Startups in Tunisia: Overcoming Challenges and Building a Thriving Ecosystem
In partnership with Smart Capital, CONECT INTECH organized a debate day at the Tunisian Foundation for Development, aiming to address the major challenges faced by startup support structures in Tunisia's constantly evolving ecosystem.
Lack of Competencies: A Major Hurdle
Wahb Ouertani, President of CONECT INTECH, highlighted a critical lack of competencies in incubators and Startup Support Organizations (SSOs) in Tunisia. He emphasized the importance of providing the necessary means to improve support for young enterprises, as this issue hinders startup growth at all stages of development.
Structuring Access to Data and Information
Salah Boulila, Project Manager at MAZAM, reminded the audience that despite obstacles, many positive initiatives already exist and need to be reinforced. He stressed the importance of structuring access to data and information, which remains scarce in Tunisia's entrepreneurial climate. This lack of reliable data hinders the development of effective strategies for startups and prevents a clear overview of the ecosystem.
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem
Zeineb Messaoud, Community Director at AfriLabs, with over 15 years of experience in the field, noted that Tunisia's startup ecosystem has improved over the years. However, to build an effective ecosystem, it is essential to create synergies between different actors. She emphasized the need to encourage collaboration between startups, investors, and public institutions to foster an environment conducive to innovation and growth.
Highlighting Successes and Addressing Challenges
Messaoud also stressed the importance of highlighting existing successes and positive initiatives while constructively addressing existing challenges.
By bringing together key stakeholders and experts, this debate day aimed to spark meaningful discussions and identify solutions to overcome the challenges faced by Tunisia's startup ecosystem.
