BUILD. VALIDATE. SCALE. TRANSFORM.

KFUPM affiliates, local Saudi innovators, and international deep-tech startups with a validated technology at TRL 3 to 4 or above. See the eligibility criteria on the program page for the full requirements.

Technology Readiness Level is a standard scale describing how far a technology has been proven. TRL 3 means the core concept has been demonstrated experimentally, with analytical or laboratory studies validating the key predictions. TRL 4 means the components have been integrated and validated together in a laboratory environment. In practice, .dvp is looking for a working proof of concept demonstrated in the lab, not a concept on paper and not yet a field-deployed product.

Read the full TRL reference guide →

• A technology that meets the maturity gate, with evidence of what has been demonstrated so far.
• Defensibility that is hard to copy.
• Evidence of real customer engagement: interviews, feedback, letters of intent.
• A team whose capability matches the core technology.

Screening applies a technology maturity gate first, then scores product strength, market, defensibility, and team.

No. Founders may apply before incorporation. Supporting founders through company formation is part of what the program does, so what matters at application is the validity and defensibility of the technology, not corporate status. Ventures that are already incorporated are equally welcome, provided the technology meets the criteria.

Yes, and DTV supports the process throughout. International ventures are supported in obtaining the entrepreneurial license issued by the Ministry of Investment. DTV has an arrangement with the Ministry under which applications accompanied by a DTV support letter follow a streamlined route, and the Ventures Team guides founders through the requirements at each stage. DTV also issues support letters for founder visas. Once the license is issued, ventures receive advisory support on subsequent permits and regulatory approvals. Processing times are determined by the relevant authorities.

Yes, provided the position is resolved before the program begins. Securing ownership of the technology, or a full license to commercialize it, is the founder's responsibility and forms part of the due diligence carried out before the program starts. Ventures are expected to hold either a no objection letter or a licensing agreement covering the IP. KFUPM affiliated founders follow the university's established process for transferring commercialization rights to the company being formed. Founders whose IP sits with another institution are advised to begin that conversation early, as these arrangements can take time.

No. Applications are free and open to all eligible applicants.

Yes. Previous applicants are welcome to apply again, particularly where the technology has matured since the earlier application. Each application is assessed on its own merits.

Yes. Applications are submitted through a secure, encrypted platform, and access is limited to the review team. Technical and business reviewers, including external committee members, are bound by non-disclosure agreements. Application material is used solely to evaluate your application and is not shared with outside parties.

You do. Startups retain ownership of the IP they bring into the program, and of the IP they develop during it. Participation does not transfer, assign, or license any intellectual property to DTV, and DTV does not take a share of IP as a condition of support.

Access to DTV laboratories, equipment, testing, and technical services under the standard program support creates no claim on your IP. Where a startup needs something beyond that, for example where the Dream Realization Lab or a KFUPM Interdisciplinary Research Center would co-develop part of the technology, that work is governed by a separate research collaboration agreement. Ownership and any shared rights are defined in that agreement and agreed in writing before the work begins, not at the end of it.

Up to SAR 200,000 of venture development support per startup. It is delivered in two streams. The first covers coaching, workspace, market access, and program activities. The second covers the venture's product development requirements: specialized third-party services, subject matter experts, laboratory and testing services, materials, prototyping, and certifications. Support is procured and paid by DTVC directly against approved activities. No cash is transferred to the venture.

Each venture agrees a development plan with the Ventures Team, and expenditure is approved against that plan. The SAR 200,000 is a ceiling rather than an entitlement. The amount deployed depends on the venture's approved requirements and the availability of the relevant services. Any portion not used does not convert to cash or to any other form of payment.

Support is not a grant. It is structured as an investment, and DTVC may take a minority equity position, capped as set out below. The support itself is delivered as coaching, technical services, prototyping, materials, certifications, and approved development activities, not as unrestricted cash.

DTVC takes a minority position, capped at a maximum of 5% ownership. The cap is a ceiling, not a target. In the inaugural cohort, participation typically settled at around 1%.

No. The support amount is not converted into a percentage by formula. Whatever the venture's valuation at the time of investment, DTVC's resulting ownership will not exceed the cap. If a straightforward conversion at that valuation would imply a larger stake, DTVC's participation is still limited to the cap.

No. DTVC does not set or dictate a venture's valuation. That is a matter for the founders and their investors. What DTVC caps is its own ownership position.

No. DTVC's position dilutes in the same way as any other shareholder's as the venture raises further rounds. The program is designed to keep ventures founder led.

Nothing is agreed at application stage. Ventures admitted after Demo Day enter into an Engagement Letter, and any investment is documented through an appropriate instrument following incorporation. Detailed terms are shared with shortlisted teams before signing, and the signed documents govern.

The bootcamp is five days, in person, and full attendance is required. Each startup must be represented by a minimum of two team members, at least one of whom is a founder, present for the full duration.

The Venture Development Program is a full time commitment and is delivered on the ground at DTV. Selected ventures are expected to be present on site a minimum of three days per week for the duration of the program.

Attendance is required at all scheduled program sessions. This includes coaching sessions, milestone reviews, technical and information sessions, sessions delivered by external subject matter experts and regulatory bodies, and any session designated by the program team. It also includes Demo Day and Deal Day.

The program is not designed to be delivered remotely. Presence at DTV is what makes the venture development work possible: company formation and licensing, regulatory and legal setup, access to DTV laboratories and product development infrastructure, and direct engagement with corporate and industry partners. Coaching sessions are only one part of the program and are not the reason for the on site requirement.

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. A venture may submit a written request where a specific technical requirement cannot be met at DTV, for example development work that requires a facility not available on site. Requests are reviewed and approved by DTV management, and any approved arrangement is limited in scope and duration. Approval is not granted for convenience or general preference for remote working.

Continued participation and access to program support are conditional on meeting the agreed commitment. Where a venture is unable to do so, DTV will discuss the position with the founders directly. The specific obligations are set out in the Engagement Letter signed before the program begins.

For teams based outside the Eastern Province, DTV covers one roundtrip journey per person for up to two team members per startup, at least one of whom is a founder. The trip covers the bootcamp and Demo Day, which run as a single continuous period. Travel is arranged and booked by DTV directly.

Accommodation is covered for the same two team members for the bootcamp and Demo Day period. Coverage begins the day before the bootcamp opens and ends the day after Demo Day.

Yes. Additional team members are welcome to attend at the startup's own expense. DTV does not cover travel, accommodation, or related costs for anyone beyond the two covered places.

No. Ventures selected into the Venture Development Program are responsible for their own accommodation and living arrangements for the duration of the program. DTV can refer ventures to hotels and serviced accommodation offering discounted rates, but the cost is the venture's responsibility.

No. The return leg of the covered roundtrip is the only return journey provided. If a founder chooses to travel home after Demo Day and return for the start of the program, that travel is at the venture's own expense. Ventures are advised to plan their arrangements with this in mind.

Yes. DTV provides visa support for international participants attending the bootcamp and for selected ventures during the program.

Ventures completing the program receive six months of free incubation at DTV, with continued support and progress monitoring as they build commercial traction. Extension beyond the six months may be available, and continued residency after that is offered at a reduced rate.

Progress is shared openly as the cohort moves forward. The numbers advancing to the bootcamp and into the Venture Development Program are announced as each stage completes. Selected ventures are featured across DTV's channels and in the cohort recap published on the website.