The Startup Act is a legal framework dedicated to Startups in Tunisia. This framework is designed to facilitate the launch and development of Startups from Tunisia.

The Startup Label is a label of merit granted to any company under Tunisian law that meets the labeling criteria. This Label is the keystone to access the Startup Act universe.

1. The company applying for the Startup Label must verify the following 5 labelling criteria:
2. Age: the company must be less than 8 years old since its legal incorporation.
3. Size: the company must have less than 100 employees and less than 15 MDT (millions of dinars) of total balance sheet or annual turnover.
4. Independence: the company's capital must be more than 2/3 owned by individuals, regulated investment organizations (investment funds, etc.) and foreign startups.
5. Innovation: The

Any natural person wishing to create a Startup can apply for the Startup label subject to meeting the conditions of Innovation and Scalability. In this case, it is granted a Pre-label for a period of six (06) months.

Obtaining the Startup label is subject to the incorporation of the company and the satisfaction of the conditions of age, size and independence before the expiration of the Pre-label period. A response is made electronically within three (03) days from the date of completion of the file.

No the Pre-Label does not entitle you to the benefits of the Startup Act. Only the Startup Label allows it.

Failure to obtain the Startup Label is not definitive. Each candidate is entitled to apply for the Startup Label once (01) every six (06) months.

The applicant for a leave of absence for startup must meet the following requirements:

- Obtaining the Startup label by the company in which he is founder and shareholder.

- To be a holder and to have three (03) years of seniority in his or her original job.

- Present prior written authorization in the case of a private employer employing less than one hundred (100) employees.

- Submit an application via the Startups electronic portal within a maximum of one (01) month from the date of obtaining the label.

The applicant for a Startup leave of absence submits a unified electronic application for his or her Startup via the Startup Portal. The application is provided with the necessary data and supporting documents, including the proposed date of actual departure from the original job. This date must be between one and a half (1.5) months, at least, and six (06) months, at most, from the date of submission of the application.

To end a leave of absence for Startup creation, the beneficiary formulates a request and expresses his wish to return to his original function or body via the Startup electronic portal. The original employer is informed in writing and is required to notify the agent or employee concerned to return to his original position or body within thirty (30) days from the date of notification, failing which he will be considered to have abandoned his position.