In a modest office near Tunisia’s Polytech International University, Rami Kalboussi spent years shaping the next generation of engineers, guiding students through the intricate world of underwater robotics. His work went well beyond lectures, inspiring a passion for subsea exploration and technology that extended deep into his students’ aspirations. Yet despite his dedication to fostering innovation in Tunis, Kalboussi found himself at a crossroads. In 2021, after registering Mare Custos, a pioneering subsea robotics firm, he realized his ambitions were constrained by a market reluctant to embrace new technologies and the sparse capital support available to scale a globally competitive business. Driven by the need for an ecosystem that could fully support his company, Kalboussi made the difficult decision to relocate to France.
The move wasn’t just a leap into foreign markets — it was a transformation. With Mare Custos now based in Brest, Kalboussi finds himself in an environment that embraces tech innovation, supported by both public and private sectors. Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank, offered an investment network and resources in excess of $300,000, while the local marine research hub, Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, allowed his team to access cutting-edge maritime technology. “It was the entire ecosystem of Brittany that convinced us,” Kalboussi remarks. As Mare Custos prepares to launch its first production line in 2025 and scale its presence across six international markets, his story underlines a strategic migration undertaken by a growing wave of Maghrebi entrepreneurs seeking stable funding and fertile ground for their ideas.
This exodus of North African talent to France is becoming more visible, particularly among startups from the Maghreb countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. These founders, many in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, green tech, and advanced manufacturing, are drawn to France’s robust funding mechanisms and expansive market access. For many, the move isn’t simply a preference but a matter of business survival. The limited funding pools and regulatory constraints in North Africa often stall startups, while France’s access to funding, paired with its Startup Visa and Tech Ticket programs, offers an alternative route to growth.
Kalboussi’s relocation is part of a larger wave of Maghrebi founders who have successfully repositioned their companies in France. Wattnow, a Tunisian energy management startup, similarly shifted operations to Toulouse after securing early traction at Orange Tunisia’s incubator. The company needed larger capital pools and stronger tech infrastructure than was available domestically, and in France, they found just that. Supported by Business France, Wattnow raised $1.3 million in 2023 to drive further innovation, with additional rounds anticipated as they scale. “In France, we’re not only seen but heard,” says founder Issam Smaali, reflecting on the contrast between the local and foreign investor landscape.
Another Tunisian success story, Cure Bionics, which develops 3D-printed, solar-powered prosthetics, also chose to establish itself in France. After struggling to find the funding and technical resources needed for production in Tunisia, Cure Bionics moved its R&D operations to Paris in 2022. The decision proved pivotal, allowing the company to collaborate with French healthcare institutions and access investment from Bpifrance, propelling its ambitions to create affordable prosthetic solutions for underserved communities globally.
Other North African startups like Yassir from Algeria, Save Your Wardrobe from Tunisia, Sobrus and Cloudfret from Morocco have increasingly looked to France as a launchpad for growth and expansion. For Yassir, a ride-hailing and fintech service that found success in Algeria, the choice to move its headquarters to France brought access to a larger investor network and an opportunity to develop new offerings for the European market. Similarly, Cloudfret, a Moroccan logistics tech startup, chose France to scale its AI-powered freight solutions and capitalize on Europe’s interconnected supply chain networks.
Sobrus initially gained traction as a software developer for small businesses but soon found that expanding internationally would be challenging without robust support. Moving part of its operations to France allowed Sobrus to partner with local accelerators and secure funding, fueling its ambitions to broaden its client base across Europe. Likewise, Tunisian fashion tech startup Save Your Wardrobe and retail-tech Winshot made the transition to France, seeking both regulatory flexibility and the funding critical for scaling. In France, these companies found a receptive ecosystem and resources that have enabled them to refine their models and grow their brands.
Maghrebi Startups Find Favorable Shores in France
France’s longstanding historical and linguistic connections with North Africa play a role in the growing collaboration between the regions. For decades, the two have shared economic and cultural ties, and in recent years, French institutions have strengthened these bonds, fostering entrepreneurial exchanges that benefit both sides. French public investment programs, particularly through Bpifrance and the “La French Tech” initiative, have created opportunities for North African founders to access both French capital and strategic support networks. France’s Startup Visa program, tailored to attract entrepreneurial talent from abroad, makes it easier for founders to relocate, offering residency options, extensive networking opportunities, and access to European markets.
