Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is launching “The Forge”, a Moroccan program intended to support founders in the creation of startups with global impact.
Hosted at StartGate Benguerir, the campus dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship of UM6P, and supported by the venture capital fund UM6P Ventures as well as the Ibn Rochd Foundation for Sciences and Innovation (FIRSI), “The Forge” aims to transform innovative ideas into successful businesses thanks to tailor-made support.
A structured ecosystem for founders
« The Forge » offers much more than just a program: it offers an integrated and structured environment where founders benefit from world-class mentoring, cutting-edge technological infrastructure and access to international networks.
The program places particular emphasis on the personal and professional development of participants to foster their resilience and leadership. The objective is to provide startups with the necessary resources to generate a lasting impact and support the birth of future Moroccan unicorns.
A journey in four key phases
Through an immersive residency experience lasting 9 to 12 months, “The Forge” guides entrepreneurs through four stages: ideation consists of structuring and refining ideas to turn them into concrete projects, incubation allows the development of prototypes thanks to access to UM6P laboratories, acceleration connects startups to financing opportunities and finally scaling supports the regional and international expansion of startups.
An initiative dedicated to Moroccan and African talents
Open to founders from around the world, “The Forge” places particular priority on Moroccan entrepreneurs, including members of the diaspora, as well as founders from other African countries. By bringing together profiles with diverse skills and perspectives, “The Forge” aims to create a dynamic community of founders ready to take on local and global challenges.
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This approach ensures a diverse ecosystem of talent while maintaining a strong focus on leveraging local talent, as well as Morocco’s role as an innovation hub in Africa.
Applications for the first cohort of “The Forge” are open on www.theforge.ma from December 18, 2024 until February 7, 2025.
“We firmly believe that Moroccan and African entrepreneurs have the potential to establish themselves on the international scene. “The Forge” embodies this mission by offering a founder-focused program because it all starts with them. Much more than a classic program: it is a gateway that connects founders to world-class resources, while promoting their local and global impact. Our ambition is to support these startups in their conquest of global markets and to lay the foundations for future African unicorns. “, declared Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship and Venturing and CEO of UM6P Ventures.
““The Forge” embodies the commitment of FIRSI, as a foundation backed by the UMCP, to make innovation and entrepreneurship the key to inclusive economic development. We firmly believe that every entrepreneur, whatever their constraints, must have the opportunity to realize their full potential. Through this program, we are creating an enabling environment to transform ambitious innovative ideas into concrete successes, thereby contributing to an inclusive and influential African ecosystem. » declares Tarik El Fehri, FIRSI Secretary General.
