MassChallenge

Innovation Blog

From Downtown Rabat to Boston, the Journey of a Young Moroccan Social Entrepreneur

image

 

 
Then in 2013 I attended the Enactus Summer Camp, and it was a turning point in my life. It was a week that challenged everything I knew about myself, and helped me move beyond traditional volunteering and charity into real entrepreneurship. I stopped focusing only on problems and began to think of solutions that could impact the world. Thus, my a-ha! moment: how can I find a solution for small farmers and kids to be able to find sustainable income, save time, and provide their cattle with good quality living conditions?

As a newly minted entrepreneur, I decided to take action and look for techniques and processes that could be used to find a solution. Through my research I discovered, one year later, what we call Hydroponic Agriculture, a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.

I thought of using this technique to produce low-cost fresh fodder that can create a sustainable alternative for the farmers. My next step was to pitch my idea to the Enactus Morocco team, with whose help (and the support of 2 of our professors) I tested my solution in our laboratory.

In May 2015, I applied to the first batch of the Dare Inc., a unique accelerator program developed by The Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, where my simple project became a startup. With the support of the Dare Inc. team, I was able to produce my first prototype and attract initial clients. With this endeavor in progress, I was selected to take part in several boot camps by Enactus and Moroccan CISE, notably Unreasonable Labs Morocco, which enabled me to meet valuable mentors and supporters.

Thanks to these various programs and networks, I discovered the MassChallenge Morocco Boot Camp. I was urged to apply, and after a long selection process, I was selected as one of the 10 Moroccan startups to take part in the boot camp in Boston. The MassChallenge Morocco Boot Camp was a great opportunity for me to meet mentors and challenge myself to take my company to new heights.

 

New to MassChallenge?

Visit the Join section of our site to learn more about the organization and how you may benefit by getting involved.

Upcoming events