Open Startup, Tunis (2026)

03/08/2026

𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, Explained.💸
Openers First is Open Startup’s new financial layer, backing selected ventures emerging from our platform at an early stage.

It is part of how we help African science-based ventures move further: beyond acceleration, and closer to the early capital they need to reach the next step.

Because for many science-based ventures, the hardest gap comes after proof of concept.

Too advanced for idea-stage support.
Still too early for traditional investors.
Close to market, but not close enough to scale.

Openers First was built for that gap.

Through SAFE notes from $20K to $50K, it supports selected startups as they move closer to validation, commercialization, and growth.

Investors, funds, and institutions: if this is part of your mandate, let’s talk.

🔗 Get in contact via our website: https://open-startup.org/

30/07/2026

The Programs, Explained · 🚀

Two startup tracks. One acceleration platform. One day left to apply.

Open Startup’s acceleration offer is now structured around two stage-based tracks:

Pre-Seed Track
For early-stage founders building and validating their solution.

Seed Track
For startups ready to accelerate traction, commercialization, and expansion.

Both tracks are built for ventures and tech-enabled startups solving critical challenges across Africa, with a particular focus on , , , emerging technologies, and other high-impact sectors 🌍

What selected startups can access:

• Tailored training adapted to their stage and needs
• Hands-on mentorship from regional and global experts
• Market validation and commercialization guidance
• Investor engagement and fundraising preparation
• Corporate and partner connections
• Regional and global ecosystem exposure
• Strategic support to move closer to investment readiness, market access, and scale

For founders building what the continent needs next, applications are now open.

Deadline: July 31st ⏳

🔗 Apply via our website

29/07/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬, Explained. 🚀

Two startup tracks. One acceleration platform.

Open Startup’s acceleration offer is now structured around two stage-based tracks:

𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤
For early-stage founders building and validating their solution.

𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤
For startups ready to accelerate traction, commercialization, and expansion.

Both tracks are built for ventures and tech-enabled startups solving critical challenges across Africa, with a particular focus on , , , emerging technologies, and other high-impact sectors 🌍

What selected startups can access:

• Tailored training adapted to their stage and needs
• Hands-on mentorship from regional and global experts
• Market validation and commercialization guidance
• Investor engagement and fundraising preparation
• Corporate and partner connections
• Regional and global ecosystem exposure
• Strategic support to move closer to investment readiness, market access, and scale

For founders building what the continent needs next, applications are now open.

Deadline: July 31st ⏳

🔗 Apply through the website.

28/07/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝, Explained 🧬
After 10 years of building with founders, universities, partners, investors, and ecosystem builders, Open Startup is sharpening its focus around science-based innovation.

Because some of Africa’s most important ventures will come from research, science, and complex technologies.

And because those ventures need more than acceleration.

They need a road.

A road from research to market.
From validation to customers.
From science to capital.
From African ecosystems to global opportunities.

This is where The Science Road is heading.

A new direction focused on founders and researchers building in DeepTech, health, climate, AI, and adjacent sectors, with the support needed to move further:

customer discovery, market validation, investment readiness, global exposure, capital, and the right partners around them.

Founders, researchers, investors, institutions, corporates, and ecosystem partners: if this road feels like yours, let’s talk 🌍

21/07/2026

· 03
Could the next global science breakthrough come from Africa?
Yes. Obviously. And probably not in the way the world expects.

Because innovation here is not built in perfect conditions.

It is built with urgency.
With fewer resources.
With proximity to real problems.
With scientists, founders, and ecosystems learning how to do more with less, and still meet the global standard.

What would make the next breakthrough possible?

More belief in African talent.
More industry feedback.
More local infrastructure.
More investment in research, DeepTech, and science commercialization.

The next breakthrough can come from Africa.

Now the work is to build the conditions around it 🧬

Thank you to Akinyi Wavinya Ooko-Ombaka, Lemjaouri Driss, Ross Rayne Vermeulen, Sima Parekh, Yaya Mbaoua, for opening up to our Open Questions.

