Community Anti-poverty Programs
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BMC's commitment to poverty eradication extends far beyond its campus boundaries, recognizing that sustainable community development requires addressing the root causes of poverty through direct intervention, capacity building, and systemic change.
Battling poverty requires a move beyond charity to a model of empowerment and systemic collaboration. BMC's commitment is operationalized through a strategic, multi-faceted framework that partners with communities to address both the immediate symptoms and root causes of poverty. This approach ensures initiatives are sustainable, scalable, and directly responsive to what communities themselves identify as their greatest needs. BMC has established a sophisticated framework for community engagement that ensures its anti-poverty initiatives are strategic, measurable, and aligned with both institutional expertise and community-identified needs.
Strategic Community Partnerships
Multi-Sector Collaboration: BMC maintains active partnerships across government agencies, non-profit organizations, healthcare providers, and private sector entities to leverage resources and expertise.
Memoranda of Understanding: Formal agreements with organizations including: Hassan Abbas Shurbatly for Community Services; Abudawood Nonprofit Organization; Takatuf for long-term community development; Saudi Network for Social Responsibility; Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF-HADAF); Alinma Bank for financial inclusion programs; Savola World Foundation.
Needs-Based Approach: Partnerships are formed based on comprehensive assessments of community needs, ensuring resources are directed where they can have maximum impact.
Volunteer Infrastructure and Capacity
Institutionalized Volunteerism: BMC has embedded community service into its institutional culture, with documented 300,000+ volunteer hours contributed by students and staff in the 2024/25 academic year alone.
Structured Programs: Each academic program maintains its own social responsibility initiatives while participating in college-wide campaigns.
Skills-Based Volunteering: Students and faculty contribute professional skills gained through their healthcare education, maximizing the value of their volunteer contributions.
Recognition and Incentives: The college maintains systems to recognize and reward outstanding community service participation.
Local Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Support
BMC drives poverty reduction by cultivating a robust ecosystem for entrepreneurship and small business development, providing tools for sustainable economic self-sufficiency.
Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Development:
The college offers a full cycle of support, beginning with the standout initiative that continues to thrive in 2025 is "Startup Workshop Series" initially launched in 2021 by BMC's startup and innovation club, this series has become a cornerstone of entrepreneurial support, covering: Business ideation and model development; Digital health trends and sustainable entrepreneurship; Regulatory navigation and strategic planning; and Intellectual property protection and competitive advantage. For example, the 2025 workshops included deep-dive sessions on "Leveraging AI in Diagnostic Health Startups" and "Navigating Saudi FDA Regulations for Medical Devices," providing highly specialized knowledge. These workshops often culminate in a "Grand Showcase," where participants present their business plans to a panel of judges from Alinma Bank and MONSHA'AT, with the most promising ventures receiving direct mentorship offers.
From Student Vision to National Brand: Incubating and Supporting Local Ambition
BMC's ecosystem is designed to nurture ambitious ideas from their inception and to identify as well as accelerate promising ventures at critical stages of their growth. A prime example is Zaina Café, a youth-founded Saudi coffee brand created by Zaina Batterjee, who began her journey at just 15 years old.
From a small idea, Zaina Café has grown into a successful brand with two existing branches and its third branch at BMC and three more on the way, with a vision of expanding to 50 branches by the time she turns 25. The college provides direct institutional support through its Startup Workshop Series for business model refinement and strategic planning. Her story of passion, courage, and hard work embodies the entrepreneurial spirit BMC fosters, demonstrating that with the right support, young people can build sustainable businesses that create jobs and inspire their communities. Zaina Café is more than just a café; it is a testament to how BMC's commitment to capacity building and startup support translates into tangible, community-driven economic growth.
Mentorship and Networking Infrastructure:
Entrepreneurs gain a critical advantage through structured programs like "Mentor Match," which pairs aspiring entrepreneurs with seasoned professionals based on industry fit. For instance, a 2024 graduate developing a telemedicine platform was matched with an alumnus who is a CEO of a health-tech firm. Regular "Industry Meetups" hosted by the Startup and Innovation Club connect students with potential investors and partners, creating a pipeline for collaboration and funding.
Direct Access to Institutional Assets:
BMC provides tangible resources by granting entrepreneurs access to its premier facilities. A practical example is the "Lab Access for Innovators" program, which allowed a team of students to use BMC's simulation labs to prototype a low-cost physical therapy device for home use. This access to high-end equipment without prohibitive costs is a significant barrier-remover for startups from under-resourced backgrounds. On the other hand, BMC hosts Interdisciplinary Hackathons which are events that bring together students from healthcare, engineering, business, and technology backgrounds to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Strategic Partnerships for Growth:
Collaborations with entities like MONSHA'AT integrate local startups into national support systems. Through this partnership, BMC entrepreneurs gain priority access to MONSHA'AT's "Badir" incubation programs. Similarly, the partnership with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF-HADAF) provides direct wage subsidies for startups hiring Saudi graduates, making early-stage hiring more feasible and reducing unemployment.
Future-Focused Initiatives:
BMC continuously evolves its support, as demonstrated by the upcoming "Digital Hackathon 2026." This event is strategically designed to fast-track viable projects in high-demand fields like AI and Personalized Medicine into the incubation phase, with winning teams receiving seed funding from a pool sponsored by Alinma Bank and guaranteed entry into the Startup Workshop Series.
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Local Start-Up Financial Assistance
BMC recognizes that access to capital is often the primary barrier for entrepreneurs from underserved communities and has established multiple pathways to financial support.
Direct Funding Mechanisms
Seed Funding Programs: BMC provides direct financial support for promising business ideas led by current students and alumni, enabling them to transform concepts into viable businesses. The college provides "BMC Innovation Grants" of up to 50,000 SAR for students and alumni-led ventures that demonstrate strong social impact. For example, in 2024, a grant was awarded to a startup developing a mobile app that connects low-income patients with discounted pharmacy medications.
Competition-Based Awards: Entrepreneurship competitions with cash prizes and in-kind support for the most promising ventures.
Innovation Grants: Financial support for projects that demonstrate potential for both social impact and financial sustainability.
Partnership-Based Financial Support
Alinma Bank Collaboration: Partnership providing low or interest-free loans to startup businesses demonstrating potential for financial returns and social impact.
HRDF-HADAF Partnership: Instrumental in financially backing Saudi entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on youth and women empowerment.
MONSHA'AT Collaboration: Partnership with the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises providing access to innovation programs, funding opportunities, and specialized mentorship.
Financial Literacy and Management Training
Resource Management Workshops: Training programs equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their resources effectively and scale their ventures sustainably.
Business Planning Assistance: Support in developing robust business plans and financial projections to enhance fundraising success.
In its commitment aiding in the local community supporting the start-up of financial and socially sustainable businesses through relevant education or resources, BMC announce for Digital Hackathon 2026 for fast-tracked to startup incubation which include the following tracks: AI & Data, Personalized Medicine, Blockchain Security, System Efficiency Create. This will be held in BMC Jeddah on January 17-18, 2026, https://bmc.edu.sa/en/Hackathon
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