AfricArena’s Tunis summit to spotlight start-up resurgence

In the heart of Tunisia, a groundswell of excitement is building as the nation gears up to host the AfricArena Tunis Summit, set to take place on Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 October. This event signifies North Africa’s rising prominence in the technology start-up landscape.

Nestled among the ancient ruins of Carthage, capital city Tunis serves as a backdrop for the summit. Tunisia’s journey as a start-up powerhouse began in 2018 with the introduction of the Startup Act, igniting a wave of innovation and entrepreneurship. The results have been nothing short of extraordinary, with the start-up ecosystem generating an impressive $25.6 million in economic value between 2019 and 2021.

AfricArena, a catalyst for start-up fervour

AfricArena, known for its reputation as a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship, says attendees will have access to a week of immersive activities, networking opportunities, and invaluable insights into North Africa’s investment landscape, venture capital opportunities, and the thriving tech sector.

The summit boasts a line-up of top speakers, including Vusi Skosana, acting executive of innovation enabling at the Technology Innovative Agency in South Africa; Robert Haynie, venture ecosystem building lead at FMO Ventures in the Netherlands; Napa Onwusah, start-ups leader for Sub-Saharan Africa at AWS in Nigeria; Noomane Fehri, CEO at Our Digital Future in Tunisia; and Faten Aissi, associate director at Flat6Labs in Tunisia.

Showcasing start-up potential

One of the highlights of the summit will be the opportunity for start-ups in AI, deeptech, healthtech, and edtech sectors to pitch their innovative ventures. This platform will not only showcase Tunisia’s potential in these fields but also provide a springboard for emerging companies to attract investment and partnerships.

For those looking to immerse themselves in Tunisia’s vibrant tech scene, the AfricArena Tunis Learning Expedition (LEX) on 10 October 2023 is an unmissable opportunity. Powered by AfricArise, it offers corporates and investors first-hand experience of the country’s tech dynamism, with access to local entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.

The Tunis Learning Expedition is made possible through the support of the Special Initiative Decent Work for a Just Transition – “Invest for Jobs,” which is mandated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and executed by GIZ Tunisia as part of its digital transformation programme.

It is also backed by Expertise France via the Innov’I – EU4Innovation project, funded by the European Union, in collaboration with Startup Tunisia, an initiative led by Smart Capital. Additionally, it is facilitated with the partnership of The DOT, Open Startup Tunisia, BRAIN, Technology Innovation Agency, AWS Startups, Startup Village, and Methys Group.

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