Outliers Venture Capital has officially launched the 2026 edition of its flagship Fellowship Program, partnering with Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) to cultivate the next wave of tech leaders in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region.
Why it matters
As the regional tech ecosystem matures, the bottleneck has shifted from a lack of capital to a shortage of “execution-ready” operators.
This partnership marks the first time a regional fund of funds (SVC) has formally backed a dedicated talent pipeline for high-growth startups.
By the Numbers
The fellowship is positioning itself as one of the most competitive talent accelerators in the region:
- <10%: The program’s selective acceptance rate.
- 14: Countries represented in the inaugural cohort.
- 40%: The portion of previous Fellows who secured full-time or extended roles immediately following the program.
- 10: Curated sessions with top-tier founders and investors.
How it Works
The program embeds high-potential students and early-career professionals across engineering, product, and business tracks directly into high-growth companies.
- Placement: Fellows work within the networks of Outliers and SVC, including companies like Lean, Lendo, Soum, and Ejari.
- Programming: Beyond the internship, Fellows engage in weekly in-person sessions in Riyadh focused on the mechanics of company building.
- The Goal: To bridge the gap between global academic excellence (drawing from UC Berkeley, Purdue, and KFUPM) and local market execution.
What They’re Saying
“Building human capital is essential to the long-term competitiveness of our ecosystem. This Fellowship represents a practical model for developing talent that can operate at global standards.” — H.E. Dr. Nabeel Koshak, CEO and Board Member of SVC.
“The strength of any tech ecosystem is ultimately shaped by the people who choose to build within it. The Outliers Fellowship is designed to give emerging talent early, meaningful exposure to real operating environments.” — Sarah AlSaleh, General Partner at Outliers.
The Bottom Line
By centralizing talent development in Riyadh, the program acts as a funnel for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to keep the region’s brightest minds building within the local ecosystem rather than exporting talent abroad.
What’s next: * Applications open: January 26, 2026.
- Deadline: February 27, 2026.
- Learn more: fellowship.outliers.vc
