Morocco has successfully finalized a significant partnership agreement with Keiretsu Forum MENA, a major global private investor network that boasts strong historical ties to Silicon Valley. The signing took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, marking a cornerstone action in the nation’s ambitious strategy to drastically increase investment in its startup sector. This move is projected to channel 2 billion Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to approximately $215.5 million, into startups by the year 2026, with an escalated target of 7 billion dirhams, or $754 million, by the end of the decade, aligning perfectly with the overarching goals of the country’s Digital Morocco 2030 strategy.
Amal El Fallah-Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, emphasized that this collaboration signifies a substantial step forward in forging stronger, more reliable connections between the Moroccan startup community and the international investment landscape. She highlighted that this alliance is expected to be a primary catalyst for expanding the digital economy, stimulating local value creation, and ensuring Moroccan entrepreneurs are fully integrated into established global innovation networks and value chains.
In support of this national digital transformation agenda, Morocco is actively developing and preparing several comprehensive measures specifically designed to invigorate the startup ecosystem. Key initiatives include the official introduction of a dedicated national policy framework, the launch of a formal “startup label” certification process to recognize and validate high-potential ventures, robust support for international market expansion efforts, and an increase in the allowable cap on foreign-currency accounts held by these companies. Financial support is being strategically strengthened across every stage of a startup’s life, encompassing living stipends, dedicated incubation grants, honor loans, and seed funding. Furthermore, the government is committed to creating a significantly more favorable and simplified regulatory structure for attracting venture capital investors.
Support infrastructure is also slated for significant improvement through deliberate efforts to attract prestigious international incubators, reinforce the capacities of existing local support organizations, and create specialized, sector-focused programs tailored to fast-growing areas such as fintech, edtech, healthtech, and govtech. Access to the market will be enhanced by instituting a national-preference procurement policy for products labeled “Made in Morocco,” easing the hurdles for startups to access public sector contracts, and boosting international promotional activities.
The government has set aggressive targets, aiming to officially certify 3,000 startups by 2026, which is intended to be followed by certifying an additional 3,000 by 2030. This represents a huge leap from the approximately 380 certified ventures recorded in 2022. The plan also includes cultivating 10 high-growth potential companies, known as “gazelles,” by 2026, and fostering the development of one or two technology unicorns by 2030. Broader national economic goals envision the digital sector contributing 100 billion dirhams to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, fundamentally transforming the economic structure.
The 2024 Morocco Startup Ecosystem Report, published by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), noted that Moroccan startups secured $94.96 million in funding during 2024, showing strong upward momentum from previous years. Despite this growth, the report pinpointed structural challenges, particularly the limited availability of late-stage financing (Series A and B), a scarcity of viable exit options for early investors, and persistent regional and gender funding disparities. To maintain and build upon the current momentum, the report strongly advises expanding late-stage funding access by attracting more international capital and consolidating local funds. It also stresses the urgency of developing robust exit pathways, particularly through enhanced mergers and acquisitions activity, to sustain a healthy cycle of reinvestment within the ecosystem.
