Morocco Launches New Mechanism to Support Startups
Morocco has introduced a new financing mechanism as part of its "Digital Maroc 2030" strategy, aiming to bridge the persistent funding gap in the Moroccan startup market, particularly in the seed and growth stages. This initiative brings together all public stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, providing a comprehensive support system for young companies.
Key Features of the Mechanism
The program targets investment funds that support startups from seed to expansion, offering two forms of support to mitigate risks:
- Coverage of initial losses
- Direct commitments of 400 million dirhams (approximately 128 million dinars) to a catalytic fund designed to reduce risk for venture capital investors
Ambitious Goals
The ambition is to increase the number of startups in the Kingdom to 3,000, mobilize up to 7 billion dirhams (approximately 2.23 billion dinars) in new capital, and foster the emergence of one or two unicorns by the end of the decade.
Current State of Moroccan Startups
Moroccan startups raised nearly 242 million dinars in 2024. However, the Moroccan market still lacks capital for early stages, and the new mechanism is expected to encourage investors to support young enterprises earlier and with larger investment tickets.
Regional Comparison: Tunisia
In Tunisia, additional support is desired. Startups need extra financial means to develop, especially in external markets. Like large companies, the small size of the local market is a major handicap for business development.
