Is Casablanca the Next Silicon Valley?

www.ozy.com [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Daily Dose]( The newsletter to fuel — and thrill — your mind. Read for deep dives into the unmissable ideas and topics shaping our world. Jul 13, 2022 Today Around the world, nations long dependent on the export of natural resources are recognizing that their economic model is under threat from climate change and the global shift toward clean fuels. For Africa, tech is emerging as an economic engine that can help the continent leapfrog gaps in traditional infrastructure. Silicon Savannah, as Nairobi’s tech hub is known, has already produced innovation giants like the mobile payment pioneer M-Pesa, while Yabacon Valley in Lagos is the epicenter of Nigeria’s revolutionary emergence as the home of multiple unicorns — startups valued at $1 billion or more. Now, other innovation centers are emerging. Just before the pandemic struck, Africa had[618 active tech hubs](, up from 442 a year earlier. And funding for African tech startups is “now growing at a rate six times faster than the global average,” according to the[Tony Blair Institute for Global Change](. Today’s Daily Dose takes a trip to the hubs that could spawn Africa’s next tech triumphs. – with reporting by Tatira Zwinoira from Harare, Zimbabwe Silicon Dar Building blocks On the coast of the Indian Ocean, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s financial nerve center and largest city, has long served as a gateway connecting East Africa to the rest of the world. Yet when it comes to innovation, the [rapidly growing city of 6 million]( people has fallen far short of Kenya's Nairobi, which has gained the reputation as the region’s unquestioned tech leader. Now, Dar es Salaam is seeking to assert itself. A 2-mile stretch along[Bagamoyo Road]( is home to a suite of tech firms — startups and global giants alike — as well as data centers, incubators and the College of Information and Communication Technologies of the University of Dar es Salaam. Food, money and more Some of the tech startups emerging from this ecosystem include[Wengi](, an equity crowdsourcing platform;[Gengeni](, a grocery delivery app; and[Worknasi](, a platform that allows customers to list and reserve coworking spaces and meeting rooms, and also serves as a marketplace for freelancers. Technically, it is this[stretch of Bagamoyo Road]( that’s known as Silicon Dar. But just as it’s difficult to pinpoint where Silicon Valley begins and ends, the innovative spirit driving Silicon Dar isn’t limited to a few buildings. Ones to watch Tanzanian cross-border money transfer startup Nala secured [$10 million]( in seed funding earlier this year, as it expands services for East African customers based in Europe who send remittances back home. Traditional service providers charge steep fees for African remittances, and Nala is among a band of firms disrupting that model by using tech to deliver money without charging much. Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam-based[OnilBox]( serves almost like an Uber for fitness: It connects exercise enthusiasts with gyms and studios, allowing them to check availability and book slots. One year after launching, OnilBox has become Tanzania's largest fitness tech platform. Here's looking at you, kid Africa’s Wall Street Perched on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Casablanca has long served as a magnet for tourists, who delight in its stunning architecture, cuisine and views of the seemingly endless ocean. Lesser known outside Africa is its reputation as the continent’s[top finance hub]( — ahead of Cape Town and Johannesburg. But Casablanca is aiming for more, building a rapidly growing tech culture that’s spawning bold startups and drawing global firms. In this year's StartupBlink rankings of the best cities for startups, Casablanca[rose 39 positions](. In North Africa, only Cairo is ranked higher. School to supply chains Among the brightest stars on the Casablanca tech scene is[KoolSkools](, an online learning platform that allows schools to create digital content from traditional coursework, deliver live classes and manage everything from report cards to interactions with parents. At a time when the pandemic has underscored the value of digital learning, this startup is poised for growth. Meanwhile, the past two years have also exposed the vulnerabilities of supply chains. Firms like[Fellahi](, which connects small farmers with urban consumers looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, and[Freterium](, a predictive supply chain platform, are hoping to turn Casablanca into a hub for logistics solutions. The world’s noticing Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world’s leading consulting firms, announced in June that it is setting up an[innovation center in Casablanca]( to capitalize on the city’s tech energy, especially in artificial intelligence. Also, billionaire[Mark Cuban]( is eyeing fintech investments in the city. And as Morocco and Israel strengthen ties after establishing diplomatic relations in 2020, the North African nation is[tapping its new friend’s tech prowess](. WATCH LAYA DELEON HAYES on [The Carlos Watson Show](! Botswana’s bet Diamonds to digital Diamonds are responsible for [more than 87%]( of Botswana’s export revenue, with a mammoth dependence on traditional supply chains that was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when exports [fell sharply](. The pandemic also revealed the power of tech to keep economies afloat when physical contact and travel came to a standstill. This reality has led Botswana to seek to establish its own tech hub. Oasis in the desert Located in the Kalahari desert just outside capital Gaborone, the [Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub]( (BDIH) aims to support startups and local companies and attract international ventures. So far, the BDIH has focused on biotechnology, information and communications technology, indigenous knowledge and technology related to mining and clean energy. Supporting talent The BDIH holds at least four innovation networking events per month and supports over 100 startups. Its tech park, designed like a [series of sand dunes](, will eventually also house a business school. Early signs of promise include [Angular Creative Labs – Mohiri](, a digital solutions firm whose artificial intelligence assistant sends personalized job alerts to subscribers; [Project Nthuse](, a safety network app that sends out emergency SMS alerts when users activate a panic button within the app; and the BDIH-supported [Eco Hub](, which intends to use recycled plastic waste to manufacture eco-friendly bricks for affordable housing. Community Corner What should new tech hubs do differently than California’s Silicon Valley? Share your thoughts with us at OzyCommunity@Ozy.com. ABOUT OZY OZY is a diverse, global and forward-looking media and entertainment company focused on “the New and the Next.” OZY creates space for fresh perspectives, and offers new takes on everything from news and culture to technology, business, learning and entertainment. [www.ozy.com]( / #OZY Curiosity. 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