Expanding its presence into North Africa, Startup Garage launches a new Venture Studio in Casablanca.
In a groundbreaking move, Startup Garage, a Central Asian venture studio, has expanded its operations to Casablanca, Morocco, marking the first time a Central Asian startup ecosystem player has ventured into North Africa. This strategic expansion aims to foster cross-regional collaboration, connecting the Central Asian and North African startup ecosystems and unlocking opportunities for startups from both regions to grow faster and scale globally.
Startup Garage's foray into Casablanca is part of a broader goal to provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to funding for startups in both Central Asia and North Africa. The venture studio's partnership with IT Park Ventures also facilitates direct investment into startups within Startup Garage, nurturing early-stage ventures from ideation to Series A fundraising.
The new Casablanca venture studio will focus on forming partnerships with local investors, accelerators, and entrepreneurs across the MENA region. The initiative reflects an emerging trend of cross-continental startup ecosystem collaboration, aiming to pool resources and networks to drive innovation in both Central Asia and North Africa.
For Central Asian startups, particularly those from Uzbekistan, the new hub aims to provide access to regional markets and global accelerator networks. This expansion comes at a time when Uzbekistan is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional hub for technology and innovation. The Uzbek government has made recent strides in supporting digital transformation and encouraging foreign investment.
The Casablanca venture studio also seeks to attract North African ventures interested in expanding into Central Asia. Startup Garage, Uzbekistan's largest venture studio, has incubated over 150 startups since its founding, with more than 10 securing external investments exceeding $2 million.
Muhammad Khalil, the founder of Startup Garage, stated that the international presence is designed to help Uzbek startups bridge the gap and take their ideas to the global stage. Sukhrob Gaybulloev, managing partner at AloqaVentures, the primary investor in Startup Garage, described the expansion as a strategic step toward scaling Uzbekistan's innovation potential.
The new hub in Casablanca is expected to serve as a cross-border platform for Central Asian startups looking to expand into global markets. The company's model integrates strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to capital to fast-track entrepreneurial growth. The expansion into Morocco, where GITEX is being hosted, underscores the growing trend of startup hubs emerging in developing markets.
The innovations emerging from Startup Garage have the potential to create meaningful change and position Uzbekistan as a leading innovation hub. Sukhrob Gaybulloev is confident that Startup Garage will serve as a launchpad for some of Uzbekistan's most promising startups.
- The expansion of Startup Garage into Casablanca, being part of their broader goal, also aims to provide Central Asian startups with access to technology and potential investors in the North African region.
- The strategic partnerships that Startup Garage forms in Casablanca with local technology companies and investors will provide North African startups with opportunities to scale and grow, particularly in Central Asia, where Startup Garage has incubated over 150 startups.
