The African Startup Conference was held in Algiers from December 6 to 8, 2025 under the High Patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune with the theme “Proud of Africa’s Entrepreneurs.” The event brought together ministers, startup founders and innovative project owners to discuss the development of technologies, communications infrastructure and the broader African innovation ecosystem.
Discussions at the conference focused on expanding startups across regional and international markets and improving access to funding. The gathering culminated in the adoption of the Algiers Declaration by African ministers responsible for startups, entrepreneurship and innovation, pledging support for continental startups and measures to accelerate sustainable growth.
The conference was organised by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-Enterprises and the public accelerator Algeria Venture, and included more than 35 ministerial delegations, over 200 exhibitors, and more than 300 international experts. Over 150 investors attended alongside project holders, incubators and members of the African diaspora, while Rwanda participated as guest of honour and ministers ratified a tax framework for startups, innovation and research and development.
Prime Minister Sifi Gharib described the gathering as “the largest platform bringing together innovative youth” and said the theme reflects youth capability to turn challenges into a knowledge-based and innovative economic reality. President Tebboune said the conference underscores Algeria’s commitment to serve Africa and stressed “the importance of enabling our emerging institutions to expand continentally and build a unified African technology market.” President Tebboune also met with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf during the event.
Participants highlighted Algeria’s systemic support for startups, noting the growth of more than 13,000 startups and the goal of reaching 20,000 by 2029 through a flexible legal framework, incentive-based taxation and investments in research and technology infrastructure. The conference showcased Algerian and African projects across agriculture, environment, computer science and internet services, and underscored the launch of the African Startup Fund as a continental resource.
Special attention was given to the role of the diaspora in promoting entrepreneurship and to Algeria’s initiatives such as social media platforms tailored to local users and a national strategy for artificial intelligence that benefits from Algerians abroad. The Minister of Environment announced an Algerian-African training programme in ecology for young people in collaboration with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, reflecting a push to support environmental entrepreneurship alongside digital innovation.
Read in Urdu: الجزائر میں چوتھی افریقی اسٹارٹ اپ کانفرنس کا انعقاد
