How Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed is Leading Sustainable Tech Investments into the Future
When one envisions Saudi venture capitalists, images of oil-driven investments and luxury often surface. Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed shatters those clichés—blazing a trail grounded in climate-conscious innovation, healthy living, and meaningful impact. As the founder and CEO of KBW Ventures, he’s not just diversifying portfolios—he’s redefining them.
Prince Khaled oversees nearly 90 active global investments, spanning biotech, agtech, food innovation, AI, and clean energy. Notably, fewer than 10 of these are in the Middle East, but he’s changing that—with an upcoming US$50–100 million fund aimed at shepherding growth-stage startups beyond Series C, precisely where capital has been most scarce.
His portfolio is a testament to purpose-led diversity. He backs KASO, a Saudi agtech startup fighting staggering food waste—orchestrating sevenfold expansion since 2023, scaling to over 5,000 restaurants via a US$10.5 million funding round in a sector prized for its environmental value and high growth. His investments also include biotech champions like CytoSPAR, NeuroPlan, Truelli, and Qvin, which address diagnostics and longevity through a “healthspan” lens—highlighted during FII 2024 as high-impact bets on future population wellness.
Beyond VC, his vision has reshaped infrastructure. Through KBW Investments, he led a nationwide transition in Jordan—signing contracts to replace 119,000 streetlights with energy-saving LEDs, cutting lighting costs by half and committing to a JD35.4 million program that reflected his belief in forward-thinking, local partnerships. Collaborating with LEOTEK and Jordanian ministries, this initiative delivered massive energy savings and spelled job creation and tech transfer, including building a local factory.
Similarly, in real estate, he co-founded Arada in 2017—now the UAE’s fastest-growing developer with AED 52 billion in launched projects and over 9,000 homes sold, 30% of which went to repeat buyers. The flagship Aljada development covers 24 million square feet and has become a lifestyle destination anchored in innovation, livability, and cultural authenticity.
Prince Khaled is also a voice for the future of sustainable food—early into Beyond Meat, Ripple, OnePointOne, and Memphis Meats (now Upside Foods), promoting plant-based and cultured proteins when few paid attention. He sits at the intersection of vision and timing—the Beyond Meat IPO surged 163%, ushering in a new era of plant-based valuation, and he was an early adopter.
Guided by a business degree from the University of New Haven and a lifelong vegan lifestyle, his values reflect in his investments. He co-chairs the Saudi Sports for All Federation, promoting healthy and active living. He also holds the dual identity of royal and venture capitalist, bridging global innovation and MENA potential—at Future Investment Initiative, he emphasized investing in long-term, scalable technologies like fusion energy that may mature slowly but carry massive social benefit.
Ultimately, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed stands out not for the logos beside his name but for his ethos—that wealth can, and should, do more than multiply; it should multiply good. He invests not just money, but faith—in technologies, ecosystems, and futures worth creating.
