Pakistan Secures $400,000 Startup Investment and Cybersecurity MoU as LEAP 2026 Concludes in Riyadh

Pakistan concluded its participation at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh with a series of investment, cybersecurity, and technology partnership outcomes, as the country sought to strengthen its presence in the regional digital economy.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja wrapped up her visit to the four-day event, held from August 31 to September 3, where Pakistan participated under the Tech Destination Pakistan banner.

The national pavilion featured 25 startups and more than 50 Pakistani technology companies, showcasing solutions in artificial intelligence, automation, and digital services while engaging with investors, government representatives, and technology firms from across the region.

Cybersecurity Cooperation With Saudi Arabia

One of the key outcomes of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority.

The agreement is aimed at strengthening cooperation on cybersecurity through the exchange of expertise and best practices, with a focus on addressing emerging digital threats.

During the conference, Khawaja also held bilateral meetings with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Algeria, as well as representatives of the Digital Cooperation Organization and major Saudi technology institutions.

She also delivered a keynote titled “How We Built a Digital Nation,” highlighting Pakistan’s Digital Nation Pakistan Act, recent connectivity investments, the 5G spectrum auction, and reforms intended to attract technology investment.

Pakistani Startups Secure Investment and Regional Deals

LEAP 2026 also delivered tangible outcomes for Pakistani startups.

Edversity, an Ignite-supported startup, secured a $400,000 investment from Rapidev Group to support its international expansion and scale its AI-powered education platform.

Meanwhile, OfficeFlow AI signed an incubation partnership with Dhahran Techno Valley to expand its AI-powered business automation platform in the region. The startup also reached a deal with MIS Arabia, a Saudi technology services company serving major enterprise clients.

In addition, eight Pakistani startups graduated from the first cohort of AstroLabs LEAP, a 12-week soft-landing accelerator delivered through BridgeStart Pakistan, Ignite, and AstroLabs.

Pakistan’s participation in Riyadh was focused on attracting foreign investment, creating business-to-business partnerships, and expanding global market access for the country’s technology sector.

With LEAP 2026 now concluded, the agreements and investments secured during the event are expected to support deeper technology cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia while opening new regional opportunities for Pakistani startups and digital companies.

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