16-week accelerator supporting early–stage gaming startups
Offers mentorship, funding, and strategic guidance.
Up to $150K in cash and $150K in in-kind services.
Weekly guidance from industry experts.
Legal, HR, and marketing support; access to gaming-specific tools.
Hands-on workshops on commercialization, go-to-market strategies, and scaling.
Access to a global network of investors, publishers, and gaming experts.
A structured selection process for high-potential gaming startups, including application submission, review, and approval.
A 2-week virtual phase for skill-building and assessment.
Top-performing startups during the Bootcamp will be selected to advance for a 14-week program focused on scaling and growth
By the end of the program, where startups showcase their progress to investors, publishers, and key stakeholders through live presentations and post-event promotion.
Graduates receive access to mentorship, industry networks, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
/ Startups with a prototype or vertical slice.
/ Relocation to Saudi Arabia for international startups
/ CR for Saudi gaming companies
The Exel Gaming Accelerator is a 16-week program designed to support early-stage gaming startups. It focuses on mentorship, funding, and strategic guidance to help startups refine their products, scale their businesses, and prepare for market success. The program is open to startups in game development and gaming technology.
The program includes the following key stages:
/ Application Phase: Startups are selected based on eligibility. Deadline for applications is 16 February 2025.
/ Virtual Bootcamp (2 Weeks): Up to 50 companies participate in mentorship and workshops. Starts 12 March 2025.
/ Acceleration Phase (14 Weeks): 10-15 companies advance to the in-person program in Riyadh. Starts early May 2025.
/ Demo Day: Companies present their progress to investors, publishers, and partners.
/ Post Program Support: Graduates receive access to mentorship, access to industry networks, partnerships, and support to get funding from investors and publishers.
We welcome early-stage startups in game development or gaming technology. To be eligible, your team must:
/ Have a working vertical slice or prototype of your game or product.
/ Possess relevant experience in game development or similar fields.
/ Be proficient in English to fully engage in mentorship and workshops.
/ Local startups must be legally incorporated in Saudi Arabia.
/ International startups must be prepared to relocate to Saudi Arabia, with soft-landing support provided by the program.
/ Founders must commit to attending the full accelerator program in Riyadh.
Applications are assessed based on:
/ Innovation: Uniqueness of the game, product, or idea.
/ Team Strength: Capabilities and experience of the founding team.
/ Market Potential: Size and scalability of the target market.
/ Traction: Evidence of user engagement or development progress.
All selected startups receive investments of up to $150k in cash at the start of the program and $150k in in-kind contributions, such as access to mentors, workshops, corporate resources (HR, Finance, Legal, etc.), office space, government relations support, and other ad-hoc services.
Yes, startups may receive follow-on investment from the fund based on their progress during the program and investor interest after the demo day.
Startups benefit from weekly mentorship by experts in game monetization, commercialization, go-to-market strategies, development, production, and scaling. Each startup also works closely with an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) who provides guidance throughout the program and ongoing support after it concludes.
Selected startups are expected to:
/ Attend all workshops, mentor meetings, and activities.
/ Work closely with their assigned EIR.
/ Achieve milestones related to product development, user acquisition, and business growth.
/ Present progress at Demo Day.
/ Be physically present in Riyadh for the 14-week acceleration phase.
Yes, the founding team is required to be physically present in Riyadh during the 14-week acceleration phase, and relocate the company's headquarter to the Kingdom.
After completing the accelerator, startups receive:
/ Continued mentorship from their EIR.
/ Access to investor networks and potential funding opportunities.
/ Ongoing support from the Exel Gaming Accelerator network, including connections to publishers, distributors, and gaming influencers.
If you have any other questions about the accelerator, feel free to email our team at info@exelbymerak.com. We’re happy to help and look forward to hearing from you!
/ Access to global and regional gaming networks.
/ Building sustainable
and commercially viable gaming companies.
/ Strategic connections with publishers,
distributors, and investors
/ Hands-on workshops and exclusive resources tailored to gaming startups.
