Global Limited Partners (LPs) and Moroccan General Partners (GPs) convened at Technopark Casablanca for the first-ever “Morocco Venture Forum 2026,” an event designed to connect international capital with the country’s growing venture fund landscape. Organized by Silicon Badia, Plug and Play, and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the forum brought together a mix of global investors, regional players, and local fund managers to tackle key issues in capital formation and ecosystem development.
Quick Facts
- First edition of Morocco Venture Forum held in Casablanca.
- Connects global investors with local venture capital funds.
- Discussions focused on capital formation and ecosystem growth.
Beyond Capital: Founders Demand Value-Add Investors
A central theme of the forum was the evolving expectation founders have of their investors. Discussions revealed that Moroccan startups are seeking more than just funding; they need venture partners who actively contribute to growth. This includes support in navigating operational complexity, providing access to networks and markets, and lending credibility during the critical early stages.
Participants agreed that passive investors who only provide capital offer limited value to startups aiming for scale. However, speakers also acknowledged that building a class of value-add investors is a gradual process. Emerging VC firms, they noted, need time to develop the experience and networks that are common in more mature markets, and shouldn’t be held to those standards prematurely.
Navigating Morocco’s Venture Landscape: Strengths and Hurdles
The conversation also explored the broader Moroccan venture ecosystem, identifying both its advantages and its structural challenges. While the country boasts strong talent, cost efficiencies, and increasing ambition among founders, there is a clear need for a more global mindset from day one.
Speakers highlighted several hurdles that need addressing to unlock the ecosystem’s full potential. These include simplifying international operations for startups, improving access to growth-stage capital, and strengthening trust across the ecosystem. Overcoming these challenges was identified as critical for building a more scalable and globally integrated venture scene.
Growing Momentum Signals a Maturing Ecosystem
Erass Majdoubeh, a partner at Silicon Badia, pointed to the increasing alignment between local and international investors as a positive sign. He noted the rise of new funds and greater involvement from global players as indicators of a maturing ecosystem.
Majdoubeh emphasized Silicon Badia’s strategy of backing local founders and helping them expand internationally, citing the early success of companies like Journify.
“We’re very excited about the impact that has been created so far. We have about 80 tech people working out of Morocco, selling into regional markets and now even into global markets,” Majdoubeh told MWN.
Halima Zahzah, Country Director of Plug and Play Morocco, added that the forum’s objective is to “address the need to inject more capital into Morocco to move from a promising ecosystem to a top-tier investment hub.”
About Morocco Venture Forum
The Morocco Venture Forum is an initiative organized by Silicon Badia, Plug and Play, and Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform. Its primary goal is to act as a two-way bridge, connecting international institutional investors (LPs) with emerging Moroccan and regional venture capital fund managers (GPs) to stimulate capital formation and accelerate the growth of the local startup ecosystem.
Source: marketscreener.com
