The Startup Ecosystem of Morocco

Another example of the growing interest in Morocco’s startup scene is Marakech hosting GITEX Africa. It is the largest tech event in the region, welcoming SMEs, start-ups, coders, investors, and academics to create a synergy for new projects. Many among the Moroccan youth are becoming high quality freelancers, gaining expertise from their foreign clients. With the right initiatives, this knowledge could be used to build the next generation of Moroccan startups.

Moroccan entrepreneurs have seen some governmental support, with tax exemptions for startups and the Maroc PME initiative promoting small and medium enterprises. As well, in 2022, the Government launched the initiative MoroccoTech as the national brand to promote the digital sector and make Morocco an international digital hub. Also, a non-profit organization, StartUp Maroc, has committed to promoting entrepreneurship within Morocco. TechnoPark has four sites in Casablanca, Agadir, Rabat, and Tangiers to support the creation and growth of businesses in ICT, Green Tech, and cultural industries.
Morocco has several capital funds for startups, such as UM6P Ventures, Maroc Numeric Fund and Innov Invest Fund. However, international investments are required for Morocco’s startup ecosystems to grow. One of the most important hubs in Morocco is the Impact Lab, founded in Casablanca, supporting social and environmental startups.

Despite Morocco’s startup funding reaching an all-time high in 2022, the startup ecosystem still faces significant obstacles that limit growth. These challenges include economic and social issues, like low access to education and healthcare, gender inequality, and inadequate startup funding and legislation. If these are addressed, we are betting on Moroccan entrepreneurs to handle the rest and make a big impact on their local ecosystems.