Startup Garage Enters North Africa by Establishing a New Venture Studio in Casablanca
Startup Garage Expands to Casablanca, Boosting Uzbekistan's Innovation Potential
Startup Garage, Uzbekistan's leading venture studio, has announced its expansion to Casablanca, Morocco. This strategic move aims to create a dynamic ecosystem that supports and accelerates early-stage startups, positioning Uzbekistan as a leading innovation hub and bridging the gap for Central Asian startups to take their ideas to the global stage.
The new venture studio in Casablanca will focus on forming partnerships with local investors, accelerators, and entrepreneurs across the MENA region. The aim is to provide Uzbek startups with access to regional markets while also attracting North African ventures interested in expanding into Central Asia.
Sukhrob Gaybulloev, managing partner at AloqaVentures, the primary investor in Startup Garage, described the expansion as a strategic step towards scaling Uzbekistan's innovation potential. He expressed confidence that Startup Garage will serve as a launchpad for some of Uzbekistan's most promising startups.
Founded to support early-stage startups across all 14 regions of Uzbekistan, Startup Garage has incubated over 150 startups, with more than 10 of them securing external investments exceeding $2 million. The venture studio's model integrates strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to capital to fast-track entrepreneurial growth.
Muhammad Khalil, the founder of Startup Garage, stated that the international presence of Startup Garage is designed to help Uzbek startups bridge the gap and take their ideas to the global stage. This dual-location approach, with the existing location in Doha, Qatar, aligns with the typical mission of venture studios and startup incubators, which focus on nurturing startups through structured programs, expert mentorship, and access to capital and networks.
The expansion of Startup Garage comes at a time when Uzbekistan is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional hub for technology and innovation. The Uzbek government has made efforts to support digital transformation, relax regulatory barriers for startups, and encourage foreign investment.
The Casablanca venture studio's role typically includes offering early-stage startups access to expert guidance and business development support, providing a collaborative workspace and community environment, facilitating connections to investors and strategic partners, and enhancing startups’ ability to test, iterate, and scale their ideas quickly and sustainably.
The strategic goal of Startup Garage with its new venture studio in Casablanca, alongside its existing location in Doha, is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in both North Africa and the Gulf region. By operating in Casablanca and Doha, Startup Garage is positioned to tap into the emerging entrepreneurial talent in both Morocco and Qatar, promoting cross-regional collaboration and market entry pathways.
The growing trend of startup hubs emerging in developing markets is highlighted by GITEX being hosted in Morocco. This expansion of Startup Garage marks the first venture studio expansion from Central Asia to North Africa, signifying a significant step forward in the global startup ecosystem.
- The expansion of Startup Garage to Casablanca signifies an intentional move to augment the technology sector and foster innovation, as part of Uzbekistan's increased efforts to establish itself as a regional tech hub in the startup ecosystem.
- The new venture studio in Casablanca, focusing on integrating technology across startups, aims to bridge the geographical gap between Central Asian and North African startup ecosystems, which could create opportunities for collaborative growth in the technology sector.
