Finances News Hebdo: The information and communication technologies (ICT) sector is evolving rapidly. How does ID&A Tech position itself against the competition, and what are its main differences compared to other market players?
Fouad Elaqqari: ID&A Tech positions itself as a unique player in the ICT sector, combining local expertise and cutting-edge technological solutions. We specialize in various areas, including finance, health (via collaboration with WHO), renewable energy, transport and proptech. This versatility allows us to address complex issues specific to each sector. Our flagship solution, InsightOne, is an advanced technology platform that integrates performance analysis, advanced simulation (such as stress testing and Monte Carlo simulations), and reporting automation capabilities. By combining AI and BI, InsightOne provides a synthetic and strategic view of data, helping our clients better understand their markets and optimize their decisions. What also sets us apart is our commitment to integrating artificial intelligence directly into the decision-making circuit. organizations. Our conversational AI, Maya GPT, is a great example of this: it allows users to interact with data intuitively and instantly, simplifying decision-making.
FNH: Funding startups and tech companies can be a challenge. What are the main financing levers that ID&A Tech has used so far to expand and what are its current financial needs to accelerate its growth?
F. E. : ID&A Tech was founded in 2021 thanks to its own funds and to the experience of its founder, Fouad Elaqqari, who invested his personal savings to launch the company. This initial funding allowed us to start our activities and lay the foundation for our first solution. We then had the opportunity to support large national institutions, which trusted our local skills to solve their technical and operational challenges. The revenue generated by these strategic support missions, focused on the modernization of information systems and the automation of decision-making processes, was reinvested to finance the development of our InsightOne product. However, like many startups, we have encountered challenges, particularly in recruiting and retaining talent. With limited financial resources, it is difficult for us to compete with the salaries offered by more established companies, which has had a direct impact on the speed of our growth and our ability to develop cutting-edge products. To accelerate our development, we participated in events such as Gitex Africa, supported by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, and at the initiative of Open Startup International, where we presented our solutions to African investors. Although we have received interesting proposals from South African and Kenyan investors, we favor Moroccan investors initially, to support us in the local marketing of our solutions, before extending our activities abroad. continental scale.
FNH: How does the company invest in research to improve its products and services?
F. E. : Innovation is at the heart of ID&A Tech’s strategy. We invest significantlytive in research and development to perfect our solutions and meet the evolving needs of our customers. Our Maya GPT product, for example, is an advanced conversational AI based on a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture. This technology makes it possible to provide accurate and reliable answers in real time, based on updated data from reliable sources. We also collaborate with academic institutions and participate in innovation programs like Moroccan FinTech Accelerator to explore new applications of AI and BI. In addition, our participation in projects such as the one carried out with the WHO for epidemiological forecasting demonstrates our ability to apply advanced modeling methods in various contexts. These initiatives allow us not only to develop high-performance products, but also to stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
FNH: What are the company’s ambitions to become a key player in the technology sector in Morocco and beyond?
F. E. : ID&A Tech aspires to become a key leader in digital transformation, particularly in the Moroccan financial sector. In the short term, we are focusing on strengthening our local presence by supporting large national institutions in their digitalization and marketing our InsightOne solution. Our medium and long-term ambitions are focused on expansion on an African scale. We have already started this process through programs such as Open Startup International and international events like Gitex Africa and the International Innovation Fair in Milan. These platforms have allowed us to showcase our solutions to a global audience and establish strategic connections with investors and partners. We firmly believe in the potential of local technological solutions to respond to the specific challenges of the African continent. By relying on our partnerships, our expertise and our commitment to innovation, and by collaborating closely with institutions like the Technopark, which has provided us with an environment conducive to our development, we plan to play a key role in digital transformation and the technological development of Africa.
