Frontrunners Benin and Morocco fueling the upcoming wave of technological advancements in Francophone Africa
Booming Tech Ecosystems in Morocco and Benin
Morocco and Benin are making significant strides in their tech ecosystems, with a focus on AI, digitalization, and startups as central pillars of their economic strategies.
Morocco's Tech Advancements
Conferences on AI are held in Rabat, attracting ministries and agencies. The tech ecosystem in Morocco is maturing, becoming the most capitalized in the Francophone zone. The Marocco tech ecosystem stands out for its depth of capital, international openness, and infrastructure. Casablanca Finance City hosts over 240 multinational companies, making it the largest financial hub in Africa.
The Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations (API-An) plays a crucial role in Morocco's tech ecosystem. The agency manages the country's Startup Label law, which offers tax holidays, import duty reductions, and simplified procedures for early-stage businesses. The Morocco Fintech Center, a consortium of 15 banks, serves as a single point of contact for fintech.
Investment in venture capital in Morocco increased significantly in 2024, with figures suggesting $177 million compared to $17 million in 2023. The "startup" label, awarded to 15 companies across various sectors, offers tax exemptions, support, and visibility for three years.
Benin's Tech Revolution
Benin has made significant strides in digital governance, with over 560 public services digitized, eliminating frictions that slow down startups in other regions. The API-An also plays a crucial role in Benin's tech ecosystem, providing incubation, a single point of contact for startups, and actively promoting entrepreneurship.
Benin's tech ecosystem is focused on digital payment solutions, mobile banking services, ed-tech platforms, technology-driven agriculture, and logistics startups. Highlights of Benin's tech ecosystem include Kea Medicals, Ze'xpress, PreciAgri, Exportunity, and others.
Benin launched a national AI strategy in 2023, which is already operational, with a focus on chatbot legal advice, national data collection, and AI governance. The country has also made significant strides in digital resilience, with the strongest progress in African internet resilience, according to a report from March 2025.
Regional Collaboration
Benin is also leveraging technology to ease cross-border trade and strengthen regional ties with Nigeria, further expanding market access and opportunities for startups.
Grassroots Initiatives
Grassroots initiatives like Ecole 229 train young people in coding, app development, and digital tools, no degree required.
The Future of Tech in Morocco and Benin
Both Morocco and Benin are preparing to compete in a higher category, similar to Singapore or Rwanda, with initiatives such as digital governance, concrete political reforms, and prominent infrastructure projects. However, "growing" will require unlocking Series A/B funding, streamlining regulation, and expanding support beyond major metropolitan areas.
Overall, Morocco and Benin have well-organized, policy-driven, and digitally enabled startup ecosystems with government programs aligned to support innovation, talent cultivation, infrastructure development, and regional integration, positioning themselves as rising players in West African tech.
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References:
- The Next Wave Francophone Africa newsletter, 30th July 2025
- GITEX Africa, Marrakech 2025
- StartupBlink, Casablanca ranking 2025
- API-An, Benin
- Benin-Nigeria trade facilitation initiative
- The tech ecosystem in Morocco, particularly in Rabat, is attracting ministries and agencies for conferences on AI.
- With a maturing tech ecosystem, Morocco hosts over 240 multinational companies in Casablanca Finance City.
- The Marocco tech ecosystem boasts depth of capital, international openness, and robust infrastructure.
- Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations (API-An) plays a crucial role in Morocco's tech ecosystem and manages the Startup Label law.
- Venture capital investment in Morocco surged to $177 million in 2024, compared to $17 million in 2023.
- The Morocco Fintech Center, a consortium of 15 banks, provides a single point of contact for fintech developments.
- Edtech, technology-driven agriculture, and logistics startups are key focus areas in Benin's tech ecosystem.
- Kea Medicals, Ze'xpress, PreciAgri, Exportunity, and others are highlights of Benin's tech ecosystem.
- Benin's national AI strategy focuses on chatbot legal advice, national data collection, and AI governance.
- Benin has made significant strides in digital resilience, reporting the strongest progress in African internet resilience.
- Grassroots initiatives like Ecole 229 train young people in various digital skills without a degree requirement.
- Both Morocco and Benin are planning to compete on the global stage, similar to Singapore or Rwanda.
- Unlocking Series A/B funding, streamlining regulation, and expanding support beyond major cities will be crucial for growth.
- Digital governance, political reforms, and infrastructure projects align with government programs to support innovation and regional integration.
- Both Morocco and Benin are positioning themselves as rising players in West African tech with digitally enabled and policy-driven startup ecosystems.
- Technological advancements in Morocco and Benin are disrupting sectors like personal finance, food and drink, and lifestyle.
- Fintech, health-and-wellness, sports betting, and fitness-and-exercise startups are emerging in the tech ecosystems of Morocco and Benin.
- Weather forecasting and sports analysis are areas of collaboration among startups in Morocco and Benin.
- Venture capitalists and investors looking for opportunities in Africa can consider Morocco and Benin due to their well-organized tech ecosystems.
