Dr. Khulood Almani🇸🇦 د.خلود المانع

HKB Tech® is an AI & DeepTech company driving global growth, pioneering partnerships & world-first innovations. We lead in patented Agentic AI/ML & proprietary DeepTech IP, delivering strategic projects & solutions with government entities, mega projects & enterprises across Smart Cities, ClimateTech, BioTech, SportsTech, EdTech & HealthTech. Advancing toward a potential IPO alighned with Vision 2030 & beyond. We are among the few AI firms in the Middle East selected for NVIDIA’s AI Inception Program, gaining privileged access to global AI infrastructure & research. Our strategic partnerships with Google, AWS & NVIDIA reinforce our leadership in breakthrough AI innovation. Founded independently with roots in the legacy of the Rashed Bin Dayel Group (est. 1963)—a name long associated with excellence in investment, manufacturing, contracting, real estate & agriculture—HKB Tech builds on this heritage through patented technologies, international IP & DeepTech commercialization. ▪️Under the umbrella of HKB Tech, the Saudi AI Hub–Center of Excellence was established, uniting a global team to lead high-impact AI projects that boost innovation, infrastructure investment & cross sector collaboration. ▪️We operate across two core pillars: 1. Proprietary AI technologies & IP products. 2. Advanced projects & solutions for governments mega projects ▪️Expertise spans: Agentic AI/ML, Smart Cities, ClimateTech, IoT, RPA, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud, Computer Vision, BioTech, HealthTech, EdTech, FinTech, Cybersecurity, CleanTech, Sustainability & Renewables ▪️Flagship Platforms & Products powered by 10 proprietary AI Models: ➤ RhythmAI®– Patented AI-powered wearable with nanotech & 15 IoT sensors to predict pain & fatigue ➤ EdAI®– The world’s first fully proprietary Agentic AI Learning Management-Student Information System for educational institutions ➤ KickAI ®–AI Predictive sports platform for live tactical insights, team performance predictions & win probably tracker

The Digital Growth Collective unites business leaders, tech experts, and investors in a global community. We forge strategic partnerships across six key industries: AI, information technology, healthcare, financial services, energy, and manufacturing. By deepening stakeholder dialogue and aligning strategic assets, we prioritize value growth at its core – empowering our partners in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to capitalize on tomorrow’s business opportunities today.

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS The work presented in my PhD thesis “THE IMPACT OF E-COMMERCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA” provides a substantial contribution to knowledge, as this is the first analysis to be conducted on the impact of e-commerce on digital entrepreneurship development in the Middle East, as well as the first for Saudi Arabia. The results of the study identified Saudi women’s “necessity-entrepreneurship” vs. Saudi male’s “opportunity entrepreneurship” resulting from gender differences in the Saudi Arabian cultural environment. Based on in-depth analysis and research findings the research has identified factors that contribute to and inhibit e-commerce entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia with a set of recommendations to enhance entrepreneurial e-commerce activity in Saudi Arabia targeting entrepreneurs, investors, government authorities and policy makers.