STARTUP TUNISIA is an incentive framework for the creation and development of Startups based, in particular, on creativity, innovation and the use of new technologies.

The main objective of STARTUP TUNISIA is to enable the emergence of more than 1,000 startups within 5 years, of which at least one Tunisian Unicorn.

The program is composed of 4 main components: (1) the improvement of the legal framework which is dematerialized by the Startup Act, (2) the Fund of Funds which will be the instrument of support and financing of the ecosystem of startups, (3) the training and support of young people talents, and (4) the integration of different Tunisian regions in this process.

The Startup Act is materialized mainly by: (i) Law No. 2018-20 of 17 April 2018 on Startups; (ii) Decree No. 2018-840 of 11 October 2018 laying down the conditions, procedures and deadlines for granting and withdrawing the start-up label and the benefits for Startups and the organizations, the operating procedures of the labeling committee; and (iii) Circulars of the Central Bank of Tunisia N ° 2019-01 and 2019-02.

The Startup Act is structured around a Label of Merit and a series of measures for the benefits of Entrepreneurs, Investors and Startups. This framework is designed to facilitate the creation and the growth of Startups in Tunisia. So far, the ministry of communication and digital economy has granted for about 130 Labels for the benefit of startups.

https://www.startupact.tn/

• Algeria
• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Chad (Republic of)
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde (Republic of)
• Djibouti
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Egypt
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Kenya
• Mali
• Niger
• Congo
• Rwanda
• South Africa
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

• Youth
• Women
• People with disabilities
• The unemployed
• Migrants
• Remote and rural communities
• Incubators, investors and accelerators

Tunisia aims to become a Startup-friendly country at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, the MENA region and Africa. With its new Startup Act, which defines the government's policies for entrepreneurship development and start-up growth, Tunisia has taken the lead in this regard and is working today as part of Smart alliance to be the African platform of the startup and the innovation ecosystem and the regional destination for African startups.

Tunisia is also working closely with the Smart Africa alliance to create a fund for African startups "the block founders venture fund", as well as the creation of an African Startups Cluster, including Tunisia among other African countries like Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina, Rwanda, to allow Startups to identify and access to their first market.

Startup Tunisia has enabled a conducive environment for startups growth in Tunisia by setting up an innovative legal framework and putting in a place a new financial instrument Fund of Funds to finance startups and innovative companies. With a total cost of 200 Million, the Fund of Funds will be managed by a newly created company “Smart CAPITAL-CDC”.

Startup Tunisia aims within 5 years to reach the following objectives:
- 1.000 labels to startups
- 10.000 jobs creation (≈10 jobs created per startup on average)
- 1 Billion TND cumulative revenue (≈1M TND Revenue per startup on average over 5 years (≈300 k€), mostly from export)
- 1 Tunisian Unicorn (Startup valued at more than 1B USD in 5 years.)

The program aims to develop sustainable economic growth in Tunisia by creating new jobs opportunies as well as ensuring regional development and social equity.

Tunisia Startup promotes the WSIS values by contributing to employment growth and regional and fair development in Tunisia.