The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) launched, Wednesday, November 18, its “The Forge” program, an ambitious socio-economic project for the benefit of young Moroccan entrepreneurs, part of an approach which aims to position Morocco as a as an innovation hub in Africa.
During the launch press conference, Tarik El Fehri, Secretary General of the Ibn Rochd Foundation for Science and Innovation (FIRSI), and Yassine Laghzioui, Director of Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital, also CEO of UM6P Ventures, the University’s venture capital fund, highlighted the importance of “The Forge” project.
This program, specially designed for entrepreneurs who are passionate about technology, aims to bring out their most innovative ideas and transform them into successful businesses, thanks to exceptional support.
Housed on the campus of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), participants will evolve for 9 to 12 months within an entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes the creative process and their acculturation into the world of entrepreneurship. “The presence of dreamy and creative minds in the same space creates a spark, a spark of genius,” declares Yassine Laghzioui.
In order to create a real snowball effect of success, only the brightest minds, determined to revolutionize technology and transform the ecosystem, will be admitted. Imbued with a dynamic of innovation, participants will see their chances of bringing ambitious projects to fruition considerably strengthened, in particular thanks to their connection with investors. But also through world-class mentoring made up of international leaders and experts from the world of tech.
Students will have access to laboratories equipped with quality equipment to test, prototype and refine their ideas. Workshops, masterclasses and personalized advice tailored to the needs of each start-up will also be provided, with the ultimate objective of scaling them towards unicorn status.
Pleasant and dynamic co-working spaces will be made available, “The best deals are made in coffee shops,” reveals Yassine Laghzioui. It is based on this observation that UM6P attempts to reproduce this American model on its campus, within a space dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation, called StartGate.
The entire framework is suitable for welcoming around thirty candidates into “The Forge” program. Registrations are open on the site theforge.ma and will close on February 7, 2025.
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An inclusive project
Many competent people are unable to leave paid employment, forced to provide for their families and other heavy responsibilities. “The Forge” is committed to providing monthly allowances to its young entrepreneurs. An initiative which aims to eliminate all their secondary constraints so that they devote themselves fully to the success of their project.
Participation in the program is based on social and excellence criteria. The selected candidates will essentially be high potentials from disadvantaged backgrounds in Morocco and Africa. In order to guarantee a window on the world, a quota will be provided to accommodate a few international students.
It is from this inclusive approach that “The Forge” draws its name, highlighting human capital as the raw material of this project, which needs to be “forged” to reveal its full potential.
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One of the major missions of the program is to unlock the untapped potential of Morocco, a strategic country already attractive for many funds. It is therefore imperative for the UM6P to support Moroccan talents in order to combat the phenomenon of brain drain.
Towards an international playing field
Scaling a business represents a major challenge, particularly because of the financial barriers to entry that often push talent to migrate abroad. In order to stop this phenomenon and position Morocco as a key player in growth in Africa, UM6P is helping with “The Forge” to reverse the trend, by attracting various players to the country.
The program will enable technology enthusiasts, particularly in the field of Deeptech, to participate in innovation and the development of cutting-edge solutions, achieving global reach. Students will also overcome the crucial and often most difficult stage of “project initiation”, thanks to the University covering the initial costs that they do not have.
By bringing together profiles with multiple skills and perspectives, “The Forge” marks the genesis of a community of founders ready to take on local and global challenges. There is no doubt that the innovative ideas of these talented entrepreneurs will transform into lasting businesses and allow the emergence of the first African unicorns.
Candidates whose projects are selected by a jury made up of 15 world leaders will complete the program in 12 months, while those whose projects are not selected will benefit from 9 months to refine their course.
With “The Forge”, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University has been able to establish an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem, revealing untapped talents and supporting their development. Planned in three cohorts, this project takes advantage of international strategic partnerships that will transform ideas into large-scale projects with a global reach.
“The Forge” goes beyond a simple program: it is a real catalyst for economic growth and a springboard for the future of high-potential Moroccan talents, as well as for innovation, in Morocco and Africa.
