Houda Ghozzi is the founder and CEO of Open Startup International (OST), an NGO that fosters innovation ecosystems with a focus on building linkages with academia. OST works with Columbia University and MIT to grow and connect ecosystems in Africa with the US, Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
After a decade operating in Africa and supporting more than 1000 startups Houda is now launching the “Science Road Initiative” to unlock the potential of science-preneurs from North Africa to South Africa. The initiative is in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and CERI, and focuses on getting research out of the lab and building home-grown technologies and solutions to address health and climate challenges in Africa.
Houda is active in advocacy and policy, contributing to Tunisia’s Startup Act and serves as an advisor to the Government of Uganda. She advances financial inclusion through her civil society work, including as a board member of the Tunisian Authority of Microfinance Control (ACM). Houda holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of Paris Dauphine.