The Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), a Dutch-backed initiative aimed at early-stage startups, is significantly expanding its footprint across North Africa, launching new programme Tunisia after those launched last year in Algeria, and Egypt. The move signals a focused effort to bridge the critical seed-stage funding gap for young entrepreneurs in the region’s burgeoning tech ecosystems.

The expansion will see OCIF partner with local fund managers to provide seed capital, technical assistance, and business development support to startups often considered too risky for traditional investors.

New Launches and Local Partnerships

The most recent launch took place in Tunisia, which became the 20th country in the Orange Corners network. The programme is being run in partnership with local incubator Lab’ess, which has already selected the first cohort of 10 startups. The five-year collaboration was celebrated at an event with the Dutch Ambassador to Tunisia, H.E. Josephine Frantzen, underscoring the governmental support behind the initiative.

This follows an August 2024 announcement detailing the fund’s second round, which formalized its entry into two other major North African markets:

• Algeria: OCIF partnered with the Algerian Startup Fund (ASF), a public-private vehicle that has supported over 100 startups since its launch in 2020. ASF focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, aligning with OCIF’s core mission.
• Egypt: The fund operates through a collaboration between Falak Startups, which is backed by Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation and Egypt Ventures, and the early-stage accelerator Athar.

Alongside this North African expansion, OCIF confirmed it will continue its support for existing programmes in Senegal, Jordan, South Africa, Ghana, and the Palestinian Territories.

Bridging the Seed-Stage Gap

Launched in 2019, the Orange Corners Innovation Fund is designed to address the “missing middle” in startup financing. It provides entrepreneurs graduating from its incubation and acceleration programmes with crucial access to capital to scale their ventures.

The fund operates a two-track model, offering everything from prototype vouchers and monthly allowances for idea-stage founders to more substantial seed funding. This financing, which can be structured as grants or loans, can reach up to €50,000 per entrepreneur.

By partnering with established local fund managers, OCIF leverages on-the-ground expertise to identify high-potential companies and de-risk investments. The initiative’s long-term vision extends to operating in at least 21 countries and continuing its activities until at least 2030, aiming to create a lasting impact on job creation and innovation across Africa and the Middle East.