In June this year, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of the “Fonds Maghreb,” a €100 million fund aimed at supporting French businesses looking to invest in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. Managed by Bpifrance, this fund provides financial and operational assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (VSEs) seeking to expand to North Africa, including — of course — France-based startups with North African roots.
The financial support is often accompanied by sector-specific expertise. For Mare Custos, for example, relocating to Brest in Brittany was strategic, as the region’s tech clusters are known for advanced maritime technology. Likewise, Wattnow’s choice of Toulouse provided proximity to energy tech and AI-driven solutions research, enhancing their product development capabilities. “France offers a system where tech innovators can not only survive but thrive,” observes Isabelle Bébéar, Head of International & European Affairs, Bpifrance.
This influx of talent and innovation has a tangible impact in France. The French economy is benefiting from the diversity of sectors North African founders bring, such as fintech, agritech, and AI-driven solutions. These are areas in which the French government has prioritized growth as part of its wider economic and digital transformation. For example, Tunisia’s Kumulus with a base in Mandé (a suburb of Paris) was incubated by Act’in Cube of ACTIA Group, a French incubator with a subsidiary located in Ariana, Tunisia. Kumulus has a team of about fifteen people spread between Tunisia, France, and Spain. In 2022, it completed its first fundraising round of 1 million euros to attract talent. The company, recognized by several institutions for its innovation, has delivered 30 machines in Tunisia and France.
An Exodus Stoked, in Part, by Local Governments
For North African nations, the trend of outward migration of high-potential entrepreneurs poses challenges. Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria, which already grapple with high youth unemployment rates, may lose the economic benefits associated with tech innovation and job creation. In Algeria alone, a 2023 study reported that a substantial percentage of tech talents and startups consider relocating for better funding, citing Europe as the preferred destination.
Local governments are not even helping the situation. Recently, Userguest, an Amsterdam-based startup with Moroccan roots, secured €2.2 million ($2.4 million) in seed funding, paving the way for its ambitious plans to transform the hotel technology landscape. The funding round was led by investors based in Morocco, including Al Mada Ventures, CDG Invest, Saviu Ventures, UM6P Ventures, Kalys VC, and Plug & Play. These developments exacerbate the prevailing trend, undermining confidence in local founders and ecosystems, and driving many entrepreneurs to seek opportunities elsewhere.
However, some North African governments are responding with initiatives of their own. Tunisia’s StartUp Act, for example, provides tax incentives and financing options designed to keep entrepreneurs within the country. But in practice, the incentives often fall short of addressing the systemic challenges that drive startups abroad. “Local support is valuable, but it needs to be on par with global offerings to keep entrepreneurs here,” one Algerian founder tells Launch Base Africa. Algeria is, also, currently sending waves of founders to leading global tech cities through a government-sponsored ASEP program, hoping that the innovations they experience abroad will be replicated at home. However, this initiative also risks fostering a sense of being left behind, prompting some founders to consider fleeing instead.
The migration of talent also represents a potential bridge between North Africa and Europe. As these founders gain traction in France, many are looking to keep a foot in the Maghreb by creating job opportunities and secondary offices in their home countries. For instance, Wattnow maintains an R&D team in Tunisia, with plans to double its staff by next year as it scales production for both European and African markets.
A Cross-Continental Growth Model
As North African startups grow their ventures in France, their ambitions remain rooted in the larger North African region. For founders like Kalboussi, this model offers the best of both worlds: European resources and market access coupled with the cultural and linguistic connections that make scaling in North Africa more seamless. French investors are also increasingly open to cross-continental partnerships, drawn by the growth potential of the African tech market.
For many Maghrebi entrepreneurs, France represents more than just an economic opportunity; it’s a new frontier for transforming local innovation into globally competitive companies. And with both North African and stakeholders in France actively working to support these entrepreneurs, the pipeline of startups crossing the Mediterranean shows no signs of slowing down.