The Moroccan Retail Tech Builder (MRTB), a Venture Builder based in Morocco and Africa, is all about bringing commerce into the digital age. Recently, they hit a major milestone, backing up a cool 100 startups in the commerce game.
Back in 2021, they kicked off with a mission: give startups the boost they need to turn their ideas into reality. Fast forward to today, and they’ve become a big player in Morocco’s push for digital commerce. Their celebration went down in Bouskoura, with all the key players showing up to cheer them on. This venture isn’t a one-man show; it’s a partnership between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and the OCP Foundation.
But MRTB isn’t just about starting up startups. They’re also all about bringing the little guys and the big dogs together. They’re making connections happen between the newbies and the established businesses.
They’ve even cooked up some cool projects, like teaming up with consulting hotshots Integrate Consulting and THOTH Consulting to boost the reputation of Moroccan businesses worldwide. And they’re not stopping there. With new buddies like Plug and Play, M2T, Al Barid Bank, Visa, and Glovo, they’re gearing up to make an even bigger splash in the Moroccan startup scene.
Moroccan startups have their fair share of hurdles to jump. There’s the red tape jungle and the lack of fintech oomph, which puts Morocco a step behind its African neighbors like Egypt and Nigeria. Sure, Morocco’s trying to make life easier for startups, but paperwork can still be a royal pain in the neck. And let’s not forget the language barrier. Most of the big-shot investors speak English, while Morocco’s more of a French-speaking kinda place. So yeah, finding backers can be a bit of a puzzle.
Despite the challenges, MRTB and its gang are pushing forward. They’re not just dreaming of a brighter, more digital future for Moroccan commerce – they’re making it happen, one startup at a time.