inwi, Youth Ministry Launch Gaming Startup Challenge with $10,000 Prize

Marrakech – inwi, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication (MJCC), and Morocco Gaming Industry (MGI) have launched the Gaming Startup Challenge, a competition designed to move beyond idea-stage contests and into industrial incubation. The initiative builds on what organizers describe as the growing maturity of Morocco’s national gaming industry ecosystem.

The challenge’s core objective is concrete. Selected startups must deliver a Proof of Concept (POC) that can be directly integrated into inwi’s digital platforms. This shifts the competition away from conceptual pitches and toward deployable products.

Participants will work on designing gamification mechanics. These include mini-games, community challenges, and engagement systems. The rollout will be progressive rather than simultaneous.

In the first phase, the priority focus is the “win by inwi” application. The operator is targeting the digital natives segment through this platform. Following the success of this phase, the project’s scope is expected to expand to the My inwi App in a second edition.

To ensure the technical and commercial viability of the participating projects, inwi and the MJCC are providing a structured support program. The program begins with co-design workshops. These sessions bring together business and digital transformation teams to align the startups’ innovative solutions with real market needs.

Participating startups will also receive a public showcase. Functional prototypes will be presented on the sidelines of the Morocco Gaming Expo 2026, giving founders direct exposure to industry audiences.

The Morocco Gaming Expo 2026 itself will run from May 20 to 24 at the Sofitel Jardin des Roses in Rabat. It is the third edition of the event, organized by the MJCC’s Department of Communication under the theme “Moroccan Talent.”

The program will host five major forums covering public policy and international cooperation, investment and economic models, ethics and security, development technologies, and programming and creative work.

A central feature will be the eSports Tournaments Platform, with national competitions across Free Fire on mobile, EA SPORTS FC 25 on console, and Valorant and Street Fighter 6 on PC. Developers, publishers, startups, professional gamers, investors, researchers, and students are expected to attend.

Financial and international exposure incentives complete the package. inwi will award a grant of MAD 100,000 ($10,000) to the winning startup. The funding is earmarked to help finalize the project and launch its industrial integration phase. The winner will also receive the opportunity to participate in Gamescom, Europe’s premier gaming industry event.

The selection and incubation process follows a defined calendar. The call for applications opened on Friday, April 3. The application deadline is Monday, April 20. A co-design workshop is scheduled for Monday, April 27. The final pitch will take place on Sunday, May 24, coinciding with the closing day of the Morocco Gaming Expo.

The structure of the challenge links the startup selection directly to a commercial deployment target. By tying the POCs to applications already used by inwi’s subscriber base, the program shortens the distance between prototype and market.