Exel by Merak, Saudi Arabia’s gaming accelerator, marked a milestone with its first demo day, showcasing 17 startups selected from over 300 global applications. Each studio received $300,000 in funding, bringing Exel’s total investment in its debut cohort to $5.1 million.
The event highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to position itself as a global gaming hub.
Attended by investors, publishers, and strategic partners, the demo day featured original IP inspired by local stories, designed for international audiences, and backed by scalable business models.
“The Demo Day is not only an opportunity to showcase the next gaming talent, but it also signals to the world that Saudi Arabia is a global hub for game studios, not just a market for consuming games,” said Faisal Sedrani, Vice President – Innovation Platform at Merak Capital and Head of Exel.
How Exel is Backing Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Ambitions
Exel offers more than capital. Startups gain access to mentorship from industry leaders, legal and relocation assistance, and market readiness support, as well as partnerships with global technology providers like Microsoft, Huawei, and AWS.
Powered by Merak Capital’s $80 million gaming fund, and backed institutionally by the National Development Fund (NDF) in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), the accelerator is designed to nurture scalable gaming businesses rooted in Saudi culture but primed for global expansion.
With its first cohort complete, Exel is building a long-term pipeline of studios, technologies, and publishing platforms that will shape the next generation of Saudi-led gaming innovation.
