La Plage Factory | La Plage Factory Community update

As we closed the first semester of 2025, June brought a strong finish filled with meaningful conversations, new milestones, and community wins that remind us why we build together.

From decoding the National Budget through the lens of innovation to celebrating program completions, international exposure, and ecosystem collaboration, this past month has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when innovators, experts, and partners come together with purpose.

Here’s a look back at the highlights from June at La Plage Factory:

Let’s Meet up highlights

We wrapped up the semester with a powerful edition of our usual Let’s Meet Up — the monthly gathering where talented, like-minded people connect to shape the future of the Mauritian innovation ecosystem.

As always, the format was simple and effective: a quick dose of content, open networking, and bold startup pitches. But this June edition had a special twist.

In response to the recently announced National Budget 2025–26, we hosted a panel discussion right in the heart of the event, turning our usual meetup into a space for budget measures and digital transformation blueprint unpacking and strategy sharing.

The session was led by our new mentor, Daden Venkatasawmy, who brought his deep experience in public-private dialogue and budget cycles to the table. Together with a task force of mentors and entrepreneurs from close community, they analyzed the budget through the lens of innovation, sparking a vibrant, forward-looking discussion.

Panel Highlights

The discussion explored the three pillars of success for innovative ventures:

Access to Market – Vinay Kanhye shared how startups can benefit from diaspora engagement, international accelerators, and digital-first export support.

Access to Finance – Michel Cordani broke down fiscal incentives, including the AI Innovation Startup Programme and tax deductions.

Access to Talent – Catherine Dubreuil Le Roy dove into reforms around occupation permits and digital upskilling, raising critical points on inclusivity and long-term retention.

Tech, AI & Regulation

AI expert Franck Da Costa gave us a deep dive into Mauritius’ evolving digital infrastructure — from the National Digital Stack to AI policy updates. He also unveiled the Mauritius Startup & Entrepreneur Budget Assistant;an AI Agent he built to help founders navigate new budget measures with ease.

Pitching Session

We ended the day with a high-energy Pitching Session, featuring a record audience and top-tier feedback. A true celebration of community intelligence and innovation spirit!

A heartfelt thank you to all the new guests who joined us and played along; your energy made the conversation even more meaningful. We’re especially grateful to our partner Punch by MCB for their continued support, with special thanks to their team representatives: Jean François MOOTOOSAMY, Aldo ACKING, and Kelly NG-LUN. A warm shoutout also goes to our esteemed guests Michael Rayeroux, Tariq Bahemia, Jacques Harel, Pierre Yves Harel, Marc Chauveau, Christophe Cavanna, Sylvain Chretien, Julian Fressy, Nitin RAMLUGON, Ajmal SAIFUDEEN, and Dinakaran PANNERSELVAM — thank you for being part of the journey!

Catch the full recap of our Let’s Meet Up event from our earlier post below, including insights from the budget presentation and panel discussion. Meetup Highlights - Budget Presentation

Startup Highlights: From Launch Pads to Pitch Stages

June was packed with milestones across the board, from campus launches to pitch moments and program completions. Here’s a snapshot of what our founders and partners have been up to:

Holberton School Mauritius Launches at French Tech Connect!

On June 4th, we had the pleasure of celebrating a major milestone in the EdTech space, as one of our alumni, Holberton School Mauritius, officially launched their new campus during French Tech Connect event. Their new space embodies Holberton’s mission to make world-class tech education accessible to all, regardless of background. With a curriculum aligned to industry demands in AI, cybersecurity, and software engineering, the school equips students with the tools they need to succeed immediately after graduation. As they put it: “Success shouldn’t be measured only in degrees, but in skills, impact, and confidence.”

Kunjani.co Takes the Stage

It’s been a powerful month for Kunjani.co, a standout startup from our Growth & Innovation cohort:

On June 12th, founder Hans Zietsman pitched at Mo Angels’ 4th anniversary, sharing Kunjani’s story in front of a room full of investors and ecosystem leaders. See below for the details.

Later in the month, Kunjani opened the MCB Punch Circular Economy event with an interactive and thought-provoking session that got everyone engaged right from the start.

Growth & Innovation Pilot Cohort Wraps Up — But the Journey Continues

This month marked the official close of our Growth & Innovation (G&I) Pilot Cohort, a milestone worth celebrating! While the group sessions have come to an end, we’re now moving into 1-on-1 strategy sessions with each founder to co-design their next steps and continue supporting their entrepreneurial journey together.

Punch Cohort Completes Phase 1

The Punch Cohort has wrapped up its first phase of the program focused on Business Design with a solid lineup of business reviews and pitching sessions, proudly hosted by our alumni and partner Holberton School Mauritius. A strong close to a thoughtful and intense first phase of our incubation program, now moving to the Go-To-Market phase!

A big thank you to Punch by MCB for supporting our innovation ecosystem with ongoing collaboration with incubators across the island.

La Plage Factory Ecosystem Moments & People Highlights

Beyond founder milestones, June was an exciting month for La Plage Factory team — from ecosystem events to expert-led sessions and cross-border collaborations.

French Tech Connect at Holberton

We had the pleasure of attending French Tech Connect at Holberton’s new campus. The evening brought together the local innovation community for a night of celebration, connection, and meaningful conversations. It was also a heartfelt farewell to Sandra Leblé, French Tech Mauritius Co-President, as her final event before her move to Réunion.

Read the full post

Mo Angels Turns Four

We joined our friends and partners at Mo Angels to celebrate their 4th anniversary — a special edition filled with inspiring pitches, deep conversations, and a strong show of support for early-stage ventures.

As a leading angel investor group supporting syndicated funding for early-stage startups, Mo Angels continues to play a vital role in strengthening our innovation ecosystem.

La Plage Factory contributed to the event through the participation of key community members, including founders Hans Zietsman, Thierry Lincoln, Omi Adjodah, and mentors Jason Delorie and Daden Venkatasawmy.

See full recap on Mo Angels post here

Masterclass on Equity Investment

On June 6th, we opened our doors to the wider startup community for a Masterclass on Equity Investment, led by VC expert Michael Mutie. A high-value session packed with practical insights and sharp questions from founders and aspiring investors alike.

La Plage Factory at French Tech Community Summit & Viva Technology

Our Managing Director, Michel Cordani, represented us at two major events in Paris: Viva Technology, which has become one of the largest startup and tech events in the world, and the French Tech Community Summit, a key gathering for the global French Tech community. Both events provided valuable insights, inspiration, and contacts for our ecosystem.

Call to action

Join us for our upcoming online masterclass on Wednesday, 16th July, on how data, automation, and AI can unlock new opportunities for smart entrepreneurs, and how they can shape your business strategy. Registration Here: https://shorturl.at/hrcPU

Join our community of innovators

Are you passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship? Eager to make a difference?

We invite potential founders, mentors, experts, and sponsors to join our vibrant community. Your expertise, guidance, and support can help shape the next generation of smart entrepreneurs and drive meaningful change.

Visit Our Website: Explore more about our initiatives at laplage.io

Contact Us: Reach out to us at hello@laplage.io

Join Our Monthly Meet Up: Connect with like-minded individuals at Coworking Port Louis on Friday, 25 July, at lunchtime.

Do all three!

“Let's build a brighter future together for Mauritius, Africa, and the world! ”