As part of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, a special workshop will be dedicated to the gaming industry developers and startups, led by Lydian feneck, CEO of Gamearly.
Lydian Feneck is a French entrepreneur operating at the intersection of gaming and live events. As the Founder and CEO of Gamearly, he is building a platform designed to structure and energize the video game ecosystem, helping studios improve game discoverability, strengthen player engagement, and increase conversion rates.
Having entered entrepreneurship at an early stage, he stands out for a direct, pragmatic, and hands-on approach. His journey reflects a constant drive to create high-impact experiences, both digital and physical, with a strong focus on execution and community. His positioning is built on three core pillars: perseverance, innovation, and community engagement, values he applies to ambitious projects aligned with the evolving dynamics of the video game market.
The workshop will take place on May 23, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00, in the MGE Workshops area, under the theme: “How to leverage your audience as a catalyst for success?”
Access is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity, please submit your registration request to: [email protected]
To apply, please send an email including the following information:
- Full Name / Startup Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Role
Deadline for applications: May 11, 2026
Please include the workshop title in your email subject line.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
As part of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, a special workshop will be dedicated to the gaming industry startups, led by Ali Rguigue, Head of the Animation, Digital Arts, Gaming, and New Media Sector at FICC.
Ali Rguigue is the Founder and CEO of Artcoustic Studio, a key player committed to the growth of the animation industry. President of the Animation, Gaming & Digital Arts sector at the FICC (CGEM), holding an active role in structuring the sector.
He produced the first 100% Moroccan animation series broadcast on national channels (2M, SNRT) and internationally, as well as their export to TV5 Monde and other international channels.
Also he is the Founder of Flow Motion School, a professional training program that has enabled the integration of more than 120 young talents into these two sectors.
He develops international co-productions with France, Belgium, and Canada: Malik (presented at Cannes), as well as Harun & Mamun, the first stop-motion short film meeting international standards, and Zeriab, which will be pitched at Annecy 2026.
The workshop will take place on May 24, 2026, from 10:30 to 12:30, in the MGE Workshops area, under the theme: “Presentation of the Animation, Digital Arts, Gaming, and New Media Sector.”
Access is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity, please submit your registration request to: [email protected]
To apply, please send an email including the following information:
- Startup Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Role
Deadline for applications: May 11, 2026
Please include the workshop title in your email subject line.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
As part of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, a special workshop will be dedicated to the gaming industry enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, led by Mehdi Alaoui, Founder & CEO of LaStartup Station.
Born in Casablanca, Mehdi Alaoui turned technology into a tool for impact, inclusion, and empowerment. From humble beginnings, he has had a remarkable journey: an autodidact who became an engineer, entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. His vision is to help Africa’s youth to become leaders, through entrepreneurship and education.
A pioneer of open innovation, he founded LaStartupStation, a flagship innovation hub that has facilitated more than 100+ contracts between startups and large corporates LaStartupStation also works with public institutions, through ambitious programs fostering job creation, inclusion, and the digital and green transition across the continent.
In parallel, Mehdi launched several startups, navigating through failures, learning experiences, and successful exits. This hands-on experience has given him a deep understanding of founders’ challenges and the ability to design pragmatic, inclusive, and impactful support programs.
For over a decade, he has worked to make innovation accessible to all especially to young people from underprivileged backgrounds, women entrepreneurs, and people with disabilities guided by his belief that talent knows no origin, gender, or condition. His initiatives also encourage the rise of a new generation of Green Entrepreneurs, placing technology at the heart of sustainability.
World-class institutions such as MIT, Harvard, CNN, Forbes, and Al Jazeera recognize his contribution and consider him an architect of Africa’s technological and economic transformation. His conviction: Africa’s greatest challenges are also its greatest opportunities. When innovation is inclusive and sustainable, it becomes an unstoppable force for prosperity.
To date, over 2,000 startups have been supported, 14,000 individuals trained, and more than 50,000 young people inspired across Morocco’s 12 regions. For television, he produced and hosted “Qui va investir dans mon projet?”, the official Moroccan version of Shark Tank, which became a national phenomenon, inspiring over 20 million Moroccans to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation.
By 2035, he wants to help create 100,000 jobs, inspire 100 million young Africans, and help build the first impact-driven Unicorn in Morocco.
The workshop will take place on May 23, 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00, in the MGE Workshops area, under the theme: “From Concept to Gameplay: The Art of Game Design.”
Access is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity, please submit your registration request to: [email protected]
To apply, please send an email including the following information:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Role
Deadline for applications: May 11, 2026
Please include the workshop title in your email subject line.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
As part of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, a special workshop will be dedicated to the gaming industry entrepreneurs, led by Marwane Fachane, General Director of the HIBA Foundation.
Marwane has been the Director General of the HIBA Foundation since 2021, where he develops initiatives to structure and energize the creative industries in Morocco. He also works towards Mediterranean and African cooperation, particularly in music and cinema, and supports young entrepreneurs within the CCI (Cultural and Creative Industries). In 2025, Marwane was appointed as a jury member for AFRIMA (All Africa Music Awards). Before joining the Foundation, Marwane served as a program manager for the Drosos Foundation in Tunisia, and later as a youth and culture advisor to the President of the Special Commission on the New Development Model.
