Gitex Africa 2024, which takes place in Marrakech until May 31, was inaugurated this Wednesday with resounding success. The show, a true crossroads of technological innovation, attracted an impressive crowd of visitors, participants, speakers, startups, exhibitors and officials from 130 countries and Morocco. This second edition clearly exceeded expectations, strengthening the position of Africa and Morocco as booming technology hubs. On the sidelines of the 2nd edition of Gitex Africa, Hespress FR was able to speak with Dounia Boumehdi, General Director of Maroc Numeric Fund (MNF). She gave us an overview of MNF’s activity, emerging technological trends in Africa and the crucial role of Morocco in this dynamic. Maroc Numeric Fund, founded in 2010, is a pioneer in financing technology startups in Morocco. “We support startups operating in the information technology sector with a ticket that ranges from 1 to 10 million dirhams depending on the development phase of the company,” explains Dounia Boumehdi. MNF has already invested in more than 17 companies with its first fund (MNF1) and is continuing its commitment with MNF2, structured as part of the Innov Invest program, sponsored by Tamwilkoum (formerly Caisse centrale de guarantee). One of MNF’s recent investments is Cool School, an EdTech startup which “digitalizes the entire educational process and the link between the teacher, the student and the school administration,” Dounia explains to us. This project perfectly illustrates MNF’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions that meet concrete and strategic needs. Dounia Boumehdi remembers with enthusiasm MNF’s participation in Gitex 2023, the first African edition of this prestigious show. “We were a little overwhelmed by the flow and the presence of investors,” she says. The current edition is even more impressive, with a 40% increase in the number of participants and a strong international presence. “More than 200 startups are present this year, compared to a smaller number during the previous edition,” she said. This influx testifies to the rapid maturation of the Moroccan technological ecosystem and the growing interest of international investors, explains the CEO of MNF, before proudly affirming that “Morocco is starting to be in the MAP… and is attracting the interest of foreign investors”, rejoices Dounia. HealthtTech, one of the emerging technologies in Africa Asked about the technological trends emerging in Africa, Dounia Boumehdi identifies several key sectors. “There is HealthTech, everything related to health, which is starting to take on a lot of importance,” she emphasizes. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, she said, highlighting the need for innovative and accessible health solutions, particularly to serve remote regions but also to prepare for future pandemics. Technology-based logistics, artificial intelligence and 5G are also growing areas, Dounia maintains. “These tools can give a lot of strength to the value propositions of startups,” she explains. Also, FinTech remains a flagship sector, attracting the most investments, with an increasingly marked presence in Morocco. Finally, tech insurance is another emerging trend, providing innovative solutions to meet growing insurance needs, underlines the CEO of MNF. The 2024 edition of Gitex Africa is an important milestone for Morocco and Africa, reflecting the growth of technological innovation on the continent. Thanks to players like Maroc Numeric Fund, African startups benefit from crucial support for their development, allowing Africa to position itself as a leader in several sectors. their technology sectors. As Dounia Boumehdi points out, “we are very happy to find ourselves in this position.” The current dynamic suggests a promising future for technological innovation in Africa, with Morocco leading the way. With more than 1,500 exhibitors from 130 countries and nearly 700 innovative startups representing 45 nations, including 200 Moroccans, Gitex Africa 2024 is positioned as a key platform for discussing and promoting digital technologies in Africa.
