- Benin held its first National Artificial Intelligence Olympiad, bringing together 150 students to select the country's team for the 2026 International AI Olympiad in Kazakhstan.
- The competition forms part of Benin's National Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Strategy (2023-2027), which aims to establish the country as a regional AI hub.
- Authorities will select 16 finalists for advanced training before naming an eight-member national team to compete internationally.
Benin has launched its first National Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (NOAI) as the government seeks to strengthen AI education among secondary school students and position the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.
The government organized the national qualifying competition in Cotonou on Saturday, June 27. The event brought together 150 students to compete for places on Benin's team for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), which will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from Aug. 2 to Aug. 8, 2026.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation, which oversees Benin's national AI strategy, organized the initiative alongside the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, and the Sèmè City Development Agency (ADSC). The competition forms part of the National Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Strategy (SNIAM 2023-2027).
"You represent the Benin of today and tomorrow. What we are doing here today is giving you the light that you will carry to make Benin competitive in tomorrow's digital economy and artificial intelligence," said Sèdami Médégan Fagla, Benin's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
"We have a duty to prepare you for that Benin so that you can build the Benin of your dreams, the Benin that belongs to all of us. Everything we can do today is support you and provide you with the means to succeed," she added.
After the first selection round, authorities will choose 16 candidates for a second training phase that will include educational kits, a preparation program, a technical bootcamp and mentoring.
The government will ultimately select eight students to represent Benin at the international competition in Kazakhstan.
The national competition follows Benin's first participation in the IOAI in Beijing, China, in August 2025. According to the ADSC, Benin ranked 30th out of 78 teams representing 62 countries, while Merveille Agbossaga received an individual distinction. The agency said only two African countries earned individual distinctions during that edition.
"Our ambition is clear: to make Benin a leading African reference for artificial intelligence education," said Mahuna Akplogan, Minister of Digital Transformation and Innovation and head of the country's national AI strategy, in a statement issued to mark the launch of the competition.
However, the government has not disclosed how it will finance or sustain the program beyond its inaugural edition.
Macroeconomic projections require cautious interpretation
The initiative comes as policymakers across Africa increasingly view artificial intelligence as a driver of long-term economic growth. However, estimates of AI's economic impact vary depending on the underlying assumptions.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), citing an analysis by audit and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), estimates that artificial intelligence could contribute approximately $1.2 trillion to Africa's gross domestic product if the continent captures 2.5% of the global AI market, equivalent to its current share of global GDP.
Separately, Olumide Balogun, Google's Director for West Africa, estimated during the Nigerian Economic Summit that artificial intelligence could generate $1.5 trillion for Africa by 2030.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- The GSMA has released a regulatory playbook to help African regulators develop consistent rules for satellite connectivity services.
- The guide outlines eight regulatory pillars covering issues ranging from national security and consumer protection to taxation and law enforcement.
- The framework comes as satellite partnerships and Direct-to-Cell technology gain momentum across Africa, creating new regulatory challenges.
The GSMA has issued new guidance aimed at helping African regulators establish coherent regulatory frameworks for satellite connectivity services as the sector expands rapidly across the continent.
The global mobile industry association released the Satellite Regulatory Playbook on Wednesday, June 24. The document seeks to address regulatory gaps that have emerged with the growth of satellite connectivity services. The GSMA noted that services delivered in partnership with mobile network operators generally already benefit from adequate regulatory safeguards.
The playbook identifies eight core regulatory pillars: local establishment, national security, consumer protection, infrastructure, terminal deployment, taxation, emergency services and law enforcement.
"Connectivity is not a choice between terrestrial and satellite networks. Regulation should remain technology-neutral and focus on delivering consistent outcomes for consumers, regardless of how services are provided," said Michaela Angonius, Head of Policy and Regulation at the GSMA.
The guidance comes as several African telecommunications operators have entered satellite connectivity partnerships to extend network coverage.
Orange has partnered with Eutelsat to deploy satellite connectivity in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, MTN signed its own agreement with Eutelsat for Côte d'Ivoire after concluding an earlier partnership in 2024 with its infrastructure subsidiary Bayobab to leverage the OneWeb satellite constellation.
Beyond conventional satellite terminals, Direct-to-Cell technology has emerged as one of the sector's most disruptive developments. The technology enables standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without requiring external antennas or additional hardware.
In March, MTN Zambia announced that it had successfully completed Africa's first Direct-to-Cell trials in partnership with Starlink under the supervision of Zambia's telecommunications regulator. The pilot project illustrates the type of regulatory gray area that the GSMA's new playbook seeks to clarify as satellite-based mobile connectivity expands across African markets.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Namibia's national cybersecurity incident response team has identified 13 organizations potentially exposed to the global FortiBleed credential compromise campaign.
- Authorities have found no evidence of widespread compromise but have urged affected entities to reset credentials, enable multi-factor authentication and update Fortinet devices.
- Cybersecurity researchers estimate that more than 86,000 valid Fortinet credentials remain exposed across 194 countries.
