Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: TikTok and Blossom launched the second cohort of the TikTok & Blossom SME Empowerment Program, an initiative designed to support and scale high-potential startups leveraging AI in Saudi Arabia.
The second cohort will commence with a dedicated AI hackathon designed to identify promising teams and innovative solutions, according to the official press release.
Building on the strong momentum of the first cohort, the program introduces an enhanced focus on AI innovation to help entrepreneurs build scalable, investment-ready companies aligned with the Kingdom’s innovation and digital transformation priorities.
The TikTok x Blossom SME Empowerment Program offers hands-on execution, expert mentorship, funding support, and deep ecosystem access. Participants may receive up to $60,000 in grants, empowering them to develop their startups and implement innovative solutions in the market.
While the hackathon and accelerator operate as independent tracks with their own unique benefits, interested founders can already join the waitlist for the subsequent three-month accelerator program to secure their interest ahead of the formal intake.
Hatem Samman, Executive Director of Government Relations and Public Policy at TikTok in Saudi Arabia, said: “Through our partnership with Blossom, we aim to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Kingdom to leverage artificial intelligence to build innovative, scalable companies and contribute to the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem in line with Vision 2030.”
In turn, Emon Shakoor, CEO of Blossom Accelerator, commented: “Through the TikTok x Blossom SME Empowerment Program, we are focused on equipping founders with the tools, mentorship, and ecosystem access they need to build scalable AI-driven businesses that can compete regionally and globally.”
He affirmed that Blossom Accelerator’s goal is not only to support startups but to strengthen the broader innovation ecosystem that will power the Kingdom’s future digital economy.
TikTok x Blossom SME Empowerment Program is supported by several strategic partners who contribute to expanding its reach and impact within the Saudi entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) and the Center of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE) under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.