AI-focused venture firm Propeller has unveiled the first cohort of Kernel Camp, its Silicon Valley-based deep-tech residency, bringing five startups from Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt into the heart of the global AI ecosystem.
The eight-week programme is designed to bridge a long-standing gap: while MENA continues to produce strong technical talent, founders have historically lacked direct access to Silicon Valley’s networks of capital, operators, and engineering communities.
Kernel Camp aims to change that—not just by relocating founders, but by embedding them into the ecosystem through curated exposure to the people, ideas, and conversations shaping the future of AI.
The inaugural cohort includes five startups operating at the intersection of AI infrastructure, developer tooling, and cybersecurity:
- OORB (Tunisia) – a browser-based cloud robotics workspace for building and testing ROS projects
- Eli by Techbible (Morocco) – an AI stack manager offering visibility into SaaS and AI spend
- Firstflow (Jordan) – an onboarding and analytics layer for AI agents
- Nexguards (Egypt) – a personalised cyber attack simulation and security awareness platform
- Flowbrave (Morocco) – an AI-powered operations platform transforming workflows into intelligent systems
“Kernel Camp is a statement of our belief in the extraordinary talent emerging from the MENA region,” said Zaid Farekh, Founder and Managing Partner at Propeller, highlighting the programme as a milestone tied to the firm’s Fund III strategy.
Partner Hani Azzam emphasised the broader vision: building not just exposure, but integration. “These founders aren’t just here to learn—they’re here to become part of the Silicon Valley ecosystem,” he noted.
Originally announced in December 2025, Kernel Camp sits at the core of Propeller’s cross-border investment strategy, targeting technically strong, full-time founders with early traction.
The programme offers fully sponsored housing, curated workshops, office hours with top-tier builders, and direct access to leading tech companies and VCs across the Bay Area.
The residency will conclude with a Demo Day in May 2026, where the cohort will showcase their progress to Propeller’s Silicon Valley network—marking a key step in connecting MENA’s emerging deep-tech talent with global capital.
