Startup.dz, Labelling Procedures

What is Startup.dz?

Startup Label, criteria

• Being a company incorporated under Algerian law (SARL, EURL, SPA, SNC and similar).
• Not being more than 8 years old.
• Annual turnover not exceeding the amount set by the national labelling committee. The decree does not put a figure on that cap.
• At least 50 % of the capital held by natural persons, approved investment funds or other companies holding the Start-up label.
• No more than 250 employees.
• The startup's business model must be built on innovative products, services, a business model or any other innovative concept.
• A scalable economic model with export potential.

Startup Label, process

• Registration and application form on https://startup.dz.
• Uploading the documents: trade register, business model presentation, NIF, manager's identity document.
• Article 13 of décret exécutif n° 20-254 of 15 September 2020 provides that a reply is given to any label application within a maximum of thirty (30) days from the filing date. Those are days, not working days. Any delay in supplying part of the required documents suspends that period, and the applicant then has fifteen (15) days to send them in or the application is rejected.
• The period and the decision belong to the national labelling committee. We promise neither.
• Article 14, as worded by décret exécutif n° 25-311: the Start-up label is granted to the company for four (4) years, renewable once, under the conditions and terms laid down by the decree. The two (2) year term renewable twice belongs to the Innovative Project label (art. 19), not to the Start-up label.
• Renewal of the Start-up label, article 14 bis added by décret exécutif n° 25-311: a business model built on innovative products, services or a business model; at least 50 % of the capital held by natural persons, approved investment funds or other companies holding the Start-up label or the Incubateur label; a sufficiently large growth potential.
• Renewal file, article 14 bis 1: an application through the national start-up electronic portal, together with the main achievements and performance indicators, the revenues of the last three years, the change in the number of customers or users, the record of funds raised, the number of registered patents or software, and a detailed 3 minute video presentation of the company's growth.

Innovative Project Label, criteria and process

• Algerian citizen or resident.
• Demonstrated originality, innovation and feasibility.
• Pre-incorporation phase or early development.
• Registration on https://startup.dz (select 'Innovative Project').
• Detailed description of the project (problem, solution, market, team).
• Assessment plus a possible virtual pitch.

Incubator Label, criteria and process

• A formal structure (association, company, university entity and similar).
• Providing coaching, workspace, mentoring and technical support.
• Proven experience in supporting startups.
• Application on https://startup.dz.
• Documents: articles of association, activity report, team CVs, description of the services.
• Assessment by the ministry's experts.

Scale-up Label, criteria and process

• The fourth label of the framework, created by décret exécutif n° 25-311 of 1 December 2025 (Journal officiel n° 81 of 7 December 2025), which adds to décret exécutif n° 20-254 a chapter 7 headed "Conditions for granting the Scale-up label" and articles 31 bis 2 to 31 bis 7.
• Article 31 bis 2, three criteria: being a company incorporated under Algerian law whose business model is built on innovative products, services or a business model; showing turnover growth at a rate of at least 20 % over the last three (3) years; allocating at least 3 % of the company's revenues or capital to investment in research and development.
• The decree does not require you to hold the Start-up label first. For the Scale-up label it sets no company age cap, no headcount cap, no turnover cap and no capital ownership rule: those conditions belong to the Start-up label (art. 11).
• Article 31 bis 3, the file is submitted through the national start-up electronic portal: a copy of the trade register and of the tax identification number, a copy of the articles of association, a detailed presentation of the product or service and of its innovative aspects, the founders' CVs, a detailed 3 minute video presentation of the company's growth, and where applicable any intellectual property document, any distinction obtained or any proof of international expansion.
• Article 31 bis 4: a reply is given to any application within a maximum of thirty (30) days from the filing date. Any delay in supplying part of the required documents suspends that period, and the applicant then has fifteen (15) days from the national committee's notification to send in the missing documents or the application is rejected.
• Article 31 bis 5: the Scale-up label is granted for four (4) years, renewable. The decree writes no cap on the number of renewals, unlike the Start-up label which is renewable once (art. 14).
• Article 31 bis 5 as well: where an application is refused, the national committee must give reasons for its decision and notify it electronically. The applicant may ask for it to be re-examined by a reasoned request, and a final answer is notified electronically within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days from the date his request is filed.
• Articles 31 bis 6 and 31 bis 7: decisions granting the Scale-up label are published on the national start-up electronic portal, and renewal is requested through that same portal, the national committee granting it under the conditions and terms laid down by the decree.
• Décret exécutif n° 25-311 attaches no tax advantage to the Scale-up label and organises neither suspension nor withdrawal of it. Décret exécutif n° 21-170, which sets the tax advantages, covers the start-up label and the incubateur label.

Useful links

• 🌐 Platform: https://startup.dz
• 📄 Official terms: https://startup.dz/conditions-generales
• 📧 Contact: support@startup.dz