Up to 20 Tunisian startups will be prepared to become “investment-ready” and scale regionally and internationally under the newly launched “216 Capital Venture Accelerator” program, organizers said on Thursday.
The six-month program is run by Tunisian venture capital fund 216 Capital, which specializes in seed and early-stage tech investments, in partnership with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play, a global innovation and startup platform.
Startups selected will receive tailored coaching and mentoring from international venture capital experts, along with an initial €50,000 investment each, with the possibility of larger tickets for the most promising projects.
At the end of the program, participants will join Plug and Play’s global network of investors, mentors and partners.
A new generation of success stories
In addition to strengthening entrepreneurial skills, the “216 Capital Venture Accelerator” program aims to maximize investment in local startups, position Tunisia as a key hub for innovation in Africa and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, and inspire a new generation of success stories capable of drawing international attention.
Backed by Smart Capital, manager of the Startup Tunisia initiative, and the ANAVA fund of funds, the program is part of Tunisia’s national strategy to structure and finance startups, aiming to position the country as a competitive regional hub for innovation.
“This program is a turning point for the Tunisian ecosystem. By partnering with Plug and Play, we are giving local founders the tools to structure, fundraise and access global markets,” said Dhekra Khelifi, Partner at 216 Capital.
Plug and Play’s Managing Director for France, Benelux and Africa, Yves Cabanac, said Tunisia had already proven its ability to generate internationally recognized innovations. “With this launch, we want to build on that momentum by identifying high-potential startups, aligning with global market standards and channeling new investment flows to the country,” he said.
Tunisia among top 20 global startup ecosystems
According to the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) by Startup Genome, Tunisia ranks among the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems. The North African country also ranks third in the MENA region for “affordable talent.”
Between July 2022 and December 2024, Tunisia’s startup ecosystem generated \$113 billion in “ecosystem value,” a measure based on exits and valuations, according to the report. It also placed second in MENA for “bang for buck,” measuring how long venture capital rounds can sustain startups.
The GSER, launched at Viva Technology in Paris, is based on data from more than 5 million companies across 350 innovation hubs worldwide and is considered the world’s most comprehensive study of startup ecosystems.
