Techstars' Secret Connection To The Saudi Crown
Techstars is a portfolio company of Sanabil, the Saudi sovereign fund tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the PIF, which faces criticism for human‑rights abuses, raising concerns about Saudi influence over startups.
Techstars, the world-famous accelerator, is often praised for nurturing startups and fueling innovation. But behind the glossy demo days and mentorship programs lies a little-discussed fact: Techstars is listed as a portfolio holding of Sanabil Investments, the Saudi state fund controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Sanabil is part of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign vehicle that funnels billions globally — often with strategic political intent. That same crown has been implicated in egregious human rights abuses, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. citizen.
By accepting backing from a fund tied to the Saudi royal family, Techstars’ accelerator network is now financially linked to a regime known for repression and targeted killings. This raises uncomfortable questions: how much influence does a sovereign investor have in shaping which startups succeed? And what ethical compromises are being made in the name of capital?
Startups chasing mentorship and capital should ask: whose money are you really taking, and at what cost? The shadow of Sanabil — and the Saudi crown — now stretches into Silicon Valley’s prized acceleration ecosystem.
https://www.sanabil.com/en/Our-Portfolio