Category: Startups

Tunisia Launches Major Startup Accelerator with Silicon Valley Backing in Bid to Become Regional Tech Hub

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Local venture capital firm 216 Capital has partnered with Silicon Valley giant Plug and Play to launch a new venture accelerator. The joint initiative, named the 216 Capital Venture Accelerator, is designed to fast-track Tunisian startups towards regional and global expansion. The six-month program will select up to 20 promising startups, providing each with an initial investment of €50,000. Beyond capital, participants will gain access to intensive mentorship from international investors and coaches, as well as Plug and Play’s vast global network of corporations and venture capitalists. Top-performing companies will…

Tunisia Launches Major Tech Accelerator with Silicon Valley Backing to Forge Regional Innovation Hub

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Tunisian venture capital firm 216 Capital has joined forces with Silicon Valley’s global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to launch a significant new accelerator program for the country’s startups. The initiative, named the 216 Capital Venture Accelerator, is a direct effort to position Tunisia as a leading center for innovation in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The six-month program is designed to select and support up to 20 high-potential Tunisian startups, providing them with the resources to refine their business models, attract investment, and scale…

Tunisia’s Start-Up Act: A Signal of Commitment, But Challenges Remain

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Tunisia was among the first African countries to adopt a Start-Up Act, positioning itself as a pioneer in using legislation to strengthen its innovation ecosystem. The law was designed to cut through regulatory hurdles, offer incentives, and provide coordinated support to emerging businesses. While the act sent a strong signal of government commitment, experts stress that its long-term impact will depend on effective implementation and sustained support. Start-up acts alone cannot transform ecosystems; without funding, operational backing and institutions capable of driving change, such measures risk becoming symbolic. For Tunisia,…

Tunisian Startup Revolutionizes Prosthetics with Affordable AI-Powered Bionic Arms

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In the coastal city of Sousse, a Tunisian medtech startup is redefining the future of prosthetics with lightweight, AI-powered bionic arms that blend cutting-edge engineering with affordability. Founded in 2020 by engineer Mohamed Dhaouafi, Cure Bionics designs and manufactures 3D-printed prosthetic limbs controlled by muscle signals via advanced electromyography (EMG) sensors. The mission is clear: make high-quality prosthetics accessible, especially for children, at a fraction of the cost of imported devices. The concept was born during Dhaouafi’s studies at the National Engineering School of Sousse. A student competition sparked the…

Tunisia Global Forum 2025 Breaks Records, Connects Diaspora Talent to National Growth

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In a powerful display of unity and ambition, the Association of Tunisians from Grandes Écoles (ATUGE), in collaboration with the World Alliance of Tunisian Talents (WATT), successfully hosted the second edition of the Tunisia Global Forum (TGF) — the flagship event of Diaspora Month. This year’s edition broke participation records, drawing over 2,500 attendees, including 600 top-tier business leaders, executives, and academics from 33 countries, effectively representing 99% of the Tunisian diaspora. More than 150 companies, startups, and institutions were also in attendance. Held under the theme “Connecting our talents,…

Smart Africa and 11 Member States Draft Africa’s First Cross-Border Data Exchange Guidelines

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The high-level gathering brought together representatives from 11 CAITA Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Comoros, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zambia, and the Kingdom of Morocco for a collaborative workshop and a study trip. In a bold move to advance Africa’s digital integration, Smart Africa, through its Council of African IT Agencies (CAITA), currently chaired by Morocco’s Digital Development Agency (ADD) brought together 11 Member States in Rabat to jointly draft the continent’s first Cross-Border Data Exchange Guidelines. The effort signals a critical step toward building trusted and interoperable digital…

Djerba Slush’D 2025: Africa Uncharted A Springboard for Innovation, Inclusion, and Investment

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From June 19 to 21, the island of Djerba became a dynamic hub for Africa’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Under the theme Africa Uncharted: Tunisia, a Hub for Global Investment, Djerba Slush’D 2025 brought together startups, investors, thought leaders, and ecosystem builders for three days of conversations, collaboration, and visionary thinking. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) partnered with Westerwelle Startup Haus Tunisiaand several other partners to support this ambitious gathering, contributing through high-level discussions and thought-provoking workshops. The event kicked off with VIP access and a networking cocktail, paving the way for…

With Tym, Mohamed Khalil Ben Chebil Reinvents Workplace Collaboration in Tunisia

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Mohamed Khalil Ben Chebil develops digital tools to help employees communicate better with their employers. He focuses on improving work organization and the flow of information inside Tunisian companies. Ben Chebil, a Tunisian entrepreneur, co-founded and leads Tym, a start-up that builds digital solutions for human resources management. Tym, launched in 2023, created a platform that aims to modernize HR practices in Tunisia. The platform lets employers collect team feedback and analyze employee expectations and needs. This system helps companies listen more effectively to their staff and adjust internal policies…

Tunisia’s Kumulus Water closes $3.5 million seed round

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Tunisia-based WaterTech startup Kumulus Water, which turns air into safe drinking water, has closed a $3.5 million seed funding round to accelerate the development of its atmospheric water generation technology and support expansion into key markets, including France, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. The round saw participation from Bpifrance (through France 2030 SGPI and Île-de-France Region), PlusVC, Khalys Venture, Flat6Labs, several European and North African family offices, and European bottled water leader Spadel. The new funds will support the launch of the Kumulus Boks line—high-capacity, off-grid water units designed for industrial…

Tunisia’s regional startup roadshow: Bringing innovation closer to home

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In a country where innovation is often concentrated in the capital, Tunisia’s first regional roadshow on innovative startups and SME financing marks a new chapter in inclusive entrepreneurship. For the first time, the national startup ecosystem left Tunis behind and traveled across the country—north, center, south, and southeast—to meet entrepreneurs where they are. The roadshow made stops in Bizerte, Kairouan, Sfax, and Gabès, connecting with entrepreneurs, incubators, investors, and support organizations. A national recap event in Tunis concluded the regional outreach on February 25th, 2025, featuring a press roundtable to amplify…