Zeineb Messaoud : The Dot is a catalyst for entrepreneurship within the Tunisian diaspora
The Dot, an innovation hub, actively supports Tunisian entrepreneurship, particularly through the Dotlanding program. This project supports members of the diaspora wishing to invest and start a business in Tunisia. Insights from Zeineb Messaoud, Executive Director of The Dot.
What is The Dot, and what role does it play in the Tunisian entrepreneurial ecosystem?
The Dot is the largest innovation hub in Tunisia, launched in 2021 through a public-private partnership. It is supported by the Ministry of Communication Technologies, in partnership with Expertise France, the Tunisia Development Foundation, and GIZ. This hub supports both start-ups and the development of support structures for the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, The Dot is committed to the digital transformation of businesses.
You participated in the RDV de l’Expertise, held in Tunis on September 26, which focused on African diasporas. Does The Dot also support entrepreneurial projects of the Tunisian diaspora?
The Dot is a partner of Meet Africa, a project led by Expertise France. Additionally, The Dot was co-founded by Expertise France through the Innovi project of the European Union. In collaboration with Meet Africa and the Île-de-France region, we launched a program dedicated to the diaspora called Dotlanding. Launched in 2023, this program aims to encourage and support Tunisians from the diaspora in their entrepreneurial projects in Tunisia.
Our goal is to make The Dot a catalyst for entrepreneurial success in Tunisia, both for local Tunisians and those from the diaspora
Among the programs led by The Dot is Dotlanding, which is specifically aimed at the diaspora…
Dotlanding is mainly aimed at Tunisians in the diaspora who wish to start a business or invest in Tunisia. We provide them with accessible, simplified, and high-quality information while guiding them through the various programs of The Dot. The project includes several steps, starting with information sessions organized in France, particularly in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. These sessions inform diaspora members about entrepreneurial opportunities and the advantages of investing in Tunisia.
What kind of support do you offer to diaspora entrepreneurs?
In addition to providing information, we offer quality support for entrepreneurs who wish to realize their projects in Tunisia. They also benefit from free accommodation within The Dot, where they can immerse themselves in our innovation hub. We have also launched an online question-and-answer platform in collaboration with the start-up Idarati to respond to frequently asked questions about entrepreneurship and investment in Tunisia.
What is this catalog of verified service providers about?
We have developed a catalog of verified service providers based on recommendations from start-ups that have already launched and succeeded in Tunisia. This allows newcomers to benefit from peer advice on finding reliable service providers, whether it’s renting offices or hiring staff. The idea is to capitalize on the experiences of other entrepreneurs to facilitate the establishment of new projects.
In addition to providing information, we offer quality support for diaspora entrepreneurs, with free accommodation within The Dot
What are the next goals for Dotlanding and The Dot?
Community engagement is at the heart of what we do at The Dot. We promote synergies between various actors, whether they are new arrivals, established entrepreneurs, or institutional partners. We capitalize on exchanges and collaborations within this ever-expanding community to maximize the chances of success for entrepreneurial projects. We want to continue expanding the Dotlanding community by integrating more diaspora entrepreneurs. We also plan to enhance 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.
For more information : https://thedot.tn/
