- What
- KFUPM × DTV fellowship: USD 48,000 salary plus USD 32,000 milestone funding for a startup.
- Who
- PhD holders building an early-stage hard-tech startup in Dhahran.
- From abroad
- Not stated on the programme’s site (checked October 2026) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
ri.kfupm.edu.sa/join-us/postdoctoral-startup-fel · How we check ↗
See KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship Program on the map next to the other 123 programmes in Saudi Arabia — and filter the whole Gulf by type, deadline and equity.
Open the map →In detail
KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship Program is a university startup fellowship (postdoctoral) in Saudi Arabia. Fellowship of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) and Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV) for PhD holders who build an early-stage hard-tech startup in Dhahran. Fellows receive a USD 48,000 annual salary and USD 32,000 in milestone-based startup equity funding, disbursed in tranches according to the startup's progress, and split their time between a KFUPM research centre and DTV's venture builder. The fellowship typically runs 24 months, with a possible extension up to 48 months; applicants complete an online application form with an investor-style pitch.
- Amount
- USD 32,000 milestone-based startup funding + USD 48,000 annual salary
- Terms
- Milestone-based startup equity funding — terms not published
- Eligibility
- PhD holders building an early-stage hard-tech startup · proof of academic standing and an investor-style pitch
- Benefits
- Annual salary
- KFUPM R&D infrastructure
- DTV venture builder
- Status
- Active — online application form linked from the programme page; no closing date published (checked October 2026)
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship Program publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“USD 32,000 in milestone-based startup equity funding”
“USD 48,000 annual salary (no income tax)”
“Funding will be a milestone-based budget, disbursed into tranches according to the progress of the startup.”
“Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV) has partnered with King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)”
“Postdoc startup fellows are expected to manage their time equally between a designated research center and DTV’s venture builder.”
“typically offered for 24 months, with a possible extension up to 48 months”
Closing soon on the map
QSTP Incubation
WISE EdTech Accelerator
Azal Innovation Program (Doha Design District / Msheireb Properties)
Compare grants & prizes in Saudi Arabia
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship ProgramKFUPM × DTV fellowship: USD 48,000 salary plus USD 32,000 milestone funding for a startup. | USD 48,000 | Milestone-based startup equity funding | Active |
| Cultural Development Fund (CDF)Financial incentives of up to SAR 500,000 per project for AI in culture. | up to SAR 500,000 | No equity | Closed |
| Misk FoundationZero-equity programmes; Challenge for Change grants SAR 1M to each of three track winners. | SAR 1M | No equity | Active |
| NTDP — National Technology Development ProgramMVPLab grants up to SAR 150,000; Tamkeen incentives for tech staff. | up to SAR 150,000 | No equity | Open |
| RDIA — Saudi Innovation GrantsInnovation grants of up to SAR 4 million per project (Saudi Innovation Grants Program). | up to SAR 4 million | No equity | Closed |
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
Questions founders ask
What does KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship Program offer?
KFUPM × DTV fellowship: USD 48,000 salary plus USD 32,000 milestone funding for a startup.
Does KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship Program take equity?
Milestone-based startup equity funding.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Not stated on the programme’s site (checked October 2026).
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · ri.kfupm.edu.sa/join-us/postdoctoral-startup-fellowship-program