Egyptian edtech startup Farid is expanding into Saudi Arabia by setting up a main operations office in Riyadh. This move shows the company’s regional ambitions and its plan to grow in major Arab markets.
Farid raised $250,000 in pre-seed funding last year and is preparing for a seed funding round expected in Q4 2025.
Founded in 2024 by entrepreneur Mahmoud Hussein, Farid Academy uses his experience in education and personal development to create new learning solutions that improve children’s well-being and character growth. It is the first platform in the Middle East and North Africa to offer live, one-on-one sessions on mental health and personality development for Arab children aged 3 to 18.
The platform also offers training programs for youth and graduates to become certified coaches in Farid’s unique educational and psychological approach.
As part of its growth plan, Farid Academy has signed a three-year partnership with the Amad Association for Human Capacity Development, worth SAR 4.5 million. The goal is to support education and community development in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Through this partnership, 500 Saudi university graduates will be trained and certified for careers in coaching and development. The initiative will also provide special educational programs to more than 4,000 children and teenagers, focusing on character building, critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The agreement includes more than 48 training programs and workshops, along with a clear system to track educational and social results. This ensures long-term impact and high-quality outcomes. Families will also get up to 25% discounts on program fees, showing both sides’ commitment to making quality education more accessible.
Farid’s entry into Saudi Arabia is its first step outside Egypt, making the Kingdom the second stop in its larger MENA expansion plan. The move highlights Saudi Arabia’s focus on developing human capital and empowering youth, which are key goals of Vision 2030.
Amal bint Abdulaziz Ajlan Al-Ajlan, Chairwoman of Amad Association, described the partnership as a major step forward for the nonprofit sector.
She said the agreement will help prepare young people and children with future-ready skills, giving them new opportunities for personal growth through modern educational and training programs that support Saudi Arabia’s development goals.
Mahmoud Hussein Al-Naqeeb, co-founder and CEO of Farid Academy, said he was excited about entering the Saudi market and called the agreement a “transformational milestone” for the company. He highlighted Farid’s long-term plan, called Farid 2030, which aims to train 10,000 coaches and support 10 million children and youth across the Arab world with programs focused on personality development and mental health.
He also stressed that Farid is the first platform in the region to offer on-demand, personalized sessions for character building and psychological support, making it a leader in educational innovation.
