Our Third Growth & Innovation Event – Strengthening Mauritius’ Startup Ecosystem

On March 28th, 2025, La Plage Factory, in partnership with Punch by MCB, hosted the third edition of its Growth & Innovation series at the Institut Français de Maurice (IFM). With over 150 attendees, this edition brought together founders, investors, policymakers, corporate leaders, and ecosystem enablers for a powerful afternoon of bold ideas and strategic dialogue. 

This special edition of the G&I series was a 2-in-1 milestone — launching the new Punch Cohort of Smart Entrepreneurs, while anchoring an open conversation on the future of startup and SME innovation in Mauritius. From the start, the event reinforced what we believe: a future of our economy tightly bound to the boldness of our entrepreneurs, the commitment of our institutions, and the momentum of cross-sector collaboration. 

In the same week, Business Magazine crafted an in-depth article on Mauritius’ rising position in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024, highlighting our country as the 2nd-best startup ecosystem in East Africa. The article also celebrated the G&I event and profiled four of our very own Smart Entrepreneurs, amplifying their commitment to “Tech for Good.” 

From visionary pitches and ministerial insights to vibrant collaborations, this edition reaffirmed what’s possible when we bring the right people, questions, and solutions into one room. Happy reading! 

G&I Punch Cohort and Program

The Growth & Innovation event also marked a major milestone for La Plage Factory: the official launch of the Punch Cohort, a new group of smart entrepreneurs supported under the National SME Incubator Scheme (NSIS) and co-sponsored by MRIC and MCB. 

This cohort is the largest and most diverse we’ve hosted to date and a true reflection of the richness of the Mauritian entrepreneurial ecosystem. From technopreneurs and impact innovators to SME disruptors and digital creators, it brings together a new generation of founders determined to create solutions for Mauritius and beyond. 

Selected through a rigorous, partner-led recruitment process, the 13 projects address challenges across a wide range of sectors: fintech, education, wellness, sustainability, AI, and community engagement. Whether tackling climate resilience, rethinking food waste, or digitizing business operations, these entrepreneurs are pushing boundaries with purpose. 

As part of the event, six startups had the opportunity to pitch live on stage — Bouzer Twa, ArcaLearn, Feuilles et Fleurs, Obluxe, Craftboard, and KwikAlat — giving the ecosystem a glimpse of the fresh energy and bold ideas driving the cohort forward. 

It was great excitement to see several founders take to LinkedIn their excitement and share their reflections, support and takeaways from the event experience. Please check the posts by Rakshna Ramdhun, Jullian Mannoo, and Kessaven Moorghen. Their posts offer authentic insights into the journey, inspiration, and vision behind their ventures and are a great way to connect directly with the people shaping our innovative landscape. 

This new journey is also the result of a strategic partnership with Punch by MCB, whose “Smart Entrepreneurs” vision aligns with our commitment to innovation-led growth. In addition to co-developing the incubation program, Punch is actively contributing to the capacity-building component — including international-class workshops like the Data Visualization session by Felipe Rego, designed to sharpen business storytelling and market readiness [Link to post]. 

Equally important is the role of our mentor network, which grew alongside the cohort. Every project is now matched with a dedicated mentor, ensuring continuous guidance throughout the incubation journey. This strong mentoring foundation was essential during recruitment and will be critical as the entrepreneur's progress toward traction and scale. 

Together, with the NSIS back in operation, and strong public-private engagement, this new chapter reflects more than just a cohort, it signals a maturing ecosystem where support is structured, innovation is celebrated, and collaboration is by design. Stay tuned as we follow the Punch Cohort’s journey — from early validation to scalable impact. 

Ecosystem  Highlight

At its core, Growth & Innovation was not just a startup event, it was designed as a deliberate act of ecosystem building. One that brings together entrepreneurs, public institutions, financial players, and international collaborators to tackle shared challenges and unlock Mauritius’ innovation potential. 

From the very start, the event embodied this spirit of cross-sector cooperation. The opening institutional segment featured strong and visible support from three key ministries; Tertiary Education, Science and Research; Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, and Finance, affirming their joint commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of national development. 

Panel Discussion

During the panel and keynote sessions, experts addressed the structural gaps in our ecosystem: from limited early-stage funding to the critical need for market access and risk appetite. The Ministry of Finance called for bold reforms to support internationally scalable ventures. Meanwhile, panelists and speakers from METC, EY Parthenon and MCB to Mo Angels and La French Tech outlined how public-private synergies and corporate engagement could unlock growth. 

JOIST Global Visit

Just few days after the event, La Plage Factory had the pleasure of welcoming a visiting delegation from JOIST Global, a European innovation hub active in over 40 countries. While their visit was not directly tied to Growth & Innovation, the timing couldn’t have been better. JOIST expressed strong interest in Mauritius as a future regional innovation node, recognizing the island’s unique mix of talent, strategic location, and innovation potential. [See our JOIST post here].  

Their message was clear: Mauritius matters. And it’s time to connect our ecosystem to the world. 

French Tech Mauritius Partnership across Indian Ocean Region

Looking ahead, regional cooperation is set to take centre stage. The French Tech Mauritius community is currently mobilizing partners across Réunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius for a series of cross-island workshops in April. These sessions will focus on building stronger investment pipelines, co-mentorship networks, and knowledge sharing initiatives across the Indian Ocean. 

Together, these developments reaffirm that Mauritius is not just participating in the global innovation movement — it’s positioning itself as a hub at the heart of it. 

Climate Innovation: A Growing Priority 

One key takeaway from the Growth & Innovation event was the stark underrepresentation of climate and energy-focused ventures in Mauritius’ startup landscape so far. Within our Smart Entrepreneurs, only a few—such as Obluxe (current Punch Cohort) which develops sustainable marine solutions for the tourism sector and La Déchetèque (Alumina), which promotes circular economy practices through its material marketplace and consulting services are currently addressing environmental challenges in a targeted way. 

But encouraging signs are emerging. In the weeks following the event, La Plage Factory had the opportunity to take part in several landmark initiatives that point toward a growing momentum in the climate tech space. 

Connecting with Global Solar Innovators

Spotlighting Climate Tech Investment

Plastic Odyssey: A Floating Lab for Climate Action 

Mauritius also welcomed the Plastic Odyssey expedition, an international mission tackling plastic waste through education, on-board recycling, and collaborative innovation. Though not directly linked to La Plage Factory, this effort exemplifies the kind of hands-on, cross-sector collaboration our ecosystem needs more of. It’s a powerful reminder of how climate innovation can go beyond the lab and into communities. [Read Greg Martin’s post] 

While climate and energy startups remain underrepresented locally, these recent initiatives are promising signs. As an incubator dedicated to impact-driven innovation, La Plage Factory is eager to support more ventures in this space and we welcome foreign entrepreneurs from Europe, India, and beyond who are ready to test and scale climate solutions in the Indian Ocean. 

The potential is here. The partnerships are growing. The time is now. 

Call to action  

Join our community of innovators

Are you passionate about innovation and eager to make a difference? We invite potential mentors, founders, 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 in the Ecosystem. 

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