Flow Guard Solutions, a startup co-founded by Mohammed Ahmed, a graduate of the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Master’s Program, and Omar Khalifa, a Ph.D. student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Program — both at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) — has won the 2026 Hult Prize and its US$1 million grand prize. 

Ahmed and Khalifa are developing an innovative water management solution to address water loss and improve the efficiency and sustainability of water systems through intelligent monitoring and early detection of leaks and infrastructure issues. 

Their achievement follows an exceptionally competitive path to the global final. The 2026 Hult Prize attracted approximately 18,000 teams representing more than 220 universities worldwide, with 40 national competitions conducted across 40 countries. 

Story of success 

Flow Guard is one of the ventures to emerge from the inaugural cohort of KAUST’s TIE Program — a 16-month Master of Science degree designed to prepare students to build and lead ventures. Ahmed was a member of that cohort. Combining innovation research at KAUST with global entrepreneurial experience, TIE takes students from technical discovery to commercial application. 

Students learn to identify market problems, test potential technologies, and develop the business case, team, and investor readiness needed to bring ventures beyond the lab. Graduates are equipped to found companies, join early-stage startups, or drive innovation within established organizations. 

Before winning the international competition, Flow Guard and its founders represented KAUST at the Hult Prize Saudi Arabia National Competition. The national competition was established and hosted with support from Monsha’at and Arweqah Alreyadah, which also provided mentorship to Flow Guard throughout its journey. The KAUST team won first place and advanced to the global stage. 

The team subsequently joined the Hult Prize Virtual Accelerator, competing among 90 ventures from around the world. Following successful completion of the accelerator, Flow Guard was selected as one of the top 21 global teams invited to the Hult Prize Global Accelerator at Ashridge House in the United Kingdom. 

Over three weeks, the Flow Guard founders participated in an intensive residential accelerator alongside the other global finalists, further developing their venture, business model, impact strategy, and investment proposition. 

The program concluded with the Hult Prize Global Finals, where only eight of the 21 accelerator teams were selected to pitch before the final judging panel. Flow Guard secured one of those eight positions and ultimately emerged as the 2026 Hult Prize winner, receiving the competition’s US$1 million grand prize. 

National impact 

Flow Guard’s achievement represents a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia, KAUST, and the TIE Program. 

Its success on one of the world’s most prominent student entrepreneurship platforms demonstrates the potential of KAUST-developed ventures to compete and win on the international stage. 

From 18,000 teams worldwide to one global winner, Flow Guard’s journey is a remarkable achievement for its founders and a powerful demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in global innovation and entrepreneurship.