Applications are now open for Batch 2 of the Misk 500 Accelerator Program

500 Startups and Misk Innovation will host the second batch of its accelerator program based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to fuel startups throughout the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. Batch 2 of the Misk 500 Accelerator Program will bring experts from Silicon Valley and beyond to educate 15-20 early-stage startups from MENA. The program will consist of 14 weeks of mentorship and workshops that will have an emphasis on growth hacking techniques, product design, and fundraising. In addition to the educational component of the program, participants will have a unique opportunity to make long-lasting connections with investors and corporate partners from the region.

Following the highly sought after Misk 500 Accelerator Program Batch 1, 500 Startups and Misk Innovation are excited to continue working with startups from the region. The goal of the program is to empower local and regional startups by raising the level of training standards for young people in MENA. 500 Startups regional fund, 500 Falcons, will invest USD $50,000 into each participating startup in exchange for 7% equity.

Applicant Qualifications:

Pre-seed and seed-stage technology companies based in the MENA region
Company founders are expected to fully participate in all aspects of the program. A maximum of two additional team members (per company) will be also allowed to participate at any time during the program
Startups must have an available product or service (MVP) or live beta

Space is limited to 15-20 startups. Apply here before July 26th, 2019.

Misk 500 Accelerator – Batch 2 Program Dates:

Phase	Description	Date
Application	Applications are open — Apply now!	Jun 26, 2019
Start Date	Batch 2 Program Kickoff	Sep 1, 2019
End Date	Final Week of Program	Dec 1, 2019
Demo Day	Presentation to Investors and Corporate Executives	Dec 3, 2019

Looking Back on Batch 1

Batch 1 of the Misk 500 Accelerator Program consisted of 19 startups who took part in the 16-week program in Riyadh. Participants joined from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates. 37% of these companies had at least one female founder. The program concluded with a Demo Day, where startups gave a 3-minute pitch to a packed room of over 200 attendees, which consisted of both investors and corporations from the region.

If you are a startup interested in participating in the Misk 500 Accelerator program, apply here.

Notes:

500 STARTUPS PROGRAMS, INVESTOR EDUCATION SERVICES, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP CONSULTING SERVICES AND EVENTS ARE OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C. (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 STARTUPS”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES. SUCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT PROVIDED AS PART OF ANY SUCH PROGRAMS, SERVICES OR EVENTS BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT, LEGAL, TAX OR ACCOUNTING ADVICE BY 500 STARTUPS OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES.

THIS POST IS INTENDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING 500 STARTUPS. ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS POST IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 STARTUPS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST AND WHILE 500 STARTUPS HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS POST, BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES. FURTHER, NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST IS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 STARTUPS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING HEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 STARTUPS INVESTMENT FUND.

ecosystem development

500 Startups & Misk Innovation to Launch Second Batch of the Misk 500 Accelerator Program