Skander Haddar : « Big Tech Africa 2025, an African event to connect African talents with the world »

Interview by Dounia Ben Mohamed

Could you remind us of the concept of Big Tech Africa, which returns for a second edition from September 9 to 11 in Tunis?

Big Tech Africa is an event conceived in Tunisia, but for the whole of Africa. Our goal is to bring together African talents and connect them internationally around technological innovations and the continent’s economic development. We also want to promote an Africa that creates technology, not just consumes it. The event aims to launch concrete projects and find solutions tailored to the needs of the continent, and especially its youth.

How does Big Tech Africa stand out from other tech events on the continent?

Even though it is about promoting Tunisia as a platform for tech-focused events, there is now real competition when it comes to organizing events dedicated to technology, startups, and AI. With immense potential, expanding markets, and significant investments ahead, this type of event shows that Africa is brimming with talent and innovative solutions. Big Tech Africa serves as a showcase for these skills and attracts investors eager to discover the continent’s potential.

It is also about connecting different tech ecosystems. We have observed that they do not always know each other, even though each has its specificities and comparative advantages. Big Tech Africa helps to bridge these ecosystems, share best practices, and create synergies among players. It is a platform that fosters collaboration and the development of a strong network across the continent.

Moreover, while the event is currently held in Tunisia, our ambition is to make it travel to different African countries. Big Tech Africa is not a Tunisian event: it is an African gathering, 100% made in Africa, imagined, designed, and organized by Africans to meet the needs of the continent.

Tunisia, with its strategic position between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and its mature tech ecosystem—which notably gave birth to the Startup Act, now adopted by other African countries—can it serve as a bridge and natural platform to connect talents and innovations?

Indeed, Tunisia occupies an ideal strategic position. Located in North Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, it boasts a mature and dynamic tech ecosystem. Its infrastructure, welcoming culture, and facilitated mobility for many countries make it a natural platform for connecting Africa internationally. The event thus contributes to showcasing Tunisia as an African tech hub and to creating a true bridge between talents and investors.

We also invest heavily, as part of the private sector and in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of ICT, to promote Tunisia’s hosting quality. This year, we are sending a strong message: we have chosen English as the main language of the event. Since English is the universal language of technology and business, this choice opens Big Tech Africa to the entire continent—both francophone and anglophone—and fosters the internationalization of the event while creating opportunities for African startups and stakeholders.

You yourself are a pioneer of this tech ecosystem. Early on, you digitalized event services and organized tech-dedicated events, including Afric’Up. What draws you to digital?

My journey in event management started somewhat by chance, but I quickly understood the potential of digital to create connections and drive innovation in Africa. As early as 2018, we were ahead of the curve with Afric’Up, the largest event dedicated to startups on the continent. After Covid, we repositioned ourselves with Big Tech Africa: a large-scale yet human-sized event, inclusive and value-driven, in the image of Tunisia.

We want technology to improve Africans’ access to education, healthcare, mobility, and skills, while fostering a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem.

What can we expect from this second edition?

Big Tech Africa 2025 will welcome nearly 15,000 participants, with 32 countries represented and 100 international speakers. For the first time in Tunisia, 30 international investors will meet with the attending startups. The event will feature 200 exhibitors, including around 100 startups, and will host the Big Tech Africa Awards.

It is a true space for exchange, contributing to the continent’s economic development and prosperity. Our ambition is for this gathering to become a landmark event in Africa.

More information : https://bigtech.africa