AfricArena Tunisia Summit unleashes AI innovation wave

The AfricArena Tunisia Summit, a leading annual event in North Africa’s tech ecosystem, kicked off with great enthusiasm at the City of Culture in Tunis this morning. With over 200 attendees from around the world, participants are exploring innovations in AI, deeptech, healthtech, and edtech.

In her opening address, Nejia Gharbi, CEO of public investor CDC, shared insights about investment opportunities in Tunisia. She emphasised the country’s potential in IT and AI skills, inviting more investments into the thriving start-up ecosystem.

Gharbi also introduced a new initiative called Direct VC, aimed at supporting start-ups with necessary funding. She stated, “We have really good start-ups, and we are looking for more and more investment in them.”

Tunisia’s groundbreaking Startup Act, championed by the government, continues to serve as a pioneering example for administrations across Africa. With a legal framework comprising 20 investor-friendly measures, it has set a remarkable precedent in fostering innovation and encouraging entrepreneurship in the region.

Yasmine Laribi, head of ecosystem promotion and culture of entrepreneurship and innovation at Expertise France, expressed her excitement about supporting the growth of the Tunisian tech ecosystem.

She highlighted the importance of building bridges between ecosystems and positioning Tunisia as an innovation hub, fostering collaboration between African countries and international partners. Laribi said, “We are committed to supporting the different actors and players to take the Tunisian ecosystem to the next level.”

Zeineb Chabchoub, start-up expert at the digital transformation programme of GIZ Tunisia, discussed the country’s role in digital innovation, citing its vast pool of ICT companies and skilled professionals.

She reiterated their commitment to supporting various actors in the tech ecosystem. “With our programmes and collaboration with different partners, we believe in the driving force of the Tunisian ecosystem,” Chabchoub said.

Meanwhile, Christophe Viarnaud, CEO of AfricArena, shared more about the technology accelerator’s journey and impact over the years. He underscored AfricArena’s focus on creating opportunities for founders and enabling investors to generate deal flow.

Viarnaud said, “We recognise the excellence of Tunisian talent, its leadership in AI and deep tech.” He also introduced the Digital Collective Africa, a community-driven initiative aimed at enhancing standards of governance and promoting diversity in the start-up ecosystem.

Digital Collective Africa also explores other pressing issues like gender diversity in start-ups. Earlier this year, it launched a gender diversity pledge, highlighting the need for increased investment in women-led start-ups. The initiative aims to address the existing gender gap in start-up funding, encouraging VC firms to declare their targets for change.

With a series of impactful sessions and collaborative initiatives, the two-day AfricArena Tunisia Summit promises to foster meaningful connections, facilitate investments, and drive innovation in the African tech sector. As the summit unfolds, participants eagerly anticipate engaging discussions, start-up pitches, and transformative partnerships that will shape the future of technology in Africa and beyond.

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