The Dot, an innovation hub, actively supports Tunisian entrepreneurship, particularly through the Dotlanding program. This project supports members of the diaspora who wish to invest and undertake in Tunisia. Explanations with Zeineb Messaoud, executive director of The Dot. What is The Dot, and what is its role in the Tunisian entrepreneurial ecosystem?
The Dot is the largest innovation hub in Tunisia, launched in 2021 in a public-private partnership. It is supported by the Ministry of Communication Technologies, in partnership with Expertise France, the Tunisia Foundation for Development and GIZ. This hub supports both start-ups and the development of support structures for the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition to this, The Dot is committed to the digital transformation of companies.
You participated in the RDV de l’Expertise, which was held in Tunis on September 26, dedicated to African diasporas. The Dot also supports entrepreneurial projects of Tunisian diasporas?
The Dot is a partner
of Meet Africa, a project led by Expertise France. In addition, The Dot was co-founded by Expertise France via the European Union’s Innovi project. We have also set up, in partnership with Meet Africa and the Île-de-France region, a program dedicated to the diaspora called Dotlanding. Launched in 2023, this program aims to encourage and support Tunisians in the diaspora in their entrepreneurial projects in Tunisia.
Among the programs run by The Dot is Dotlanding, which is aimed specifically at the diaspora…
Dotlanding is mainly aimed at Tunisians in the diaspora who wish to undertake or invest in Tunisia. We provide them with accessible, popularized and quality information, while supporting them through the various programs of The Dot. The project includes several stages, starting with information sessions organized in France, notably in Paris, Marseille and Lyon. These sessions make it possible to inform members of the diaspora about entrepreneurial opportunities and the advantages of investing in Tunisia.
What kind of support do you offer to diaspora entrepreneurs?
In addition to information, we offer quality support for entrepreneurs who want to make their project a reality in Tunisia. They also benefit from free accommodation within The Dot, where they can immerse themselves in our innovation hub. We are also launching an online question-and-answer platform in collaboration with the start-up Idarati to answer frequently asked questions about entrepreneurship and investment in Tunisia.
What does this catalog of verified providers consist of?
We have developed a catalogue of verified service providers based on the recommendations of start-ups that have already started and succeeded in Tunisia. This allows newcomers to benefit from the advice of their peers to find reliable service providers, whether it is to rent offices or recruit staff. The idea is to capitalise on the experiences of other entrepreneurs to facilitate the implementation of new projects.
What are the next goals for Dotlanding and The Dot?
C
ommunity animation is at the heart of what we do at The Dot. We foster synergies between different stakeholders, whether newcomers, established entrepreneurs or institutional partners. We capitalize on exchanges and collaborations within this constantly expanding community, to maximize the chances of success of entrepreneurial projects.
We want to continue expanding the Dotlanding community by integrating more entrepreneurs from the diaspora. We also plan to improve the online platform to further facilitate access to information and investment support tools. Our goal is to make The Dot a catalyst for entrepreneurial success in Tunisia, both for local Tunisians and those from the diaspora.
Source: Africa News Agency