Tunisia is stepping up efforts to improve access to finance for startups and innovative small businesses as the country seeks to strengthen its entrepreneurial ecosystem and create more opportunities for technology-driven companies.
The latest push builds on Tunisia’s broader Startup Tunisia framework, which combines regulatory support with investment and ecosystem programmes. A central part of that strategy is ANAVA, a fund-of-funds designed to channel capital into venture funds investing in Tunisian startups at different stages of development. ANAVA has a target size of €100 million and aims to support more than 13 investment funds.
The financing effort is also expanding beyond the capital. On September 28, 2026, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), working with Smart Capital and with World Bank financing, launched the 2026 regional tour of its “Startups & Innovative SMEs” project in Kef. The initiative is designed to bring information about financing and investment mechanisms closer to entrepreneurs outside Tunisia’s main business centres.
For startups, one of the biggest challenges is often the transition between developing an idea and securing enough capital to build a commercially viable business. Tunisia has introduced financing instruments aimed at addressing different stages of that journey.
The AIR programme, for example, provides a TND30,000 grant for very early-stage projects working on proof-of-concept development, prototyping or market assessment. For startups that have progressed to the seed stage, AIR² offers a TND200,000 grant designed to help companies prepare for larger fundraising rounds.
The wider programme also includes InnovaTECH, which provides financing to innovative small and medium-sized businesses, while FLYWHEEL combines financial support with assistance for organisations that help startups develop.
A new instrument known as DEAL 2.0 is also being developed. According to the CDC, it is intended to finance investment-readiness programmes that help startups become better prepared to access the investment funds supported through ANAVA.
The regional approach is significant because Tunisia’s startup ecosystem has historically been concentrated around major urban centres. The latest initiative is intended to connect entrepreneurs in regions such as Kef, Monastir, Gafsa and Zarzis with investors, support organisations and financing mechanisms.
The goal extends beyond simply distributing capital. Tunisian authorities and ecosystem organisations are also seeking to improve how entrepreneurs access information, prepare applications and connect with investors. The CDC has highlighted digitalising procedures, simplifying eligibility requirements and creating one-stop channels as part of efforts to reduce barriers to public financing.
For Tunisia’s technology sector, the expanding financing framework could help address a critical gap between early innovation and sustainable growth. If startups can access appropriate capital at different stages, more companies may have the opportunity to develop products, create jobs and expand beyond the domestic market.
The country’s latest financing efforts therefore represent a broader attempt to build a more connected startup ecosystem—one in which funding, investment readiness and regional support work together to give Tunisian entrepreneurs greater access to the resources needed to grow.
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