The second regional tour of the "Startups and Innovative SMEs" project began in Le Kef, Tunisia, with the goal of bringing entrepreneurs closer to available financing, investment, and support mechanisms. The project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) in collaboration with Smart Capital, aims to strengthen regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
The project follows a first tour organized in 2025 in Bizerte, Kairouan, Sfax, and Gabès. The new edition will pass through Monastir on October 6, Gafsa on October 22, and Zarzis on October 23. The Le Kef meeting brought together local authorities, entrepreneurs, project leaders, and innovation, financing, and support actors.
The opening session was attended by Inès Hermassi, delegate of the governor of Le Kef, Néjia Gharbi, CEO of CDC, and Tarek Triki, CEO of Smart Capital. The Le Kef stage presented the main devices for startups and innovative SMEs, including the Startup Act and the process of obtaining the Startup Label, as well as financing and support mechanisms.
Participants were informed about programs such as Flywheel, AIR, and AIR², the InnovaTech fund dedicated to financing innovative SMEs, and the ANAVA fund of funds and the investment funds it supports. Several investors, including Flat6Labs, 216 Capital, Medin Fund, and Go Big Partners, took part in the meeting, allowing project leaders to exchange directly on their financing needs and investment possibilities.
The participants, from Le Kef, Jendouba, and Siliana, represented projects from various sectors, including digital technologies, digital education, real estate technology, industry, agriculture, and valorization of aromatic and medicinal plants. The discussions focused on access to financing, understanding existing support mechanisms, networking, and access to support adapted to the different stages of business development.
Entrepreneurs also raised difficulties related to exchange operations and international financial transactions, which can complicate the expansion of startups on foreign markets. The project also aims to strengthen the capacities of regional support structures, so that they can better guide project leaders towards devices corresponding to their needs.
The regional tour will continue in Monastir, Gafsa, and Zarzis, with the same objective: to bring entrepreneurs closer to financing and support mechanisms and to strengthen the links between the different actors of regional innovation ecosystems. A follow-up of the needs and proposals expressed by the participants will be carried out in concertation with the various actors concerned.
Key points
- The project aims to strengthen regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
- The second regional tour will pass through Monastir, Gafsa, and Zarzis.
- The project is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the CDC in collaboration with Smart Capital.