Namibia's cybersecurity authorities have identified 13 organizations that may have been exposed to FortiBleed, a global credential compromise campaign targeting firewalls and virtual private network (VPN) gateways manufactured by U.S.-based cybersecurity company Fortinet.
The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) issued the alert over the weekend. The agency said it has found no evidence of widespread compromise among the affected organizations but urged them to implement corrective measures without delay.
"Although there is currently no evidence of widespread compromise among the identified Namibian organizations, this incident highlights the importance of adopting proactive cybersecurity measures. Simply put, Fortinet firewalls serve as the digital gateway to an organization's network," said Mufaro Nesongano, spokesperson for the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN).
"If the keys to that gateway, such as administrator usernames, passwords or VPN credentials, become exposed, malicious actors could gain access to the network as if they were authorized users and conduct malicious activities without immediately raising suspicion," he added.
According to several cybersecurity firms, FortiBleed does not stem from a newly discovered software vulnerability. Fortinet said the campaign relies on the reuse of credentials compromised during previous security incidents, combined with brute-force attacks targeting inadequately protected devices, particularly those that do not use multi-factor authentication.
Cybersecurity company SOCRadar estimates that more than 86,000 valid and exploitable credentials linked to internet-exposed Fortinet infrastructure remain available across 194 countries. The estimate has continued to rise since researchers uncovered the campaign. Earlier public estimates from cybersecurity company Field Effect identified approximately 74,000 compromised VPN configurations and firewall devices.
NAM-CSIRT has instructed potentially affected organizations to reset administrator and VPN credentials, activate multi-factor authentication and install the latest updates on Fortinet equipment.
CRAN also recommended that organizations conduct comprehensive reviews of firewall configurations to detect any unauthorized changes. The regulator welcomed organizations that have already begun implementing the recommended corrective measures.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
South African investment firm Stocks & Strauss has closed a $24 million funding round for its university-focused fund. The capital will support the commercialization of technologies developed at universities and within their alumni networks. With the latest raise, the platform now manages more than $42 million in assets as it seeks to turn locally developed research into globally competitive businesses.
US tech giant Amazon has selected nine African organizations for the fourth cohort of its social accelerator program. Based in Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon, the organizations use AI and digital technologies to address challenges in education, unemployment and food security. They will receive technical training and strategic mentorship to help expand their reach across the continent.
- TransformaTek, founded in 2020 by Ali Benahmed Daho, delivers end-to-end digital platform development for startups and SMEs, covering design, development, testing and post-deployment support.
- The company extends its services across sectors including logistics, fintech, health tech and mobility, with a focus on scalable, customized digital infrastructure.
- Its flagship product, Deploily, connects developers to local cloud providers to simplify application deployment and reduce infrastructure complexity.
Algerian entrepreneur Ali Benahmed Daho is building a technology services company that aims to simplify how startups and small and medium-sized enterprises develop and scale digital platforms across Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.
He founded TransformaTek in 2020 and serves as its chief executive officer. The company focuses on supporting startups and SMEs in launching and sustaining digital projects by taking charge of the full technical lifecycle of applications.
TransformaTek provides a comprehensive approach that covers the entire lifecycle of a digital product. The company manages initial concept analysis, system design, software development, testing phases and post-deployment monitoring.
This integrated model allows clients to deploy fully functional and tailored digital platforms while reducing technical complexity and execution risk.
For early-stage entrepreneurs, TransformaTek structures and executes the launch of their first digital platforms. For established companies, it provides ongoing management and continuous improvement services to maintain performance and ensure long-term scalability.
Since its launch, TransformaTek has expanded its operations into key sectors, including logistics, connected healthcare, mobility and financial technology. The company positions itself as a technical partner for businesses seeking to digitize core operations.
One of its flagship innovations is Deploily, an intelligent cloud platform. The system connects developers with local cloud providers and simplifies application deployment by reducing the need to manage underlying infrastructure directly.
Ali Benahmed Daho built his career on a combination of technical engineering and business management expertise.
He graduated in 2005 as an engineer in geodesic sciences and topographic works from Algeria’s National Center for Space Techniques. He later completed a Master of Business Administration in project management in 2016 at the Algerian-American Management Institute.
He began his professional career in 2007 at Oran Airport, where he led an aeronautical mapping team. He later joined the National Institute of Cartography and Remote Sensing (INCT), where he progressed from head of geographic information documentation and conservation to deputy director of production operations between 2013 and 2020.
Melchior Koba
- Liberia plans to establish 15 digital skills centers to equip young people with technology skills and improve access to employment opportunities.
- The Liberia Telecommunications Authority will provide equipment, Starlink connectivity and fully fund a three-month digital skills program expected to train about 750 young people nationwide.
- The initiative supports Liberia's efforts to address youth unemployment as the World Bank projects that 230 million jobs in Africa will require digital skills by 2030.
Liberian authorities plan to establish 15 digital skills centers across the country. The initiative aims to equip young Liberians with the digital skills, technological tools and employment opportunities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital economy. The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, June 25, to implement the initiative.
