Moroccan startups at GITEX: are they landing deals or just seeking exposure?

Morocco is subsidizing startups to scale beyond early-stage funding. Hespress English spoke to founders making their first appearance at GITEX Africa, where hundreds of local companies are testing whether exposure can translate into deals.

The push comes as Morocco’s startup ecosystem shows uneven growth. Funding jumped from $33 million in 2023 to $95 million in 2024, briefly placing the country among the top four in the MENA region. But nearly all deals remained under $5 million, exits were scarce, and in 2025 funding was minimal.

This year, more than 800 startups and over 400 investors managing an estimated $350 billion are gathered at GITEX.

The government-backed “Morocco 300” program is covering participation costs for selected startups, a move founders say is critical for access but not a guarantee of investment.

Nabil Hamdaoui, co-founder of agritech startup Acridia, said his company would not have attended without state support.

“We have this opportunity through the Ministry of Digital Transition … who subsidized us and selected us,” he said.

Acridia, which produces halal-certified locust protein, is already generating traction, with a memorandum of understanding to supply five tons to a Saudi client in 2026. For Hamdaoui, that shifts the dynamic with investors.

“Once you have a client, you realize you don’t need an investor as much as maybe the investor needs you,” he said.

Still, he is using GITEX to line up meetings, particularly with investors from the Middle East and North America, as the company prepares to scale production using AI and IoT tools.

“We’re scaling to a few hundred thousand locusts now, but to deliver millions per month at an industrial level, we need the right tools and expertise in new technologies. GITEX is the best place for that kind of networking,” Hamdaoui said.

Hamdaoui said that there is strong investor interest following the European Union’s approval of three insect proteins: mealworms, crickets and locusts.

“Locust is the only halal option. We don’t position it as insect protein, but as a halal food, building a new supply chain around that. Investors don’t need to be Muslim, but they need to align with that vision,” Hamdaoui added.

Across the exhibition halls at GITEX, attention from investors is visible but uneven. Founders and startups’ representatives track not just foot traffic, but how long investors stop at booths which for some is a key indicator of serious interest in a crowded field.

Fatima Zahra Wafik, representing delivery startup Cathedis, said her team received between 20 and 30 investor visits in a single morning.

“Many were interested … but for now, it’s mostly exposure and marketing,” she said, adding that no deals had been finalized yet.

Cathedis, founded in 2015, focuses on logistics for e-commerce businesses across more than 600 destinations in Morocco, with a fully digital tracking platform. Like many startups at GITEX, its immediate goal is customer acquisition as much as fundraising.

For earlier-stage companies, the stakes are higher. Said Messal, founder of AI startup Redia, launched in 2025, said the company is actively seeking funding to grow its 12-person team and scale its computer vision technology.

“We’re looking for investors … we need funding to expand,” he said.

His startup, which turns existing cameras into analytics tools capable of tracking foot traffic, demographics and behavior, has already attracted initial interest, including from regional investment firms.

“GITEX is one of the few events where you can meet real investors,” he said,“We’ve already had someone from Mada visit us, and we’re following up with other meetings.”

Yet even optimistic founders acknowledge a gap between meetings and money.

Despite the presence of hundreds of investors, GITEX remains the start of longer fundraising cycles, where follow-ups, due diligence and negotiations stretch over months.

When asked whether his participation could lead to a concrete deal at GITEX, Hamdaoui said, “Yes and no. When you have expectations, you risk being disappointed, but I’m grateful for the chance to interact, exchange ideas and get advice. Sometimes investors won’t provide funding immediately, but you gain valuable guidance on how to engage with others later.”