Expert in Entrepreneurship, Private Sector Development, and Support to Innovative Startups

With over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship and economic development, Douja Gharbi is a recognized leader in the Tunisian and Mediterranean startup ecosystems. She has co-founded and led several businesses and support organizations, creating tangible and measurable impact for thousands of entrepreneurs — particularly through RedStart Tunisia, an incubator and accelerator she has been managing since 2019.

Holding a Master’s degree in Economics, Douja combines expertise in strategy, finance, innovation, and collaborative governance, with a strong commitment to gender equality, sustainability, and inclusion. She has received advanced training from prestigious international institutions such as the Stanford Leadership Academy, UNIDO, MEPI, and the Beyster Institute, and holds key certifications in entrepreneurial coaching, corporate social responsibility, public-private dialogue, and access to finance.

Key Strengths and Notable Achievements

• Strategic and operational support to innovative startups and SMEs: As head of RedStart Tunisia, Douja designs, leads, and evaluates comprehensive incubation and acceleration programs, including training, one-on-one coaching, access to finance, business model structuring, and national/international networking. She has supported over 500 entrepreneurs, many of whom have gained access to funding, awards, or new markets.
• Management of complex international projects: Douja has worked as a senior expert for UNIDO, GIZ, the European Investment Bank, the European Union, ILO, AFD, AfDB, and others, leading multi-sector programs in over 20 countries, particularly in West and North Africa.
• Women’s leadership and green entrepreneurship: She has designed and led high-impact initiatives for women entrepreneurs in underserved regions of Tunisia and the broader MENA region, focusing on sustainable sectors such as the green, circular, and eco-innovative economy (e.g., GIMED, The Switchers, Cartier Women’s Initiative). She also established a revolving loan fund dedicated to these entrepreneurs, currently managed by RedStart Tunisia.
• Structural contributions to entrepreneurial ecosystems: Douja has played an active role in shaping public policies and strategic platforms, including FINANCINI (SME finance platform), the National CSR Strategy, the APIA Agricultural Incubators Strategy, and the creation of incubators in Mauritania. She also contributes to public-private dialogue frameworks, particularly those supported by the European Union.
• Mobilization of investor networks and alternative financing: Douja is a driving force behind early-stage investment mechanisms, fostering angel investing, promoting crowdfunding, and delivering investor education programs through networks such as ESIL, DAMYA-TWBAN, and CnBees.
• High-level trainer, coach, and speaker: A recognized facilitator, Douja regularly leads workshops, bootcamps, and tailored coaching sessions for entrepreneurs, incubators, public actors, and support structures. She is also an active speaker in national and international forums on entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and private sector development.

Current Roles & Contributions

Currently, Douja leads multiple initiatives and organizations, including:

• RedStart Tunisia - Incubator and Accelerator
• Co-founder of CONECT - Advocating for inclusive entrepreneurship
• Member of national task forces, including the one on crowdfunding legislation

She continues to contribute to international conferences on innovation, participative finance, gender equity, and the circular economy, adapting her methods to local contexts while grounding them in international best practices.

Professional Recognition

Douja’s work has been recognized through various professional awards and honors, particularly within:

• Women entrepreneurs’ networks
• Angel investor communities

Her unwavering commitment to responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship continues to champion entrepreneurship as a lever for economic growth and social transformation across the Tunisian and Mediterranean ecosystems.