The workshop will take place on May 24, 2026, from 13:00 to 15:00, in the MGE Workshops area, under the theme: “Opportunities at the HIBA Foundation for the Gaming Industry.”
Access is limited and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you don’t miss this opportunity, please submit your registration request to: [email protected]
To apply, please send an email including the following information:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Role
Deadline for applications: May 11, 2026
Please include the workshop title in your email subject line.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
In line with Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a leading African hub for the gaming industry, a new strategic milestone has been reached through the integration of gaming industry companies into the Innovation Support Fund (FSI). To this end, an amendment to the FSI agreement was signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, ANPME, and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, thereby officially making gaming industry companies eligible sectors.
In continuity with this dynamic, a dedicated sub-program for the gaming industry has been launched within the framework of the national industrial innovation and R&D support program for the 2026–2028 period. Its objective is to accelerate the development of innovative projects while strengthening the competitiveness and technological capabilities of Moroccan studios and startups.
This initiative is designed as an integrated support offer covering the entire value chain of video game development. From prototyping to pilot industrialization, companies benefit from tailored financial support enabling them to turn their ideas into competitive market-ready products.
The program is structured around two complementary funding offers:
- offer 1: Prototyping Support
Financial support covering up to 70% of project costs, capped at 1 million MAD, to enable the development of functional prototypes.
- offer 2: Pilot Industrialization Support
Financial support covering up to 30% of project costs, capped at 3 million MAD, to support the transition from prototypes to industrialized and market-ready solutions.
Through this initiative, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, together with its partners, aims to identify and support high-potential gaming industry projects capable of contributing to the development of a competitive and innovation-driven national industry.
For more informations, download the regulations for the Gaming Industry Sub-Program and explore further details:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AF1qakj30K7DT4pD2ub—drAjjVlwA3
Application form for the Video Game Industry Support Subprogram:
https://forms.gle/6eNhAffuX4vAuBZw7
Building on the growing maturity of the national gaming industry ecosystem, this challenge seeks to reach a new milestone: transitioning from a mere ideas competition to a genuine industrial incubation phase. The primary objective is to enable selected startups to deliver a Proof of Concept (POC) that can be directly integrated into inwi’s digital platforms.
Furthermore, this Challenge focuses on designing mechanics such as mini-games, community challenges, and engagement systems. Implementation will be progressive, with a priority focus on the « win by inwi » application to attract the “digital natives” segment. Following the success of this phase, the project’s scope is expected to expand to the My inwi App in a second edition.
To ensure the technical and commercial viability of the participating projects, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication (MJCC) and Inwi aims to provide a thorough and complete support program. This begins with co-design workshops featuring business and digital transformation teams to align innovative solutions with real market needs.
The program also includes the showcase of functional prototypes (POCs) on the sidelines of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026. Furthermore, a grant of 100,000 Dirhams awarded by inwi to the winning startup to finalize and launch the project’s industrial integration. To enhance the international visibility of Moroccan innovators, the program offers also the opportunity to participate in Gamescom, Europe’s premier gaming industry event.
The selection and incubation process will follow a specific agenda:
- Call for Applications Opens: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Application Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026
- Workshop: Monday, April 27, 2026
- Final Pitch: Sunday, May 24, 2026
For more information, please consult the following link:
https://www.moroccogamingindustry.ma/challenge-startup-gaming/
The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and Huawei Morocco have sealed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of the gaming industry and digital industries in Morocco.
This initiative aims to structure a competitive gaming industry ecosystem and accelerate the sector’s development, in anticipation of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026. The agreement was signed by Mr. Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and Mr. David Li, General Manager of Huawei Morocco.
The partnership is based on a shared vision, focused on training, support, and the promotion of Moroccan talent in high-potential sectors, within a public-private cooperation framework oriented toward innovation and sustainable impact.
Join the Game Créalab Francophone Webinar on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM via Google Meet to learn about the Game Créalab program, its opportunities, and how it can help bring your video game projects to the next level.
Don’t miss out – scan the QR code or visit the link now to join! https://lnkd.in/eA65nmyy
Rabat – On the occasion of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026 (May 20–24), the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM) invites film industry professionals to discover Morocco’s gaming industry ecosystem and explore collaboration opportunities with the video game sector. This initiative aims to foster new forms of cooperation between these two industries within the framework of developing cultural and creative industries.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the event’s program will feature conferences, thematic forums, and B2B networking sessions. According to a CCM press release, these platforms are designed to provide film professionals with opportunities for exchange, partnership, and a firsthand look at the expertise driving the gaming industry.
Cross-Industry Convergence
Today, the gaming industry offers numerous bridges to cinema, particularly through:
- Storytelling and Narrative Design
- Art Direction and Animation
- Acting Performances and Motion Capture
Furthermore, it opens new horizons for the creation of interactive universes, the adaptation of audiovisual works into video games, and the development of immersive content.
A Global Hub for Gaming Industry
The Morocco Gaming Expo has established itself as a must-attend event for professionals, creators, and enthusiasts across Morocco, Africa, and the international stage.
With developers, publishers, startups, pro gamers, investors, researchers, and students all expected to attend, this upcoming edition is set to break records in terms of participation and attendance.
MAP: 30 March 2026