Startup World Cup Casablanca 2026
Morocco’s First Edition · June 4, 2026 · Technopark Casablanca
The first Moroccan edition of the Startup World Cup, organized by Startup&Angels — a network celebrating its 10th anniversary this year — took place on June 4, 2026, at Technopark Casablanca.
Out of 131 applications received, ten startups pitched live before a jury composed of investors from some of Morocco’s leading financial and technology institutions.
ORA Technologies, founded by Omar Alami, won the competition and will represent Morocco at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures in San Francisco.
Key Figures from the First Edition
Awards Ceremony Results
🥇 1st Prize — ORA Technologies
Omar Alami · FinTech · Casablanca
🥈 2nd Prize — LINKA
Abdelghani El Jarzini · Open Banking · Morocco
🥉 3rd Prize — Mama Box
Loubna Lamrani · FemTech / MedTech · Temara
🌸 Women at Artefact / Women in Tech Award — Mama Box
Loubna Lamrani
👏 People’s Choice Award — LINKA
Abdelghani El Jarzini
ORA Technologies will represent Morocco at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco before an audience of more than 300 international investors, alongside winners from over 65 countries.
Startup&Angels: 10 Years of Connecting Founders and Investors
Startup&Angels is the world’s leading startup-focused network, connected across all five continents. Founded in 2016, the network brings together founders, investors, mentors, and advisors around a common mission: accelerating startup growth and facilitating access to international markets.
Startup&Angels organizes in-person events, personalized one-to-one introductions, workshops, acceleration programs, and networking opportunities in more than 20 countries. The network is powered by Australiance Group, a company specializing in international expansion, recruitment, and startup development.
Key Figures
- More than 160 in-person events organized since 2016
- Presence across more than 20 countries and 5 continents, including Australia, France, Morocco, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, China, and many others
- More than 2,500 startups supported across sectors such as Ecommerce, Space, AI, MedTech, EdTech, and AgTech
- More than 15,000 participants including founders, investors, corporates, and mentors
- More than 1,000 investor partners including Pegasus Tech Ventures, Airtree, Rampersand, Antler, Blackbird, Artesian, France Angels, Serena VC, and 50 Partners
- Three service pillars: Talent (INAUTALENT), Innovation (Auvalie Innovation and Startup&Angels), and International Expansion (Australiance Access)
Technopark Morocco: Venue Partner and Ecosystem Anchor
Technopark Casablanca, led by CEO Lamiae Benmakhlouf, hosted the event at its headquarters.
As Morocco’s leading technology hub, Technopark provided its facilities, startup network, and operational teams to support the event’s organization.
- Morocco’s leading innovation hub, with locations in Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier
- Hundreds of startups supported since its creation
- Strategic partner in Morocco’s digital transformation agenda
Pegasus Tech Ventures: The World's Largest Startup Competition
Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley and founded in 2011.
Managing more than 41 funds and over $2 billion in assets under management, Pegasus has completed more than 300 investments, achieved 88 successful exits, and supported 27 IPOs.
The firm maintains investments across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Africa.
The Moroccan edition was represented by Nour Ben Lazreg, Startup World Cup Ambassador for Morocco.
Key Figures
- More than $2 billion in assets under management
- More than 41 funds managed with a global presence across five continents
- More than 300 startup investments worldwide
- 88 successful exits and 27 IPOs since 2011
- More than 65 regional Startup World Cup competitions each year and over 100,000 applications received
- One global winner selected annually at the San Francisco Grand Finale
Lamiae Benmakhlouf — CEO of Technopark Morocco
The CEO of Technopark Morocco welcomed participants on behalf of the institution and expressed Technopark’s pride in hosting this first Moroccan edition of the Startup World Cup.
She highlighted the strong alignment between Technopark’s mission — supporting Moroccan technology startups and SMEs in scaling and international expansion — and the ambitions of the Startup World Cup.
Ms. Benmakhlouf encouraged Moroccan founders to seize every opportunity to engage with international markets, emphasizing that Morocco possesses both the talent and the ideas required to play a significant role on the global innovation stage.
Marissa Scott — U.S. Consul General in Morocco
Consul General Marissa Scott praised the Startup World Cup as a tangible bridge between Morocco’s startup ecosystem and Silicon Valley.
Her remarks highlighted the U.S. Mission’s ongoing support for female entrepreneurship and technological innovation in Morocco, in line with broader Morocco–United States bilateral cooperation priorities.
Final Jury Panel
Eight experts from some of Morocco’s leading financial, technology, and media institutions evaluated the startups live:
An Ecosystem Reaching New Levels of Maturity
The 131 applications received paint the picture of an ambitious and rapidly evolving ecosystem.
The most represented sectors — FinTech, AgTech, ClimateTech, and HealthTech — demonstrate a strong alignment between local innovation and global investment priorities.
- 63% of applicants were at the pre-seed stage, highlighting a dynamic and promising early-stage pipeline
- 4 women-founded startups among the 10 finalists (Startup&Angels GEP objective achieved)
- Candidates originated from Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Fez, Kenitra, Tetouan, and the Moroccan diaspora
- Several finalists are recipients of international distinctions including NBA Africa, Gitex Supernova, the Earthshot Prize, and Forbes 30 Under 30
"Morocco builds." — Léo Denes, Co-Founder of Startup&Angels and CEO of Australiance
Press Contacts
- Léo Denes
Co-Fondateur & CEO — Australiance / Startup&Angels
leo@australiance.com
- Alyssa Cornut
Project Manager — Startup World Cup Casablanca
alyssa@australiance.com
+33 6 16 58 78 06