Riyadh – LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, announced its 2021 LinkedIn Top Startups list, identifying the top 10 startups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fuelled by LinkedIn data and produced by the LinkedIn News team, the Top Startups List globally is an annual ranking of the emerging startups to watch out for – and work for.
In its inaugural year, the list from KSA shines a spotlight on the country’s emerging startups through employing a four pillar methodology that measures employment growth, engagement, job interest and talent attraction. It showcases startups that are successfully navigating the evolution of consumer and business needs in the post-pandemic landscape. Many are paving the way through the Great Reshuffle – a phrase coined by LinkedIn to signify the moment of unprecedented change where employers and employees are rethinking how and why we work.
Our leading startups in KSA are exploring new frontiers in technology, responding to consumers’ increasing demand for connection, and helping accelerate business growth and success.
Commenting on the list, Salma Altantawy, MENA News Editor at LinkedIn said, “Startups are a natural place to look to for forward thinking and innovation around the future of how we live and work – LinkedIn’s Top Startups list for KSA is the place to find the startups you should be paying attention to.”
She added, “The startups – mostly in the Apps, tech, IT and B2B marketplace space, are innovative, contributing to the Kingdom’s growth and helping build the booming SME ecosystem. Although we remain in a state of recovery and global economic uncertainty, it’s important we acknowledge the companies that have made an impact in their field, while continuing to be an employer of choice to their teams.”
The startup funding rate in KSA, which was about $8 million per annum in 2016, surged to over $150 million in 2020 and growing exponentially in 2021, according to business research firm Magnitt.
Key trends from this year’s Top Startups list include:
- Convenience is king : Among the list of top startups in KSA are companies offering easy-to-use apps that have revolutionised the concept of convenience for customers and businesses in the country. For instance, Sary (#1) connects small businesses with wholesalers to boost the supply chain, while Tamara (#2) has a mandate to empower people with its buy now pay later business model.
- At your service: Startups also aim to boost the delivery services within the Kingdom: Jahez (#3) facilitates online food delivery while The Chefz (#4) offers a platform that connects elite and high-quality food providers with high-end customers. Similarly, Salasa (#5) and Zid (#6) are ecommerce platforms that offers scalable business opportunities and Nejree (#7) ups the style quotient with a comprehensive sneaker platform.
- Logistics have never been easier: Through innovation and technology, small companies are able to make big impact. For instance, Shgardi (#8) connects people through personalised and on-demand delivery, and Hala (#9) provides effective logistics solutions – from warehousing to freight forwarding and beyond, much like Shift Inc. (#10) offers smart transportation solutions
Here are the top 10 KSA companies on the list:
- Sary
- Tamara
- Jahez International Company
- The Chefz
- Salasa
- Zid
- Nejree
- Shgardi
- Hala
- Shift inc.
LinkedIn Top Startups List Methodology
The Top Startups list is part of the LinkedIn List franchise, an ongoing editorial series that celebrates professionals and companies making an impact in the professional world. To be eligible for the UAE Top Startups list, a startup is defined as a company that is independent and privately held, has 30 or more employees, is eight years old or younger, and is headquartered in the country on whose list they appear.
LinkedIn evaluated key factors for ranking including interest in the company, employment growth, engagement with employees, job interest and ability to attract talent from the LinkedIn Top Companies list. The timeline measured was January through July 2021.
Top Startups is a global list that includes rankings for Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pan-Europe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, the U.K. and the U.S. LinkedIn Lists are fuelled by exclusive LinkedIn data mapping the professional landscape from LinkedIn’s global news team.