Tech Business Garage Broadens Horizons in North Africa through Establishment of a Venture Studio in Casablanca
Startup Garage Expands to Casablanca, Bridging Central Asian and North African Startup Ecosystems
Uzbekistan's largest venture studio, Startup Garage, has made a strategic move to expand into North Africa, launching operations in Casablanca, Morocco. This move aims to create a bridge between Central Asian and North African startup ecosystems, facilitating knowledge exchange, joint ventures, and collaboration opportunities for startups from both regions.
According to Sukhrob Gaybulloev, managing partner at AloqaVentures, the primary investor in Startup Garage, this is a strategic step toward scaling Uzbekistan's innovation potential. The expansion is designed to support cross-regional innovation by leveraging Startup Garage’s expertise in startup training, mentorship, and ecosystem development.
Startup Garage has a successful track record in Uzbekistan, having incubated over 150 startups since its founding. More than 10 of these incubated startups have secured external investments exceeding $2 million. The expansion to Casablanca underscores the growing trend of startup hubs in developing markets and positions Startup Garage as a pioneer, being the first venture studio from Central Asia to enter North Africa.
The new hub in Casablanca aims to serve as a cross-border platform for Central Asian startups looking to expand into global markets. It will focus on forming partnerships with local investors, accelerators, and entrepreneurs across the MENA region. 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.
The Casablanca venture studio will also provide Uzbek startups with access to regional markets while attracting North African ventures interested in expanding into Central Asia. This bi-regional approach can help startups in North Africa benefit from Central Asia’s growing digital transformation, while Central Asian startups gain exposure to new markets and resources available through North African networks.
The Uzbek government has made significant strides in supporting digital transformation, relaxing regulatory barriers for startups, and encouraging foreign investment. This, coupled with Startup Garage's strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to capital, will fast-track entrepreneurial growth. Startup Garage's model has already proven successful in Uzbekistan with initiatives like the SG Women accelerator program.
The expansion of Startup Garage to Casablanca comes at a time when Uzbekistan is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional hub for technology and innovation. The innovations emerging from Startup Garage have the potential to create meaningful change and position Uzbekistan as a leading innovation hub.
AloqaVentures is thrilled to support the expansion of Startup Garage and is confident that it will serve as a launchpad for some of Uzbekistan's most promising startups. The Casablanca venture studio will work towards bridging the gap for Uzbek startups to reach the global stage. This move is not just a strategic step for Startup Garage, but also a significant milestone in the global startup landscape.
The GITEX being hosted in Morocco underscores the growing trend of startup hubs emerging in developing markets. Startup Garage now has two international locations: Casablanca, Morocco, and Doha, Qatar. This expansion is a testament to Startup Garage's commitment to fostering collaboration, sharing best practices in startup development, and opening new investment and market opportunities that enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystems on both continents.
Startup Garage's expansion into Casablanca, Morocco, signifies a deliberate move to integrate Central Asian and North African startup ecosystems, leveraging technology to facilitate knowledge exchange and joint ventures between startups from both regions.
With a focus on cross-border partnerships and regional market access, the new hub in Casablanca empowers Central Asian startups to expand globally while providing North African startups with exposure to cutting-edge technology and resources from Central Asia.
