From artisanal harissa exported from London to artificial intelligence revolutionizing aquaculture, Tunisia is cementing its status as a leading entrepreneurial hub in North Africa. The proof comes from the prestigious Forbes Middle East “30 Under 30” list for 2025, which features five Tunisian laureates.
This strong showing places Tunisia among the best-represented nations in the Maghreb region, ahead of Algeria and Morocco. The achievement highlights a vibrant and fast-maturing startup ecosystem capable of projecting its expertise far beyond the Mediterranean.
The 2025 cohort stands out for its balance of technological innovation, cultural influence, and social impact. Here are the stories of the five young pioneers embodying this Tunisian dynamism.
1. AquaDeep: AI for Sustainable Aquaculture
Category: Science & Technology
Founders: Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Mohamed-Ali Chaambi, Youssef Chahed (all 26)
AquaDeep is a collective success story. Founded in June 2021, the startup places artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) at the heart of fish farming. Their flagship innovation, the OXYGEN system, solves a critical challenge for hatcheries: counting larvae. Replacing error-prone manual estimates, AquaDeep uses computer vision to count larvae with 95% accuracy.
“Using cameras and algorithms, we recommend the optimal amount of oxygen and feed. This reduces production costs and increases larval survival rates,” explains co-founder Mohamed Ben Ahmed.
The startup has already received an innovation award at the FrancoTech 2024 exhibition and recognition from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
2. Lamiri Harissa: Tunisian Flavor Conquers London
Sam Lamiri’s story is one of a diaspora deeply connected to its roots. During the pandemic, this Tunisian-British entrepreneur launched Lamiri Harissa in London, armed with a family recipe sent by his cousin from Tunisia.
What began with bicycle deliveries in South London transformed into a taste empire in under four years. By adapting this staple of Tunisian heritage to modern packaging and distribution standards, Sam Lamiri achieved an ambitious goal.
The impact in 2024: over 35,000 units sold, presence in 200 retail points across the UK, and exports to 16 countries, including the USA, Canada, Kuwait, and Australia.
3. Hayfa Sdiri: Entrepreneurship as a Social Lever
Hayfa Sdiri represents a new wave of leaders for whom profit is inseparable from social impact. Her journey began early, at age 18, with the creation of Entr@crush, an incubator democratizing access to entrepreneurial training through content in Arabic dialects.
Noticed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), her project became the foundation for the SDG Camps, a program she led to reach over 10,000 young Tunisians, specifically targeting marginalized areas.
Now Chief Impact Officer at RIVET, an international microfunding platform, she is scaling her ambition: to distribute one million micro-grants. To date, her work has supported over 1,300 youth projects across 66 countries.
Why is Tunisia Succeeding?
The presence of five Tunisians on this list is no accident. It validates the maturity of an ecosystem bolstered by:
- Engineering Talent: The quality of Tunisia’s technical education, exemplified by the AquaDeep team.
- An Active Diaspora: The “bridge” created by entrepreneurs like Sam Lamiri.
- Support Structures: The impact of initiatives like the Startup Act label, Smart Capital, and the Tunisia Innovation Hub.
These young leaders prove that “Made in Tunisia” innovation is both export-ready and competitive, whether in complex algorithms or traditional agri-food products.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
