A panel of investors and experts gathered at Paris Dauphine Tunis to explore emerging trends, challenges, and success factors in startup financing, emphasizing innovation, sustainable growth, and the evolving role of impact investing.

The Paris Dauphine Tunis campus recently convened a panel of investors and experts to discuss emerging trends and challenges in startup financing, a critical issue for new enterprises seeking growth capital. The event, centered on the theme “New Challenges and Horizons in Startup Financing,” brought together prominent figures such as Hela Fourati Triki, Founder and CEO of Bloomscale; Noomene El Fehri, Managing Partner of Medin Fund Management Company; and Amine Abdelkhalek, Investment Director at Dido Capital Partners.

With startups facing obstacles in accessing traditional funding sources, the discussion aimed to provide practical insight into how young companies can successfully navigate the evolving investment landscape. Noomene El Fehri, an experienced business angel, emphasized the distinction between startups and standard businesses by describing startups as “innovative and scalable” companies capable of rapid growth without proportionally increasing operational costs.

El Fehri elaborated on financing strategies, stating, “Evaluation is an art: we start by investing in a team, then funding levels adjust according to the project’s maturity.” This approach underscores the importance of the founding team over the initial idea since projects can evolve during their lifecycle, but human capital remains the foundation investors rely on. Amine Abdelkhalek agreed, highlighting that investors and business angels are essentially risk-takers who contribute not only financial resources but also valuable expertise to support long-term project viability.

Abdelkhalek summarized critical success factors for startups as “the idea, the timing, and the financing,” noting that timing is crucial to ensure the idea resonates with current market trends and gains traction.

Another key theme of the discussion addressed the growing emphasis on impact investing. Hela Fourati Triki advocates for responsible investment practices, indicating that investment funds are increasingly specializing in targeted themes rather than maintaining a broad generalist approach. She explained, “One must be willing to be challenged on projects and demonstrate the real impact being generated.” For Fourati Triki, scalable growth is not about expansion at any cost but about sustainable development that respects human and economic balance. She also emphasized the importance of investing in company culture as a fundamental pillar of enduring growth.

The panel acknowledged that startup investments inherently carry risks. However, Noomene El Fehri noted that these risks can yield substantial returns, revealing that some startups have brought him returns thirty times his initial investment.

This seminar reflects the Paris Dauphine Tunis campus’s ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and supporting its students by connecting them with real-world industry insights and experiences, preparing them to thrive in a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Source: Noah Wire Services