The initiative is designed to foster the emergence of national champions, stimulate the development of innovative digital solutions, and create value for retailers while improving the consumer experience.

Moroccan Retail Tech Builder (MRTB), a platform for incubating and accelerating retail-focused technology startups in Africa, was launched as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mohammed VI Polytechnique University, and the OCP Foundation.

Launched in 2022, it supports entrepreneurs from the ideation and prototyping phase to the market launch and acceleration phase, connecting project owners with experts, business leaders, and mentors. The platform also hosts events to showcase its developed and developing e-commerce solutions to potential customers and investors.

Startups under MRTB’s umbrella have access to dedicated workspaces like StartGate, a startup campus affiliated with Mohamed VI Polytechnic University. This international entrepreneurial ecosystem provides world-class infrastructure and resources to support startups.

MRTB offers several programs to foster innovation. The “Create” program assists entrepreneurs in transforming their innovative digital solution concepts into prototypes, offering three months of specialized support and culminating in a “Demo Day” for project presentations.

The “Start” incubation program supports the transition from prototype to market launch, aiding incubatees in transforming their viable business models into companies.

The “Scale” program is designed to accelerate the growth of innovative startups, providing founders with the necessary tools to develop, deploy, and increase the value of their businesses.

Through these programs and activities, MRTB aims to support the development of innovative digital solutions for around a hundred retail projects, enabling beneficiaries to modernize and create value.

Melchior Koba