North Star Africa Draws 700 Startups, 400 Investors to GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech

Marrakech – North Star Africa, the continent’s largest startup showcase, is hosting over 700 startups and 400 investors from more than 35 countries at the fourth edition of GITEX Africa Morocco in Marrakech. The event runs from April 7 to 9 under the theme “Creating a Global Future for Digital Africa.”

The investors attending manage more than $200 billion in assets collectively, with 24% taking part for the first time. These figures point to growing global confidence in African innovation ecosystems at a time when the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is unlocking a market valued at $3.4 trillion.

Held under the authority of the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, GITEX Africa is hosted by the Digital Development Agency (ADD) and organized by KAOUN International. This year’s edition convenes more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries and expects upward of 55,000 attendees.

North Star Africa registered a 30% year-on-year increase in participating startups. The showcase also recorded its largest-ever participation from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and development finance institutions. African tech startups raised $4.1 billion in 2025, a 25% annual increase. North Star Africa connects startups directly with investors responsible for over 80% of all African startup funding.

‘The biggest challenges in Africa are also the biggest opportunities’

Among the investors present are Taiyo Holding, Shell Foundation, Small Foundation, and Oryx Impact. Sebastian Waldburg, founding partner of Oryx Impact, said “the biggest challenges in Africa are also the biggest opportunities.”

“I can only invite people to look at Africa, invest in Africa, and bring more capital into technology, innovation, SMEs, and infrastructure across the continent,” Waldburg called. He added that the Moroccan ecosystem is producing many innovative companies as pan-African funds invest in local startups.

Government-led delegations are attending from across Africa and international markets. Tunisia brought more than 40 sustainable tech startups. Côte d’Ivoire sent 12 startups and a first-time delegation of 45 officials led by its Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalisation. France joined with its largest-ever government-supported startup pavilion and ministerial representation.

Senegal scaled up its presence significantly. Its delegation is led by the ICT Ministry and features a near doubling of participating startups. Dakar’s ambassador to Morocco, Seynabou Dial, said GITEX Africa “has now become a must-attend event on both the African and global stage.” The Senegal Pavilion alone hosts 45 companies.

Eleven countries are debuting at this edition. They include Andorra, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hong Kong, Hungary, Luxembourg, Palestine, Portugal, and Thailand.

Virginie Royer, director of major projects at Numéum, the French digital sector body, explained that the connection between Europe and Africa is critical. “We really wanted to better understand and get to know the African ecosystem,” she stated, adding that Numéum was impressed by the advancement of Morocco and Africa’s digital sectors.

At the heart of the North Star Africa program is Morocco 300. The flagship national initiative, sponsored by the Ministry of Digital Transition in partnership with ADD, expanded by 50% this year.

It features 300 high-potential startups from 32 cities across Morocco, spanning 31 sectors. Among them are Ondwear, an AI-powered on-demand fashion platform; Profinance, offering financial services infrastructure; and IZEMX, a digital transformation company working in AI, automation, Web3, and blockchain.

Regional startups are also gaining traction. AuroraIQ from Tunisia is presenting an open-source solution for business management and cloud migration. LafricaMobile from Senegal provides mobile solutions helping organizations reach and transact with users via mobile channels. Its CEO, Malick Diouf, argued that participation at GITEX allows the company to strengthen partnerships and expand its continental impact.

Nigeria is using the platform to highlight its digital investment strategy. Kashifu Abdullahi, director general of NITDA, outlined the country’s 3 Million Talent initiative, which builds capacity across 12 key areas, including cybersecurity. “National cyber resilience depends on people who can protect systems, develop solutions, and contribute positively to the digital economy,” Abdullahi maintained.

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