Africa’s Third Way: Innovating Between the phygital and the Digital

Rabat – In the last decade, Africa has witnessed a surge of science-based startups tackling everything from renewable energy to precision agriculture. Homegrown innovators are turning research into real-world solutions tailored to the continent’s needs. But among the wave of new ventures, those working in deep tech, including companies built on breakthroughs in science and engineering, are still relatively rare.

Unlike typical digital startups, deep-tech ventures require more time, more capital, and more infrastructure to bring an idea from lab to market. They deal with technologies like advanced materials, blockchain security, or robotics, which are fields with high potential but often limited investor appetite due to longer development cycles and uncertain returns.

Still, interest is growing. While overall tech investment in Africa dipped in 2023, deep tech has quietly gained ground, as institutions and entrepreneurs begin to realize its potential to solve problems that digital apps alone can’t.

In the wake of this shift, Morocco World News spoke with Hafid Griguer, Deputy Director of the Digital Innovation Center for Excellence and co-founder of SensThings, to explore how deep-tech spin-offs are charting a new course in Africa’s innovation landscape.

Bridging the physical and digital       

SensThings began as a research project within UM6P’s Digital Innovation Center for Excellence (DICE). “SensThings was born from a clear vision: to turn issues of trust and traceability in Africa into opportunities for innovation,” explains Griguer. Drawing on a patented “phygital” technology, one that marries physical documents with secure digital identities, the T3 platform (Trust, Track and Trace) tackles challenges like document forgery and opaque supply chains.

In regions where a single power outage can cripple a fully digital system, SensThings’ approach preserves the integrity of paper-based documents while embedding a tamper-proof digital layer.

This blend of physical and digital avoids the common trap of forcing institutions to go entirely paperless. Instead of replacing diplomas or certificates, SensThings enhances them with a secure digital identity, making them verifiable through a simple scan.

But developing a deep-tech startup in Africa means navigating both scientific complexity and local realities. Griguer explained that they faced the need to build resilient solutions that could withstand infrastructure constraints, unstable electricity, limited internet connectivity, and even cyber threats.

Early on, UM6P Ventures, the university’s arm for incubation and investment, provided a team of entrepreneurship experts who guided SensThings from concept to company. This holistic support included legal structuring, economic modeling, and fundraising preparation, all tailored to Africa’s emerging-market context.

“The UM6P Ventures ecosystem enabled us to develop this innovative approach by providing access to research infrastructure and the necessary expertise to create solutions that are both high-tech and robust,” Griguer explained.

A technology tested at scale

The real value of SensThings’ T3 solution has been proven in large-scale deployments. Beyond securing high-school diplomas, the system has protected over 15 million exam copies, as it ensured both anonymity and traceability throughout the assessment process.

“Each document or product is given a unique digital identity that inextricably links the physical object to its digital data,” Griguer explains. Blockchain underpins the platform’s security and guarantees that any attempt to alter a record is immediately detectable. Even if the digital component goes offline, the paper document remains valid, an essential feature in regions prone to power or network outages.

Thanks to UM6P Ventures, SensThings moved rapidly from laboratory prototype to commercial startup. Just months after incorporation, the company achieved a valuation exceeding $10 million, an early milestone that reflects both investor confidence and the strength of its business model.

“A dedicated team of experts guided us through all critical stages: legal structuring, economic modeling, fundraising preparation, and go-to-market strategy,” Griguer reflects.

Participation in Startgate, UM6P’s resident incubation program, further accelerated SensThings’ development through peer learning and networking.

Global recognition and local impact

In 2023, SensThings’ unique approach that blends physical and digital technologies earned the company a nomination for the World Summit Award, a global recognition of digital innovation that drives social change. But for the team behind SensThings, the real reward lies closer to home.

Their work focuses on something often overlooked: trust in official documents. By securing academic records, SensThings helps students access new opportunities, makes it easier for graduates to prove their qualifications, and supports institutions in maintaining credibility both locally and internationally.

In Morocco, the Ministry of National Education adopted the system for all baccalaureate certificates and transcripts. Students benefit from instant diploma verification, which accelerates university admissions and job applications, particularly important in regions where paperwork delays can cost real opportunities.

“Several Moroccan and international universities are adopting our solutions not only to secure their diplomas but also to strengthen their programs’ international visibility and improve graduates’ career prospects,” according to Griguer.

While education was the starting point, the underlying technology is designed for broader application. In sectors like agriculture or manufacturing, the same system can be used to track supply chains, verify product authenticity, or even engage consumers directly. This offers an adaptable framework for building trust in complex environments.

For many deep-tech ventures, the tension between commercial sustainability and social impact can be hard to navigate. SensThings’ rapid growth, however, proves that these aims can reinforce one another. “Our rapid valuation of over $10 million demonstrates that social impact solutions can generate significant economic value when well structured,” he said.

For SensThings, resilient technology is a commercial advantage in emerging markets. By ensuring uninterrupted functionality, even under adverse conditions, their solutions meet practical needs while generating long-term revenue. Profits are reinvested into R&D to enable continuous innovation and keep prices accessible for public institutions.

Griguer reiterated UM6P Ventures’ support to build a “strong business model that attracts investors while serving the public good,” adding that its approach “proves it’s possible to reconcile entrepreneurial excellence with a social mission.”

Lessons for the African deep-tech ecosystem

SensThings’ journey offers several key lessons for scientific entrepreneurship across Africa. First, local constraints should be viewed not as obstacles but as design drivers. Solutions tailored to these realities can outperform generic, off-the-shelf technologies.

In addition, university ecosystems like UM6P Ventures play an important role by bridging the gap between research and market. Holistic support that combines lab access, mentorship, and capital has proven effective in accelerating the path from idea to impact.

The success of SensThings also challenges a common myth in tech development: that innovation means abandoning the old entirely. By working with existing behaviors and infrastructure rather than against them, deep-tech ventures can accelerate adoption and ensure their solutions are truly sustainable.

Looking ahead, Griguer envisions an Africa that not only adopts technologies from abroad but leads global innovation in areas where resilience and adaptability are paramount. “Africa is at a historic crossroads where science and entrepreneurship are converging to create authentically African solutions to the continent’s challenges,” he says.

SensThings, with the support of UM6P Ventures, “proves that it’s possible to develop cutting-edge technology from Africa, for Africa, and for the world,” Griguer argues.

By demonstrating that deep-tech startups can thrive on the continent, SensThings hopes to inspire future entrepreneurs to turn their research into ventures that deliver real-world benefits.