Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – February 16, 2025 – The i-be Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Mach49 announced a strategic venture building partnership facilitating the expansion of the startup eco-system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sultanate of Oman, accelerating expansion into Gulf markets.

Through this collaboration, the two organizations will create a specialized venture-building ecosystem designed to support startups by providing access to resources, mentorship, and access to venture capital communities and regional and global markets, enabling startups from the region to scale and compete on a global level.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and Oman Vision 2040, through this collaboration, both venture builders are committed to startup ecosystem, fostering innovation, and supporting the growth of the economy.

“At i-be, we are committed to empowering startups to scale beyond borders. Our partnership with Mach49 accelerates this mission, providing founders with the resources, mentorship, and market access needed to thrive, “ said Bassam AlKharashi, CEO of the i-be. “Together, we are building a dynamic ecosystem that drives innovation, attracts investment, and shapes the future of the economy”.

“This partnership is more than just building startups—it’s about creating a sustainable engine for innovation that drives long-term economic transformation,” said Mark Mitchell, General Manager of Mach49 Arabia. “We’re helping scale and integrate the essential capabilities and expertise to foster continuous venture creation in Saudi Arabia and Oman. This is how we turn bold visions into real impact." 

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About i-be | i-be is a Saudi-based venture building house, incubating and accelerating digitally enabled startups. With extensive experience in operational excellence and institutional innovation ecosystem building, i-be has successfully launched over 180 startups.

Learn more at www.ibehub.com.

About Mach49 | Mach49 is the Global 2000’s trusted partner for bold growth and venture building. We don’t just advise—we build. With $80B+ in market cap created and over 1,200 ventures launched, we help organizations de-risk innovation, move fast, and turn ambition into execution. We empower organizations to capture new markets and sustain growth.

Learn more at www.mach49.com.

About Mach49

Mach49 partners with global businesses to build their growth engines through venture building, venture investing, venture transformation, strategic partnering, and targeted M&A. We are 100% focused on execution, helping our clients disrupt existing markets and create new ones to drive meaningful growth.

The company is a unique cadre of successful serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and C-suite executives who have collectively generated over $60B in market value over their operating careers in companies they've invested in, managed, created, or built. Mach49 was founded by Linda Yates, author of The Unicorn Within: How Companies Can Create Game-Changing Ventures at Startup Speed (HBR Press, October 2022)—named "10 Best Business Books of 2022" by Forbes, and recently selected by Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Pink as one of "7 Startup Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read." Mach49 is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Redwood City, Boston, London, and Amsterdam. www.mach49.com