• Morocco commits 1.3 billion dirhams to support domestic startups
• Funding targets business creation, venture capital, and Technopark network
• Programs aim to create 1,000 startups by 2026

Morocco will invest 1.3 billion dirhams ($142 million) to support domestic startups, the government announced last week. The funding forms part of a national digital transformation strategy aimed at accelerating the country’s technology ecosystem.

Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah-Seghrouchni announced the funding package at the closing session of the “Digital Now 2025” conference in Casablanca. She said 750 million dirhams will be allocated to business creation programs, 450 million to venture capital financing, and 70 million to the Technopark network, the kingdom’s main technology hub.

The minister said the programs are designed to help create 1,000 startups by 2026 and 3,000 by 2030. They will focus on expanding digital adoption in rural areas and launching “Al-Jazri” institutes to support innovation at the regional level.

Networks, funds and incubators at the heart of the strategy

Technopark and pan-African investor Renew Capital announced a partnership on Dec. 4. Renew Capital said it will support Moroccan and North African startups seeking to expand into sub-Saharan African markets and help connect Moroccan institutions with business opportunities across the continent.

The government also signed a partnership with Keiretsu Forum MENA on Nov. 19. Keiretsu Forum is one of the world’s largest networks of private investors, with roots in Silicon Valley. The initiative aims to attract more international investors to Morocco’s startup ecosystem.

In late November, the government announced the launch of a support mechanism for investment funds specializing in startups. The scheme is intended to encourage funding for innovative early-stage companies while reducing risks for private investors.

The “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy seeks to create a more favorable environment for startups through regulatory reforms, increased access to funding, and improved market access. The roadmap includes the introduction of a dedicated startup label, financing mechanisms covering all stages of development, stronger support from incubators, and expanded access to public procurement and foreign markets.

High ambitions, despite persistent structural challenges

Morocco is targeting 2 billion dirhams in startup funding by 2026 and 7 billion dirhams by 2030. It aims to produce 10 high-growth “gazelle” startups by 2026 and one or two unicorns by 2030. The government also wants the country to become a major producer of digital solutions, with the digital economy contributing an estimated 100 billion dirhams to GDP by 2030.

However, a June 2025 report by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University highlighted several structural challenges facing the ecosystem. These include a shortage of Series A and B funding, limited exit options for investors, and persistent regional and gender imbalances.

Isaac K. Kassouwi