Latest news with #PlugandPlayTechCenter
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
AI fintech startup BankX joins Silicon Valley's Plug and Play accelerator to expand AI retail platform
South Korean fintech startup BankX said Tuesday that it has been selected to join the official program at Plug and Play Tech Center, one of Silicon Valley's most influential startup accelerators. Known for nurturing global unicorns such as Google, PayPal, Dropbox and N26, Plug and Play offers early-stage startups high-level exposure to investors and corporate partners worldwide. BankX was also recently selected for the Global Market Expansion Program organized by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups. By joining Plug and Play, BankX has entered the official Playbook, a global directory shared with major investors and partners. BankX's core product, PlayPlanet, is a location-based artificial intelligence platform that helps users compare real-time promotions and credit card benefits at offline stores. The app recommends the most advantageous payment method using AI, while also supporting merchants with real-time marketing tools and customer insights. Currently, BankX is conducting proof-of-concept testing with US retailers and plans to expand through partnerships with retail point-of-sale system providers, which manage payment processing at checkout counters. The company aims to build an AI-driven retail marketing ecosystem that connects consumers, merchants and local economies. "We are seeing positive responses from our PoC tests in the US," said BankX CEO Ethan Kim. "We will refine our technology to fit the local market and use this momentum to reshape consumer behavior and retail structures.'
Morocco World
02-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Technopark, Plug and Play Launch Global Accelerator for Moroccan Startups
Casablanca – Morocco took another big step toward its digital-hub ambitions today as Technopark Morocco and Plug and Play Tech Center signed a strategic partnership at Technopark headquarters in Casablanca. The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform (MTNRA) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance have backed the partnership, reinforcing the government's Maroc Digital 2030 strategy. Why the partnership matters Morocco's startup scene has grown quickly, but founders often say they lack two things: strong global networks and late-stage capital. Plug and Play, famous for early bets on Dropbox and PayPal, brings both. Technopark has added deep local roots since 2001, it has shepherded more than 1,800 young companies across IT, green tech, and creative industries. The partnership program promises hands-on coaching, pilot projects with big corporations, and crucially, introductions to investors inside and outside Africa. What the leaders said 'As a global leader in innovation and investment, committed to the Moroccan technology ecosystem since its inception and convinced of its potential, this partnership with the Technopark allows us to strengthen our commitment,' Aziz El Hachem, Co-Director Africa, Plug and Play Tech Center, said in his speech in the event. 'We are working to co-build an ecosystem where local innovation shines well beyond borders, with a clear ambition: to support the emergence of high-potential startups and accompany them towards success on a global scale.' El Hachem told Morocco World News. That Plug and Play planted roots in Casablanca five years ago: 'We landed in Morocco five years ago to position Morocco as the leading innovation hub in Africa. Since then, we have managed to accelerate more than 110 different startups,' he said, adding: 'We're very happy with this new partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and TechnoPark. We will be launching a new program out of TechnoPark in Casablanca to double down on our different operations and activities, and investments,' he told MWN From Technopark's side, Managing Director Lamiae Benmakhlouf framed the alliance as the next logical step after two decades of local ecosystem-building. 'This strategic partnership with Plug and Play marks a new step in our mission to support Moroccan startups. It reinforces our commitment to an open, connected, and internationally oriented ecosystem,' she argued in her speech. 'We are convinced that this synergy will provide young startups with the necessary levers to accelerate their growth and access new markets.' She later elaborated in an exclusive interview with MWN. 'The objective of this partnership is to implement an acceleration program for Moroccan startups with high growth and innovation potential,' she stressed. The initiative is 'part of the Moroccan Digital Strategy 2030,' she recalled, adding that its central aim is 'to support startups throughout their journey from ideation to acceleration.' Government officials echoed that message. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister for Digital Transition and Reform of the Administration, who oversees digital transition, linked the deal to national policy. 'This collaboration illustrates the Kingdom's will, through the Maroc Digital 2030 strategy, to make innovation a driver of growth, technological sovereignty,y and openness,' the minister explained. 'By joining forces with a leading player such as Plug and Play, we are creating concrete opportunities for Moroccan startups to shine internationally and to be part of global competitiveness dynamics,' said in a speech at the event.' The United States demonstrated its support for the initiative through remarks by Marissa Scott, Consul General of the United States in Casablanca. Scott hailed the partnership in comments to MWN, emphasizing the US government's commitment to supporting innovation efforts in Morocco. 'I am here at Technopark today to celebrate,' she said. 'We are excited as the USA government about this memorandum of understanding because it gives an opportunity to connect the technical innovation prowess of the United States with the building momentum of Morocco, combined, it is a powerhouse.' How the program will work According to both Technopark and Plug and Play insiders, applications are expected to open in July, with a 12-week acceleration track to follow. The cohort should wrap up with a public Demo Day in September; pilot opportunities will be offered via Plug and Play's network of over 550 corporate partners. Initial focus areas are said to include fintech, health-tech, clean energy, smart-city solutions, and other high-growth digital services.' With today's signing, all eyes will now turn to the first cohort this fall. If the Technopark–Plug and Play model delivers, Morocco could see a fresh wave of startups ready for international prime time, just as the kingdom pushes to diversify its economy and stake a claim as Africa's digital gateway. Applications open in a matter of weeks, officially launching the race to become Morocco's next exciting tech founder. For founders itching to join this transformative initiative, El Hachem's closing words set an encouraging tone: 'We will be launching a new program out of Technopark in Casablanca to double down on our different operations and activities, and investments.'
