Marseille, 2025 October 16th – EMERGING Valley, the Euro-African summit for Tech and investment,
returns on 26 November 2025 at TheCamp, in the Aix-Marseille-Provence region.
Held under the High Patronage of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the event
has established itself as the essential meeting point for innovation ecosystems across Africa and
Europe. This year, it will highlight Africa’s growing role in the new global geography of technological
investment.
“For almost ten years, EMERGING Valley has become a unique catalyst linking African and European
innovation ecosystems. Year after year, the summit brings together governments, institutions,
development partners, incubators, investors, and entrepreneurs who are shaping new economic
dynamics between our continents.
In this 9th edition, more than ever, our ambition is to strengthen that strategic dialogue and promote concrete, inclusive, and sustainable solutions serving development and cooperation between Africa and Europe,” explains Samir Abdelkrim, Founder of EMERGING Valley.
With over 70 countries represented, 1,300 participants, 150 startups, and 60 international investors
expected, EMERGING Valley 2025 will feature several highlights showcasing Africa’s increasing
influence on the global innovation scene — from strategic financing and artificial intelligence to new
cross-continental synergies driven by the Aix-Marseille-Provence ecosystem.
Africa and the Gulf: The Beating Heart of Investment at EMERGING Valley 2025
EMERGING Valley 2025 reaffirms its role as a transcontinental investment platform, gathering a high
level lineup of investors from Europe, Africa, Japan, Qatar, and the United States.
Among them: Faten Aissi (Flat6Labs), Yves Cabanac (Plug and Play Tech Center), Rémi Prunier (Orange
Ventures), Sadaharu Saiki (Sunny Side Venture Partners), Uwem Uwemakpan (Launch Africa Ventures),
Nassim Kerdjoudj (Keyenn Venture Builder), Alix Pinel (Enko Capital Private Equity), and Keith Wallace
(Hivos Impact Investments) — representing the new generation of funds actively investing across the
continent.
They will be joined by leading venture-capital figures such as Dounia Boumehdi (MNF Ventures),
Marcel Dridje (EBAN), Babacar Seck (Askya Investment Partners), Yacine Rahmoun (Casbah Business
Angels), Audra Shallal (CORENVEST), Guilhem Dupuy (Gaia Impact Fund), Reda Lakhlifi (500 Global),
Takuma Terakubo (Uncovered Fund) and Omar Sultan (Sultan Ventures).
These key players confirm EMERGING Valley’s position as the leading crossroads for innovation
financiers connecting Europe, Africa, and the Gulf, and as a privileged venue for dialogue between
investors, startups, and public institutions committed to shared growth.
They will also be supporting African tech champions seeking international funding in a context of
renewed venture-capital activity on the continent – over USD 3.2 billion raised by African startups in
2024, according to Partech.
“Africa is now one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
EMERGING Valley 2025 aims to connect this talent with global investors ready to bet on its potential,”
emphasizes Samir Abdelkrim.
Through high-level investor dialogues, impact-startup pitch sessions, B2B workshops, and one-on-one
meetings in the Investor Lounge, the summit will offer a comprehensive investment verticals, fostering
new synergies and debates between venture capital, business angels, and emerging startups from both
Africa and Europe.
African Artificial Intelligence in the Spotlight
EMERGING Valley 2025 will dedicate a major focus to inclusive and ethical AI led by African
entrepreneurs.
The summit will feature African success stories in AI applied to health, agriculture, and education,
alongside experts from Europe and the Gulf.
“We want to demonstrate that African AI solutions – born from local ingenuity and frugality – can
inspire the world,” adds Samir Abdelkrim. The program will include AI for Good panels, demo sessions, and matchmaking meetings between impact-driven startups and investors, positioning EMERGING Valley as a continental hub for African AI and a true crossroads between continents.
Expanded African Delegations and International Partnerships
EMERGING Valley 2025 will also host official delegations from Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Kenya, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, and the Comoros, reflecting the vibrancy of Africa’s tech
landscape.
For the first time, a delegation from the EU Eastern Partnership (Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia) will join
the summit, underscoring EMERGING Valley’s geopolitical opening toward Eastern Europe and the
Mediterranean.
“The future of innovation will be driven by the Global South. Africa, the Mediterranean, and Eastern Europe must co-create the solutions of tomorrow,” affirms Samir Abdelkrim.
Marseille: Africa’s Gateway to Europe
With its strategic location and 18 international submarine cables, Aix-Marseille-Provence stands
among the world’s leading digital hubs, connecting African and European markets.
Each year, EMERGING Valley amplifies these synergies between African entrepreneurs and Northern
investors.
In this context, the Provence Africa Connect Prize, the flagship Euro-African innovation competition
led by the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, returns for its 6th edition to reward future champions of
between Europe and Africa through tailored support. Two categories are open : Metropolitan-area entrepreneurs developing a project in Africa; African or European entrepreneurs with an exemplary partnership with the continent and wishing to establish in Aix-Marseille-Provence.
Applications are open until 10 November 2025, with the official award ceremony taking place on 26
November 2025 at thecamp during EMERGING Valley, in the presence of the summit’s institutional
and economic partners.
The full list of themes and investors for EMERGING Valley 2025 is available on the event website.
Registration for EMERGING Valley 2025 is open to all participants.
About EMERGING Valley
Founded in 2017, EMERGING Valley is an international summit held annually in Aix-Marseille-Provence
that aims to strengthen ties between Europe and Africa through innovation and investment.
It provides a platform to showcase startups and digital ecosystems while exploring solutions to major
global challenges.
https://www.emergingvalley.online/en
Contact Presse
Agence Quatrième Jour
Cindy Mouchard Patinaux : cmouchard@quatriemejour.fr
Antoine Billon : abillon@quatriemejour.fr
