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Frequently Asked Questions

1. About TURN8

TURN8 is the GCC's leading platform for corporate innovation and strategic investment. We partner with national champions to build new ventures, manage Corporate Venture Capital programs, implement operational AI for growth companies, and accelerate startups entering Saudi Arabia. Our Bold + Bounded approach guides our work.

"Bold + Bounded" is our risk management philosophy. We take calculated risks with controlled downsides, beginning with minor, staged experiments and scaling only after demonstrating customer traction and positive unit economics. This approach enables rapid progress while protecting capital through evidence-based milestones.

TURN8 operates primarily in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region, with a strong presence in Riyadh. We work with corporates, startups, and investors across the Gulf, connecting them to global innovation ecosystems.

Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia's strategic framework for diversifying the economy, developing public service sectors, and reducing reliance on oil.

Since 2013, TURN8 has shaped the GCC innovation ecosystem by launching over 120 ventures and designing or operating more than 20 innovation programs in the region.

AI strengthens our core capabilities in design, market research, customer validation, deal screening, portfolio monitoring, and operational automation. It is a tool that increases our teams' efficiency and effectiveness, without substituting for human judgment.

2. Venture Studios, Incubators, and Accelerators

We co-create new businesses with corporates in priority sectors, including climate and energy transition, fintech, digital and AI, mobility and logistics, health, sport and entertainment, industrial technologies, and consumer platforms. Our ventures range from digital products to physical operations and include both B2B and B2C models.

The timeline from thesis development to first customers is typically 6-12 months for digital ventures and 12-24 months for those requiring physical infrastructure or complex regulatory approvals. This is significantly faster than the traditional corporate innovation timeline of 24-48 months.

Engagement structures depend on the corporation's objectives and venture model. Some ventures are fully corporate-owned, while others involve TURN8 taking minority equity positions or using hybrid models with earn-outs tied to specific milestones.

  • Incubator: Supports early-stage ideas with longer programs of 12-24 months, focusing on validation and MVP (Minimum Viable Product) development.
  • Accelerator: Works with post-MVP startups through shorter programs of3-6 months, concentrating on scaling and customer acquisition.
  • Venture Studio: Builds ventures from scratch using internal or hired teams, often in collaboration with corporate partners, from thesis development through launch.

Yes. Our Foundry-as-a-Service model allows TURN8 to embed full operating teams who manage your program daily. This enables you to achieve results without building internal capabilities.

3. Corporate Venture Capital

GP-as-a-Service means TURN8 acts as your embedded corporate Venture Capital team, managing all daily investment activities. This includes CVC design, deal sourcing, due diligence, investment committee preparation, execution, portfolio management, and integration support. We operate as an extension of your team, not as external consultants.

Engagements typically last 4-5 years to design the mandate, build deal flow, make initial investments, and demonstrate portfolio value. One-year programs are possible, but they limit our ability to deliver strategic outcomes.

We primarily manage corporate capital through GP-as-a-Service arrangements. In a typical GP/LP model, TURN8 reinvests a portion of its fees into the CVC fund or co-invests alongside corporate partners.

The number of investments depends on fund size, investment thesis, and strategic objectives. An active program typically makes 5 to 15 investments annually. We prioritize quality and strategic fit over volume, using AI-powered screening to focus on the best opportunities.

AI enables us to screen over 1,000 opportunities each quarter, compared with 100-200 screened manually. We complete due diligence in 48 hours instead of four weeks, monitor portfolio health in real time with early warning signals, and match portfolio companies with corporate business units to identify integration opportunities.

Financial returns are direct investment gains, such as equity appreciation and exits. Strategic returns include business value from pilot programs, partnerships, access to technology, market intelligence, and capability building. The best CVC programs deliver both.

4. TURN8 AI Studio

AI Studio is designed for startups and SMEs that need to scale efficiently but cannot afford to develop custom AI capabilities in-house. If manual processes are slowing growth or increasing costs, AI Studio may be the right solution.

  • Customer Service: Chatbots and support automation are available in both Arabic and English.
  • Sales Intelligence: Lead scoring, prospect research, and pipeline management.
  • Operations: Workflow automation, document processing, scheduling, and inventory forecasting.
  • Analytics: Real-time dashboards, predictive modeling, and business intelligence.

5. KSA Accelerator

Post-MVP startups with early revenue or active pilot projects that are ready to expand into Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. Ideal candidates have established product-market fit in their home market and are committed to collaborating with enterprise partners in the Kingdom.

The program lasts 12 to 24 months, depending on your stage and objectives. We tailor the timeline to your growth needs and market entry milestones, rather than using a fixed three-month cohort model.

Yes.

  • Real customer access: We provide warm introductions to enterprise decision-makers in our corporate network.
  • Localization support: We provide guidance on regulations, operational setup, and cultural adaptation.
  • Validation: We use market research and customer intelligence tools to support your efforts.

We focus on sectors aligned with Vision 2030, including the climate and energy transition, fintech, digital and AI solutions, sports and entertainment, mobility and logistics, health tech, industrial technologies, and consumer platforms. We assess fit based on market opportunities and corporate partner interest.

6. Engagement

Schedule a discovery call through our [contact form]. We will discuss your specific challenge, explore potential fit, and outline a proposed approach with a timeline and investment range.

  • Initial conversation: Within 48 hours of inquiry
  • Discovery call: Within one week
  • Proposal delivery: Within two weeks if aligned
  • Kickoff: 2-4 weeks after agreement, depending on scope
  • Corporations: Saudi national champions, GCC conglomerates, regional family businesses, government entities, typically organizations with more than $500M revenue or strategic importance.
  • Startups: Post-MVP to Series B companies ready for GCC expansion.
  • Growth companies (AI Studio): 10-100 employees, post-seed funding.

Our primary focus is Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. We collaborate with international startups seeking to expand into the Kingdom and connect GCC corporations to global innovation ecosystems. Our operational base and expertise remain regional.

Compensation depends on the type of engagement:

  • Foundry: Monthly retainer for embedded teams, success fees tied to milestones, or equity in launched ventures.
  • Growth Capital: An annual management fee (a percentage of assets under management) plus potential carry on exits.
  • AI Studio: Project-based fees for deployment.
  • KSA Accelerator: Program fees or small equity stakes.

Yes, many engagements begin with time-boxed pilot projects lasting 8-12 weeks. This allows us to validate our approach and build trust before scaling to a complete program aligned with our Bold + Bounded philosophy.

All our engagements are governed by mutual Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), except for initial engagements with startups before due diligence. We treat corporate strategic information, deal flow, and venture details as strictly confidential. To prevent conflicts, we maintain separate information barriers between client programs.

We collect only the data necessary for the engagement, including market research, competitive intelligence, workflow analysis, and performance metrics. We do not access or store sensitive corporate data, personally identifiable information, or financial data without explicit authorization and appropriate security controls in place.

Data is stored in secure cloud infrastructure, such as AWS or Azure, or on-premises as required. For regulated industries or sensitive government projects, we use on-premises or private cloud solutions within the Kingdom.

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