Business Proposal: The Growth Pass
Unlocking Saudi Arabia’s Creative & Cultural Workshop Economy
The Problem & Opportunity
The Digital Visibility Gap for Saudi’s Creative “Long-Tail”
Ignored by “Blockbuster” Platforms
Large-scale ticketing platforms focus on “mega-shows,” leaving individual artisans, chefs, and small studios digitally invisible.
Inefficient Social Media Reliance
Discovery and booking are stuck on Instagram and WhatsApp, leading to manual DMs, insecure payments, and lost sales.
Fragmented User Experience
Users lack a single, trusted platform to discover, compare, and book authentic cultural experiences across categories.
The Implication
The “long-tail” creative economy is disconnected and untapped. Provider growth is capped, and users are starved of the rich cultural experiences fundamental to Vision 2030’s “vibrant society” goal.
Our Solution
An Integrated, End-to-End Marketplace
Centralized Booking & Discovery Platform
A mobile-first platform that aggregates and curates micro-workshops (Art, Culinary, Crafts). Users can discover, book, and pay in one seamless transaction.
Impact: Provides a secure, discoverable e-commerce presence for hundreds of micro-providers.
Provider Empowerment Dashboard
A simple dashboard for providers to list workshops, manage schedules, track bookings, and view analytics, coupled with our structured digital marketing.
Impact: Empowers providers to manage their business professionally and focus on their craft.
Flexible Credit System
A user-friendly system where users buy “The Growth Pass” credit packs, which can be flexibly redeemed for any workshop on the platform.
Impact: Simplifies payments and encourages exploration and repeat participation.
Market Opportunity
A Direct Enabler of Saudi Vision 2030
SOM
Culinary & Traditional Arts in Riyadh
SAM
Riyadh (570k SMEs)
TAM
1.3 Million SMEs in KSA
Quality of Life Program
Directly serves the goal to enhance participation in cultural, recreational, and tourism activities.
SME Digitization
Acts as the e-commerce bridge for the creative SME sector, supporting Vision 2030’s economic goals.
Human Capability Development
Provides a platform for “lifelong learning opportunities” and fosters an “innovation and entrepreneurship culture.”
Competitive Analysis
Our Unique & Defensible Position
| Feature | 🏆 The Growth Pass |
💪 GetMuv / 1Pass |
🎟️ webook.com |
📱 Instagram / WhatsApp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Creative & Cultural | Fitness & Gyms | Mega-Events | Social Feed / Chat |
| Target Provider | Local SME & Artist | National Gym Chains | Major Event Promoters | Anyone |
| Booking Model | Credit Packs / Per-Booking | Monthly Subscription | Per-Ticket | Manual (DM/Message) |
| Payment System | ||||
| Discovery | Curated by Category | Curated by Location | Event-Driven | Fragmented |
| Vision 2030 Link | High | Medium | High | None |
Implementation Plan
Our 18+ Month Strategic Roadmap
Months 0-3
Foundation & Localization
- Secure MISA incubator approval
- Complete legal incorporation (CR)
- Finalize branding
- Integrate local payment gateways (Mada, SADAD)
Milestone: Fully capitalized and legally compliant entity.
Months 3-6
MVP Development
- Develop Provider Dashboard
- Develop User App (iOS/Android)
- Develop Admin Panel
- Focus: Arabic-First UX and a fully secure payment system.
Milestone: Functioning MVP ready for closed-beta testing.
Months 7-9
Riyadh Pilot (Invitation-Only)
- Execute GTM Phase 1
- Onboard ‘Anchor’ partners and initial 50+ ‘long-tail’ providers
- Focus: Test the end-to-end flow with real providers and a small group of users.
Milestone: 100+ bookable workshops live on the platform.
Months 10-18
Public Launch & Scaling (Riyadh)
- Execute GTM Phase 2
- Launch digital marketing campaigns
- Establish B2B2C partnerships
- Focus: User acquisition and revenue generation.
Milestone: Achieve 1,000 paying users and establish a clear product-market fit.
Months 18+
Expansion & Optimization
- Use Riyadh playbook to launch in Jeddah
- Gather user feedback for new features (gifting, premium listings)
Milestone: Become the dominant marketplace for creative experiences in Saudi Arabia’s two largest cities.
Financial Projections
The “Build-Up” & 3-Year Forecast
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
| Metric | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) Average Active Providers | 200 | 500 | 1,200 |
| (B) Bookings per Provider (Monthly) | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| (C) Total Bookings (Annual) | 12,000 | 48,000 | 144,000 |
| (D) Avg. Workshop Price (GMV) | 300 SAR | 300 SAR | 300 SAR |
| (E) Total GMV (C * D) | 3,600,000 SAR | 14,400,000 SAR | 43,200,000 SAR |
| (F) Our Commission Rate | 18% | 18% | 18% |
3-Year High-Level Revenue Forecast
| Revenue Line | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) | 3,600,000 SAR | 14,400,000 SAR | 43,200,000 SAR |
| “The Growth Pass” Revenue | 648,000 SAR | 2,592,000 SAR | 7,776,000 SAR |
Founding Team
The Ideal Blend of Demand Generation & Supply Curation
Abduh Ismail
Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer (CGO)
A 10-year marketing veteran focused on building sustainable growth. Blends agency-side strategic direction with client-side startup execution.
- Entrepreneurial Growth: Grew a startup online florist from a 500 SAR/month side hustle to a sustainable 100,000 SAR/month business.
- Stakeholder & Vendor Management: Proven ability to act as the central “focal point” for all stakeholders, critical for a two-sided marketplace.
Sharifah Fadilah Alhabshi
Co-Founder & Head of Product & Community
Provides our most significant competitive advantage: an authentic, expert-led approach to our supply-side, informed by a background in social work, counseling, and therapy.
- Provider Empathy & Entrepreneurship: Has hands-on experience running community art workshops and viscerally understands provider pain points.
- Curation & Quality (Our “Moat”): Strategic differentiator using professional expertise to curate high-impact creative workshops.
Funding Request
Seeking 500,000 SAR for an 18-Month Runway
Use of Funds
Key Milestones
Month 6
Fully-functional, secure, and bilingual (Arabic/English) MVP is deployed.
Month 9
Riyadh (Pilot) is live with 100+ bookable workshops.
Month 18
Achieve Product-Market Fit in Riyadh with a goal of 1,000+ paying users.
Conclusion
A Strategic Partner for Vision 2030
“The Growth Pass” is more than a booking platform; it is critical digital infrastructure designed to unlock the untapped potential of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy. We invite you to partner with us in building this essential ecosystem.
A Thriving Economy
Giving SMEs the e-commerce tools they lack to grow and contribute to GDP.
A Vibrant Society
Making thousands of creative and cultural workshops discoverable and accessible.
Human Capability Development
Providing a platform for lifelong learning and fostering an entrepreneurship culture.
A Localized Future
A Saudi-first platform with localized Arabic UX and full integration with local payment systems.