InPeak Time: Bridging Saudi Arabia and the International Community
InPeak Time’s journey into the Saudi Arabian market began in August 2023 when the British Filmmaker, Author, and Business Influencer, Somi Arian was invited to speak at the Leap Conference 2024. At that time, Somi had already established a substantial network of venture capital firms and entrepreneurs through her podcast and previous work, where her team hosted webinars for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. It was through this network that Somi recognised a growing interest in Saudi Arabia. Many of the venture capital firms in the ecosystem were eager to break into the Saudi market but lacked the knowledge and connections to do so.
Encouraged by a family office within her network, Somi decided to explore the opportunities in Saudi Arabia. In November, Somi attended the Web Summit in Portugal, where she met delegates from Saudi Arabia. Their passion for the Kingdom’s developments in venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurship inspired Somi to dive deeper. This sparked the idea for a documentary, “From Silicon Valley to Riyadh,” which explored these exciting trends.
In December, Somi visited Silicon Valley, where she interviewed Saeed Amidi, the CEO of Plug and Play Tech Center, an organisation with deep ties to Saudi Arabia. This interview proved pivotal, as it led to an introduction to His Excellency Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, further solidifying Somi’s initial connection within the Kingdom.
Determined to create her documentary, Somi took a risk by funding her own trip to Saudi Arabia, arriving without formal invitations or scheduled meetings. Despite initial challenges in securing interviews and navigating a new media landscape, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology provided essential support, including a local film crew and introductions to key figures in the Saudi venture capital ecosystem.
Over the following months, Somi traveled to Saudi Arabia almost every months. During this time, she interviewed some of the most influential people in the Saudi venture capital space, including Abdul Aziz Al-Omran from Impact 46, His Excellency Dr. Nabeel Koshak from the Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC), and executives from Red Sea Global, stc, and Saudia Airlines. These connections enabled Somi to produce a 30-minute documentary that is currently on Saudia Airlines’ in-flight entertainment, stc TV, and various conferences and media outlets.
With the company’s commercial registration now complete in Saudi Arabia, InPeak Time has evolved from producing a single documentary to creating a multi-part series covering a wide range of sectors in the Kingdom. The company is also working on expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia and beyond, helping to facilitate collaboration between the Kingdom and the international community. Somi will be splitting her time between London and Riyadh building a team of media professionals with young Saudis graduating from university. Somi is excited about building a media academy to train more young Saudis to tell their stories to the world through the medium of film and audio visual content.
Identifying Market Gaps and Expanding Services
InPeak Time has identified key gaps in the market that hinder effective communication between Saudi Arabia and the global community. To address these gaps, the company now offers the following services:
- Original Content: InPeak Time creates original content that addresses gaps in the international community’s understanding of Saudi Arabia. This includes documentaries and other media that highlight specific sectors and developments in the Kingdom.
- Branded or Commissioned Content: Saudi entities, ministries, and companies can commission InPeak Time to produce English-language content that tells their stories to a global audience. Whether it’s a documentary, a reality show, or another format, InPeak Time ensures that the content resonates with international viewers.
- Consulting: InPeak Time offers consulting services for international companies looking to enter the Saudi market, including venture capital firms, private equity firms, and later stage startups with VC backing. The company also consults for Saudi entities seeking to build bridges with the international community.
- Public Speaking: Somi Arian is available as a speaker, moderator, or emcee for events, sharing her expertise on Investment, Technology, developments in Saudi Arabia, and international business.
From its beginnings in documentary filmmaking, InPeak Time has grown into a company dedicated to bridging the gap between Saudi Arabia and the international community. The team is committed to helping Saudi Arabia share its incredible developments with the world and highlighting the opportunities available for global collaboration.