Company CEO Dr. Faisal bin Ahmed Allaf. 

Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Assas expressed his congratulations for the launching of the e-portal commending the sponsorship of the Crown Prince Khalid Al Faisal and commended the inauguration of Emir Khalid deputy of the Forum which promotes the aspirations of the sage government in accordance with the plans of Saudi Vision 2030 and National Transformation Program 2030. Dr. Assas pointed out that it is available for start-ups and those who are concerned with entrepreneurship.to meet local and international business people to make investments that guarantee the growth of their projects and turning them into small, medium and big projects that participate in enhancing development.

Dr. Assas also declared that through the workshops a number of decision makers and experts from local and international companies actively participate in the Forum sessions to realize sustainable development as a way of enhancing the national and intellectual economy, and to expand the scope of production through entrepreneurship, and to create an environment that nurture intellectual and technological creativity. He also praised the efforts exerted by Dr. Hany bin Othman bin Yassin Ghazi, the Vice President for Academic Development and Deputy Chairman of the Wadi Makkah, and all the team members cooperating with him to render the Forum successful as it is a model for local and international Forums. 

Dr. Hany bin Othman,  the Vice President for Academic Development and Deputy Chairman of the Wadi Makkah, pointed out that the Forum shall save much effort for entrepreneurs and start-up owners as they shall meet with investors and capital owners to promote national projects, and to give an opportunity for small and medium start-ups to take part in national economic development. He highlighted that the Forum targets governmental bodies, decision makers, start-ups, universities and researchers, technological companies, and national investment funds.

Dr. Hani Ghazi stated that the Forum participates in conducting some workshops specialized in technology and entrepreneurship provided by business incubators, investment funds, and pioneering companies participating in the Forum. He also stated that the Forum participates in preparing start-ups owners to participate to present their companies to investors. The Forum encompasses a number of discussions sessions appertaining to the topics that matter to start-ups, and to discuss the investment strategies and investing in VC, in addition to the best models, practices and the latest relevant scientific researches and studies. Dr. Hani highly values the support of the University President Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Assas for all the company programs and entrepreneurs. 

In the same vein, Dr. Faisal Allaf, Wadi Makkah CEO, presented the services provided by the e-portal to the participants at the Forum, pointing out that the registration requests from start-ups reached 100 companies so far. He also pointed out that registration is available for the business incubators and accelerators experts, investment funds owners, individual investors, start-ups, and innovators, in addition to people concerned with entrepreneurship to attend the presentations of the investors companies, discussion sessions, and visiting the exhibition enclosed to the Forum. 

He stated that those who are interested in benefiting from the e-portal services related to registration or reviewing the Forum agenda, or the sponsors, shall access the following link:  http://startupsaudiarabia.org/AR
He highly valued the support and the guidance of President of Umm Al Qura University (UQU) and Chairman of Wadi Makkah Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas, and the supervision of Dr. Hany bin Othman bin Yassin Ghazi, the Vice President for Academic Development and Deputy Chairman of the Wadi Makkah to present the worthy brilliant image of the Wadi Makaah Company.