Supporting the Innovation and Startup Ecosystem

Image

Building a startup is tough enough—it’s even harder without the right ecosystem around you. This workshop explores what makes innovation ecosystems thrive, how to access the support you need, and how to help build stronger entrepreneurial communities in your region 🤝🌍.

What you will learn 📚
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Map and navigate innovation ecosystem actors, resources, and support programmes 🗺️
• Identify gaps and opportunities in local entrepreneurial ecosystems 🔍✨
• Engage effectively with accelerators, incubators, and funding mechanisms 💼💰

Meet the expert: Salma Baghdadi 🌟

Salma Baghdadi is an ecosystem builder and innovation trainer with 15+ years of experience supporting entrepreneurship, startup development, and innovation ecosystems in Africa and emerging markets. She is Innovation Lead at WAVE Global, where she works with blue tech startups and institutions to advance sustainable ocean and blue economy solutions 🌊.

Salma has hands-on experience designing and delivering capacity-building programmes for young entrepreneurs on entrepreneurship, startup development, ecosystem building, and innovation-friendly policies. She previously played a key role in implementing Tunisia’s Startup Act and supporting the growth of 1,000+ startups. In 2023, she was nominated African Ecosystem Builder of the Year 🏆.

📝 Register here.

This workshop is part of the EU Youth Alumni capacity-building training series (January–April 2026)—a structured learning journey bringing together alumni of EU-funded youth programmes across developing countries. Through expert-led, interactive online sessions, the series strengthens practical skills and cross-border connections, helping alumni stay engaged beyond individual projects and grow their impact as active citizens and community leaders 🤝✨. The modules are designed using non-formal education methods and support alumni to develop competences they can apply immediately in their local work 📚🎯. Find out more about the capacity-building training-series here.