MOBILISE pitching competition in Tunis awards three young entrepreneurship projects
On 13 May 2026, the MOBILISE project hosted a pitching competition at the residence of the Dutch Ambassador in Tunis, marking the culmination of the entrepreneurship support programme for the second cohort of MOBILISE participants in Tunisia.
Following their mobility experience in the Netherlands in the summer of 2025, the returnees developed their business ideas through personalised coaching and mentoring, including a bootcamp in February and further technical support in the months leading up to the final pitch.
The event brought together MOBILISE returnees, project partners, coaches, jury members, and representatives of the Dutch Embassy. The five-member jury was chaired by the Dutch Ambassador Ms. Josephine Frantzen.
In total, five business ideas were presented and evaluated, involving seven participants: six MOBILISE returnees and one additional participant who joined one of the projects as part of a team presentation. The projects reflected a strong focus on sustainability, circular economy, climate resilience, and the use of local resources.
The first prize of €5,000 was awarded to ECO PAW, presented by Sarra Ben Saad and Ghofrane Nasri. The project proposes sustainable pet litter made from agricultural by-products, offering a natural, compostable, and locally produced alternative to imported products. The jury praised ECO PAW for the technical quality of its innovative product and for its solid market analysis demonstrating strong commercial potential.
The second prize of €4,000 went to Halogen Company, presented by Seifeddine Rahmouni. Based in Kerkennah, Sfax, the project develops food and ecological products from salt-tolerant plants, responding to water scarcity and climate stress while creating new local economic opportunities. The jury highlighted Halogen Company as the most innovative project.
The third prize of €3,000 was awarded to La Ferme Écologique EZZAHRA, presented by Roudayna Redid and Fatma Zahra Ferjani. Located in Kalaa Kebira, Sousse, the project combines soil regeneration, sustainable agriculture, environmental education, eco-tourism, and short supply chains. The jury recognised it as a solid and credible business project that is already operational.
Two additional projects were also presented. ANEM Tour, by Anissa Dimassi, proposed a national platform connecting farm schools, educational institutions, and companies through sustainable and educational experiences. OLIVERT, by Ons Hlel, focused on transforming agricultural waste, including olive pruning residues, vegetable residues, and olive pomace, into premium compost for farmers, nurseries, and individual users.
Each pitch was assessed using a structured evaluation rubric covering motivation and preparedness, problem-solution clarity, value proposition, market potential, competition, financial model, use of funds, and overall pitch effectiveness.
The awarded seed funding will be disbursed in the coming months, based on individual plans to be developed by each participant with continued coaching and support from Walid and Mme Hela. The next steps will include the formal establishment of the companies, further development of the business plans, and the achievement of agreed milestones.
The event marked an important step in supporting MOBILISE returnees to turn their business ideas into concrete opportunities rooted in sustainability, innovation, and local needs.
Watch the recap video of the event here.
To stay up to date with the progress and impact of the MOBILISE project, register for the quarterly newsletter or visit the MOBILISE website.
The Migration Partnership Facility
This news item has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union, contracted by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. The contents of this news item are the sole responsibility of the Maastricht School of Management, Maastricht University, and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union and that of ICMPD.
MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies
The MOBILISE project is part of MSM’s Expert Centre on Emerging Economies (ECEE) and exemplifies MSM's commitment to fostering international collaboration and developing sustainable solutions in climate-smart agriculture. By bridging the gap between education and industry, the project contributes to the creation of a skilled workforce capable of addressing the challenges of modern agriculture.
The ECEE department is an expert centre on sustainable private sector development in emerging and developing markets. We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture, and health. For more information, click here.
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