Morocco Ranks 90th Globally in Startup Ecosystem Index 2026

Morocco ranked 90th globally in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, slipping two places from the previous year while maintaining its position as the third-strongest startup ecosystem in North Africa behind Egypt and Tunisia. The report estimates the value of Morocco’s startup ecosystem at approximately $1.1 billion and records annual ecosystem growth of 30.7% — nearly double the North African average of 17.6%.

“Outperforming its 3rd-place overall Northern Africa standing and reflecting strong engagement across startups, investors, corporates, and institutions,” the assessment singled out Morocco’s stakeholder engagement as a standout pillar.

The report highlights several measures and actors behind Morocco’s momentum. Morocco ranked first in North Africa in StartupBlink’s Ecosystem Stakeholder Strength Pillar, while its broader business environment continues to score better than ecosystem outcomes: the country placed 80th globally in the Innovators Business Environment Index. Within the Arab League, Morocco finished 10th overall and achieved notable sub-rankings — third in Corporate Engagement and fifth in both Ecosystem Returns and Ecosystem Maturity — suggesting improving institutional support and ecosystem sophistication.

• Key figures: ecosystem value ~$1.1 billion; annual growth 30.7%; North Africa average growth 17.6%.
• Policy and funding milestones: the Innov Invest Fund (a $70 million financing project launched in 2017 backed by the World Bank and the European Union).
• Programs and partners: the Startup Venture Building program launched in 2025 in partnership with 500 Global and Flat6Labs to support 800 startups; the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy aims to digitize public services and support the creation and scaling of 3,000 startups by 2030.
• Domestic ecosystem builders: Agency for Digital Development (ADD), Technopark, Maroc Numeric Fund Ventures, Tamwilcom, and GIZ Morocco.
• Notable exits and signals: Chari became the first Moroccan startup accepted into Y Combinator in 2021; Marrakech hosted the inaugural GITEX Africa in 2023.

Geographically, Morocco’s startup activity is spreading beyond Casablanca. The country now has three cities ranked among the world’s top 1,000 startup ecosystems — more than any other North African nation. Casablanca retained its position as North Africa’s second-ranked startup city and ninth in Africa overall, posting 23.1% growth. Rabat climbed 39 places to 772nd globally after 44% growth, and Marrakech entered the global top 1,000 for the first time, rising 189 positions to 871st with nearly 100% growth.

The report credits a growing network of ecosystem builders and a sequence of policy and investment milestones for supporting expansion over the past decade. It cites early-stage support from Maroc Numeric Fund Ventures and public financing mechanisms managed by Tamwilcom, alongside digital transformation oversight by the Agency for Digital Development and technical and advisory assistance from GIZ Morocco. Initiatives such as the Innov Invest Fund and the Startup Venture Building program are presented as concrete interventions that have bolstered funding channels and accelerator support.

Outlook: while Egypt and Tunisia remain the North African leaders, the report’s data suggest Morocco is narrowing the gap through rapid ecosystem growth, stronger stakeholder engagement, and the emergence of multiple startup centers beyond Casablanca. Continued translation of a favorable business environment — Morocco’s 80th-place Innovators Business Environment ranking — into startup outcomes will be a key determinant of whether the country climbs higher in next year’s global index.