16/07/2026

· 02
What is one bold bet Africa should make now that most people still underestimate?

Yaya Mbaoua, Richard Gordon, and Grégoire de Padirac did not point to one bet.

They pointed to the foundations.

People.
Youth.
Education.
Local languages.
AI and DeepTech.
Natural assets.
And the small, decisive investments that help ideas reach the next stage.

Because Africa’s next leap will not come from copying what already exists.

It will come from backing what is already here: the talent, the knowledge, the resources, and the ecosystems around them 🌍

Thank you to everyone who opened up to our and shared their vision for what comes next 🧬

14/07/2026

What if the next decade changes what the world expects from African innovation? 🌍

During Open Startup’s 10-year anniversary event, we asked guests to look ahead.

By 2035, what could African innovation be recognized for?

Their answers moved across the same direction.

🤝 More actors building together.
⚡ More investment in infrastructure, compute, energy, and local models.
🧬 Stronger bets in financial services, health, AI, and quantum.
🌍 More confidence in the talent, creativity, and resilience already shaping the continent.

And maybe the biggest shift of all: moving from “Africa is risky” to “Africa is early.”

Open Questions 01
The next decade of African innovation.

Thank you to everyone who took on our Open Questions during the event:
Akinyi Wavinya Ooko-Ombaka, KC - Koutheir Cherni, Richard Gordon, Sima Parekh, Yaya Mbaoua, James Wells, Lemjaouri Driss.

The future is open.

07/07/2026

10 years is a good moment to pause.
But not for too long 🚀

On June 26 in Tunis, Open Startup brought together founders, partners, mentors, investors, scientists, institutions, and ecosystem builders to mark 10 years of work across African innovation.

The focus was not only on what has been built since 2016, but on what needs to move next.

How do we take more African ventures from research to market?
How do we make early capital easier to access?
How do we connect founders to real customers, partners, and global opportunities?

That is the work ahead.

To every partner who was in the room, and every partner whose trust helped bring Open Startup to this point, thank you.

This journey was never built alone.

The future is open 🌍

30/06/2026

10 years of moving YESes forward ✨ Photo album part I

Last Friday in , where it all started, we gathered founders, partners, mentors, investors, scientists, ecosystem builders, early believers, and friends of the Open Startup community.

A day to look back at where it started, and to open what comes next.

From campus to continent.
From science to market.
From climate and health challenges to DeepTech solutions.
From market readiness to first capital.
From Tunis to Africa, and from Africa to the world 🌍

The conversations throughout the day reflected Open Startup’s next direction: a sharper focus on research-led ventures, DeepTech, health, climate, investment readiness, early financing, and the pathways African founders need to grow beyond their first markets.

This is also the beginning of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝, Open Startup’s new strategic direction focused on research-led African ventures in , , and .

What it brings together:

• Acceleration
• Market and investment readiness
• Openers First, our new early financing layer
• Stronger pathways to markets, capital, and real-world adoption

To everyone who joined us, supported us, partnered with us, mentored, contributed, built, opened doors, and carried this journey with us: thank you.

Gratitude to all the partners who made this possible, tagged in the first comment.

The journey continues 🚀

29/06/2026

✨ New logo. Same mission. Sharper focus.

Since 2016, Open Startup has evolved with every founder, partner, program, and ecosystem that helped carry the mission forward.

Today, as we enter a new decade, our visual identity is evolving too.

Not just to look different.
To reflect where we are going next.
A clearer direction.
A sharper path forward.

A stronger commitment to backing African founders who are building what the continent needs next, and helping take their work to the world.

DeepTech.
Health.
Climate.
Science-based innovation.
Market and investment readiness.

Now, onto the next decade of YES 🚀

The future is open 🌍

Open Startup

03/08/2026

30/07/2026

29/07/2026

28/07/2026

21/07/2026

16/07/2026

14/07/2026

07/07/2026

30/06/2026

29/06/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request