Morocco World
12-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Building Africa's Fintech Future With a ‘Unified Voice': Meet Karima El Hakim
Karima El Hakim, a powerhouse who contributes to the shaping of Africa's fintech landscape, stands at the intersection of venture capital, innovation, and financial inclusion. In her current role as Country Director of Egypt and Co-Director for Africa at Plug and Play Tech Center, El Hakim drives investment and innovation across a continent brimming with untapped potential. 'I support our innovation and investment efforts across the continent,' she said in a recent interview with Morocco World News (MWN), where she talked about her work with startups, corporations, government institutions, and regulators to build next-generation technology solutions. In just a few weeks, El Hakim will bring her experience to Marrakech at GITEX Africa 2025, where she is slated to share her expertise at the Future of Finance Summit. From leading strategy to fintech El Hakim's journey began in France, where she worked in strategy at Danone. She quickly established herself in Egypt's investment landscape after returning to her motherland. She managed to work with Orascom Development's investment arm before joining Egypt Ventures and Falak Startups. A defining career moment came when she joined Fawry, one of the region's leading fintech companies. There, El Hakim deployed over $10 million in investments into tech ventures. One standout success: Fawry's investment in Cashi, which transformed Sudan's digital payments landscape. Today, at Plug and Play Tech Center, El Hakim advises the National Bank of Egypt — the country's largest public-sector bank — while directly investing in local founders. Nearly half of their portfolio consists of fintech or fintech-embedded startups. 'We work closely with the Financial Regulatory Authority to support progressive licensing frameworks and drive adoption of enabling infrastructure such as eKYC and cybersecurity,' she explains. Tackling Africa's fintech challenges El Hakim identifies fragmented regulatory frameworks, limited digital identity systems, and inconsistent data-sharing protocols as major hurdles facing African fintech. At the same time, she sees huge opportunities as payments become commoditized and embedded fintech solutions emerge. 'At Plug and Play, we focus on identifying and backing infrastructure-enabling startups — especially SaaS models — that not only serve end users but also help corporate and government entities digitize their internal systems,' she says. El Hakim and her team act as connectors, investors, and advisors, bringing together innovation ecosystems and supporting meaningful digital transformation. They help large institutions — especially banks — develop capabilities to embrace open innovation, co-design pilots, and work with startup partners. She also bids on AI integration into fintech as both an opportunity and a challenge. 'Africa has no shortage of talent, but we face infrastructural constraints such as limited cloud access, fragmented data availability, and inconsistent capital deployment.' Helping women business owners achieve their dreams El Hakim's leadership expands beyond her confines within her roles, but tackles a humanist approach to building up marginalized communities through economic empowerment. Alongside her role at Plug and Play, El Hakim serves on Egypt's National Council for Women's Economic Committee. There, she champions digital financial inclusion for women in rural areas and promotes women's leadership in investment decision-making. 'I'm a firm believer in inclusion and the integration of ESG principles into technology strategy, particularly as it relates to data governance,' says El Hakim. 'I have a soft spot for women founders who break barriers and expand the frontier of innovation across the African and Arab ecosystems.' Building Pan-African connections El Hakim sees events like GITEX Africa 2025 as crucial platforms for connecting government actors, investors, and innovators. Her priorities include championing North-South collaboration, elevating African fintech champions ready for regional and global scaling, and building strategic partnerships. 'Through better reporting, coordination, and storytelling, we can present Africa with a unified voice globally,' she explains. El Hakim envisions Africa's fintech future defined by embedded infrastructure — financial technologies that enable other industries like agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and climate resilience. She elevates Plug and Play's work in Morocco as a success story, pointing to portfolio companies like Chari and WafR that have become regional leaders. 'Morocco is clearly at the forefront of North Africa's leadership, not only in fintech, but across several key technology verticals,' she says. When not transforming Africa's fintech landscape, El Hakim enjoys pilates and golf, bringing the same precision and strategic thinking to her personal pursuits as she does to building the continent's financial future. Don't miss the chance to learn from this visionary leader at the Future of Finance Summit, which will run through the tech fair's duration April 14-16.
