Afnan Ababtain is a seasoned government leader and ecosystem builder with over 20 years of experience advancing innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development in Saudi Arabia. As Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Sector at the Ministry of Investment (MISA), she leads national efforts to position the Kingdom as a global hub for high-impact startups, deep tech ventures, and transformative innovation.Her work focuses on enabling the startup journey from entry to expansion — by attracting founders and venture capital firms, facilitating investment readiness, and connecting them to the right stakeholders, regulatory channels, and growth opportunities. Afnan is also actively involved in policy transformation that supports a more agile and innovation-friendly business environment.She has played a key role in launching several national initiatives that have empowered thousands of entrepreneurs, enabled startup market entry, and advanced Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem in line with Vision 2030.Afnan holds two Master’s degrees — an MBA in Islamic Finance and a Master’s in Women’s Studies — which reflect her unique blend of financial acumen and social insight.She is a passionate advocate for inclusive innovation and international collaboration. While she maintains a strong focus on enabling women-led ventures, her broader mission is to support visionary entrepreneurs building the technologies and business models that will shape the region’s future.