Algeria Startup Challenge (ASC) has launched its eighth edition, bringing startups, researchers, corporates, public institutions and investors together around innovation challenges linked to Algeria’s economic and societal priorities.
Launched in 2018, the program uses a venture clienting model that connects startups with corporate partners around real business problems and potential proof-of-concept projects. According to Leancubator, ASC has supported more than 375 startups, co-created over 25 open innovation challenges and helped startups secure more than 124 million DZD in contracts and grants.
The 2026 edition, themed “Innovating Across Sectors. Scaling Impact,” includes four challenges: Greentech, Smart Care, Innov & Insure, and the Harm Reduction Initiative Awards. Partners include BNP Paribas El Djazaïr, WellTech Center by FADERCO, the Union Algérienne des Sociétés d’Assurance et de Réassurance, CASH Assurances, SAA and Philip Morris International.
The program primarily targets established, impact-driven startups, while early-stage ideas are also eligible. Algerian entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators and startup founders based in Algeria or abroad can participate if their solutions support the Algerian economy and are intended to scale within the country’s ecosystem.
Selected teams will receive coaching, technical support, bootcamps, pilot-testing opportunities, investor access and potential financial support. The program will culminate in its annual event in October 2026, featuring a startup battle, expert panels and partnership signings.
Source: Leancubator
