Mr. Houssam Eddine Rehhali : OCTAV is a specialized XR studio (virtual, mixed, and augmented reality) and we're essentially building the future of interactive experiences. While traditional gaming happens on screens, we create immersive worlds where you can actually step inside the game. We've developed everything from VR training simulations for port operators to educational experiences used in over 30 schools across the US. What makes us unique is that we don't just do entertainment, we use gaming principles to solve real business problems across healthcare, education, and industrial
training.

2. What motivated you to enter the video game industry in Morocco, and what do you see as the strengths ofthe Moroccan market?

Mr. Houssam Eddine Rehhali : Our country has this incredible combination of young, tech-savvy talent and a strategic position between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. When we started OCTAV, we saw an opportunity to build world-class XR solutions from Morocco for global clients. We're now working with blue chip companies and delivering projects worldwide, proving that Moroccan teams can compete at the highest level. The market here is hungry for innovation, and the government's support for digital transformation creates the perfect environment for tech startups to thrive.

3. What was the biggest challenge you faced while developing your startup, and how did you overcome it?

Mr. Houssam Eddine Rehhali : We faced multiple challenges, but the biggest was operating in an environment where gaming and XR weren't taken seriously as legitimate business sectors in Morocco. There was skepticism from investors, clients, and even some government institutions who saw gaming as just entertainment rather than a serious technology industry. We overcame this by focusing on measurable results and proving real business impact. We started emphasizing how our technology solves real problems in healthcare, education, and industrial training. Today, the landscape has completely changed. The gaming industry is now recognized as a key economic sector, and Morocco is positioning itself as a regional hub for digital innovation. We learned that success isn't just about cool technology, but it's about solving real problems and delivering tangible value while helping to transform perceptions of what the industry can achieve.

4. What does being selected for the Huawei Cloud Startup Program representfor you, and how can this program accelerate your growth? 

Mr. Houssam Eddine Rehhali : Being selected for the Huawei Cloud Startup Program validates our vision and positions us alongside some of the most innovative startups globally. For XR applications, cloud infrastructure is crucial. We need massive computing power for rendering, real-time collaboration features, and global content delivery. This program gives us access to enterprise-grade infrastructure that would normally be expensive for a growing studio, allowing us to scale our solutions internationally much faster.

5. Which Huawei Cloud tools or resources do you expectto prioritize to boost your projects?

Mr. Houssam Eddine Rehhali : We're most excited about their AI and machine learning capabilities, which we can integrate into our XR experiences for more intelligent user interactions. Their edge computing solutions are crucial for latency in our real-time collaborative applications. Plus, their global network will help us deliver high-quality XR content to users worldwide without issues, something essential when you're working with international clients across different continents.