Tunisia Marks Eighth Anniversary of Startup Act: Over 1,450 Labeled Startups

Eight Years of Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Tunis, Tunisia - January 18, 2026 - Tunisia marked the eighth anniversary of the Startup Act (Law No. 2018-20, passed April 17, 2018), which made Tunisia the first African country to adopt a comprehensive legal framework supporting tech entrepreneurship.

Key Achievements

Key Figures After Eight Years

• More than 1,450 startups labeled through the official program
• 12,500 direct jobs created (estimated)
• 500 million dinars in annual tech exports (estimated)
• 85 million dinars in funding raised in 2025 (estimated)
• 23 companies expanded to international markets (estimated)

Fastest Growing Sectors

1. FinTech: 280 companies
2. HealthTech: 190 companies
3. EdTech: 165 companies
4. E-commerce: 320 companies
5. Artificial Intelligence: 145 companies

Notable Success Stories

Expensya (FinTech)

• Professional expense management solution
• Expanded to 100 countries
• Raised a total of $25.6 million across four funding rounds
• Acquired by Swedish company Medius in July 2023

InstaDeep (Artificial Intelligence)

• Global machine learning company
• Acquired by BioNTech for approximately $682 million (2023)
• Headquarters in Tunisia and London

Cure Bionics (MedTech)

• Smart prosthetics using 3D printing technology
• Won international awards
• Working to expand its reach across Africa and the Middle East

GoMyCode (EdTech)

• Programming education platform
• Tens of thousands of trainees
• Expanded to 10 countries

Startup Act Benefits

Exemptions and Incentives

• Tax exemption for 8 years
• Facilitated currency transfers for international transactions
• Sabbatical leave for employees to start their companies
• Free or subsidized patents

Administrative Facilitations

• Online label application through the official Startup Tunisia portal
• One-stop shop for all procedures
• Facilitated visas for foreign investors and partners

Support Ecosystem

Incubators and Accelerators

• Flat6Labs Tunis: Largest accelerator in the region
• Wiki Startup: University incubator
• BIAT Labs: FinTech innovation
• Orange Fab: Support from Orange

Funding

Startup Act 2.0 Updates

The government announced the Startup Act 2.0, an updated legislative framework focusing on internationalization and enhanced financing:

New Additions

• Raised tax exemption ceiling for exporting companies
• "Visa Startup" program for foreign founders
• Sovereign fund worth 100 million dinars for startups
• Partnership with universities for technology transfer

Future Programs

• Tunisia Tech Bridge: Connecting Tunisian companies to European market
• Startup Valley: Integrated tech zone in Sidi Thabet
• AI Tunisia: National AI program

Statements

The Minister of Economy and Planning stated:

"The Startup Act has proven successful as a leading African model. We are committed to continuing its development to keep pace with global digital economy requirements."

Future Vision

2030 Goals

• 5,000 registered startups
• 50,000 jobs
• 1 billion dinars in tech exports
• 10 unicorn companies

Tunisia continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for innovation and tech entrepreneurship in Africa and the Arab world.