Open Startup and Global Immersion Week 2024 in Morocco a celebration of innovation and ecosystems in Africa.

Posted by Llama 3 70b on 23 May 2024

Open Startup International Celebrates Successful Conclusion of 3rd Global Immersion Week in Morocco

Open Startup International (OST) has recently celebrated the conclusion of the 3rd edition of the Global Immersion Week (GIW) held in Morocco. This flagship event, which took place from May 13th to 15th, not only highlighted Morocco's strategic role as an innovation hub but also demonstrated OST's commitment to fostering interconnected ecosystems and encouraging entrepreneurial growth in Africa and beyond.

Event Overview

The GIW 2024 spanned three days, focusing on critical themes each day:

  • Day 1: Strengthening Inter-Country Connections at UM6P Campus in Benguerir
  • Day 2: Immersion in African Ecosystems at Technopark and Hyatt Regency
  • Day 3: Adopting Global Perspectives at Technopark Casablanca

Event Highlights

  • Day 1: Sessions like "Getting Ready for Investors" provided startups and SSOs with essential training for investment preparation. Simultaneous sessions facilitated direct engagement between startups and experts, while SSOs presented their services to startups, enhancing their global reach.
  • Day 2: The day began with a keynote by the Technopark director, followed by sessions by Wave, supported by the FII Institute, and Ocean Hub, focusing on supporting Blue tech startups and helping SSOs develop Blue tech verticals. Discussions continued with in-depth explorations of SSO sustainability and detailed presentations on various African ecosystems, with a special emphasis on Moroccan innovations.
  • Day 3: The event concluded with panels featuring international SSOs and VCs, and a closing ceremony highlighted by a speech from the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, celebrating collaborative achievements and outlining the vision for future initiatives.

Strategic Partnerships

The GIW 2024 achieved significant milestones, including the establishment of strategic partnerships marked by the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with key Moroccan stakeholders, such as Technopark Morocco and Mohammed VI Polytechnique University. These agreements demonstrate OST's reinforced commitment to stimulating innovation in Morocco and its willingness to collaborate closely with Moroccan entities to promote pan-African collaboration, enhance investment capacity, and promote DeepTech initiatives. These strategic alignments lay the foundation for future productive collaborations, catalyzing regional and continental growth.

Testimonial

"The Global Immersion Week was a real game-changer for us," shared Cyriac Gbogou, co-founder and CIO of Ovillage in Côte d'Ivoire. "It not only provided us with valuable information and networking opportunities but also a genuine platform to connect with investors, SSOs, and startups across the continent. The sessions, particularly on investment readiness and ecosystem collaborations, have definitely propelled our growth trajectory."

Looking Ahead

As GIW 2024 comes to a close, OST is already planning new activities in Morocco and enthusiastically preparing for GIW25. "Stay connected to discover new innovative initiatives as we continue to expand and reinforce our impact, shaping the future of innovation in Africa and beyond," said Houda Ghozzi, CEO of Open Startup International.

BNB Tunisie