Under the agreement, the telecommunications regulator will equip each center with computers, printers, high-speed internet connectivity through Starlink and a one-year internet subscription. The LTA will also fully finance a three-month digital skills training program that is expected to benefit about 750 young people nationwide.
The agreement follows a digital training program for content creators that the authorities organized several weeks earlier. The program trained 150 participants, including comedians, storytellers, challenge creators, reaction video producers and other entertainment-focused content creators, on monetization mechanisms available through Meta and TikTok platforms.
The initiative reflects a broader trend across Africa, where governments increasingly view digital technologies as a tool to reduce youth unemployment. As information and communication technologies continue to expand, labor markets are evolving rapidly. The World Bank estimates that approximately 230 million jobs across Africa will require digital skills by 2030.
According to the African Development Bank's Country Focus Report 2025, Liberia's labor force participation rate stands at 59%, while the official unemployment rate is 3.5%. However, the institution said those figures mask high levels of underemployment and informal employment, particularly among young people and women.
The report added that people aged 15 to 35 who are not in employment, education or training face a higher risk of social exclusion, substance abuse and limited economic prospects.
"The lack of access to appropriate vocational training and employment opportunities for young people limits Liberia's ability to fully harness the potential of its youthful population. Without targeted interventions, these challenges risk perpetuating cycles of poverty and social fragility, thereby hindering national development objectives," the African Development Bank said.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
- Farid Academy provides one-on-one online coaching focused on emotional intelligence, leadership and personal development for children and teenagers aged 3 to 18 across the Arab world.
- The platform tailors certified coaching, interactive courses and progress reports to each learner while offering training programs for parents.
- Founder Mahmoud Hussein also leads Bareeq Arabia, an edtech company developing Arabic-language digital learning infrastructure for the Middle East and North Africa.
Mahmoud Hussein is the founder and chief executive officer of Farid Academy, an education platform dedicated to the personal and emotional development of children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 across the Arab world.
The company launched the platform in 2024. It delivers one-on-one online coaching sessions led by certified trainers. The company matches each trainer to a learner according to age, individual needs and personal profile. Families receive tailored support through customized learning programs, interactive classes and regular progress reports.
Farid Academy designs its educational content around a comprehensive approach to youth development. The platform develops self-confidence, positive leadership, creativity and critical thinking. It also promotes ethical values, respect and cultural openness.
The company aims to equip children with practical life skills while helping them make responsible decisions and build constructive relationships with others.
Moreover, the platform regularly organizes thematic workshops that address emotional intelligence, personal safety, success strategies and responsible digital citizenship. Farid Academy also provides dedicated training programs for parents to strengthen their ability to support their children's development at home.
Mahmoud Hussein graduated from Minia University in Egypt. He also serves as chief executive officer of Bareeq Arabia. Founded in 2018, Bareeq Arabia develops an Arabic-language education technology ecosystem that provides the digital infrastructure needed to support the future of learning across the Middle East and North Africa.
Melchior Koba
- Burundi plans to extend its digital health supply chain management system, eLMIS Medexis, to private healthcare facilities after completing nationwide deployment in public and faith-based institutions.
- The platform has trained more than 2,000 users across 956 health facilities and deployed 839 laptops and 148 routers to strengthen medicine inventory management.
- Authorities aim to improve system support, digital infrastructure, internet connectivity and interoperability, with Starlink under consideration for underserved areas.
Burundi plans to expand its digital health supply chain management system to private healthcare facilities. Public Health Minister Fidele Ndayisaba and Alain Parfait Bimenyimana, country director of the Dutch non-governmental organization i+Solutions, discussed the initiative during a meeting on Thursday, June 25.
The meeting reviewed progress on the eLMIS Medexis project, a digital platform that manages inventories and supplies of medicines and other health products. The system already operates across all public and faith-based healthcare facilities in Burundi and has improved logistics monitoring for medicines and medical supplies.
The government launched the project in December 2022 with support from i+Solutions and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The initiative aims to strengthen the country's healthcare supply chain through digitalization while improving medicine availability and the reliability of logistics data.
Digitalisation de la chaîne d’approvisionnement en santé : avancées et perspectives.
— Ministère de la Santé Publique Burundi(MSP) (@msp_burundi) June 25, 2026
Le Ministre de la Santé Publique @FideleDr a accordé une audience au Directeur Pays de l’ONG néerlandaise i+Solutions, Dr Alain Parfait Bimenyimana.
Les échanges ont porté sur l’état… pic.twitter.com/F2Lt5ymqE2
According to i+Solutions, the nationwide rollout of eLMIS Medexis reached a major milestone in 2025 after covering all public and faith-based healthcare facilities. The project trained more than 2,000 users across 956 healthcare facilities and supplied 839 laptops and 148 routers to support system deployment.
Beyond the planned extension to private healthcare providers, the discussions also focused on measures to strengthen the system. The participants examined ways to improve user support, upgrade digital equipment and expand internet connectivity across healthcare facilities.
The participants also discussed the potential use of satellite connectivity solutions such as Starlink to improve internet access in underserved areas. The meeting also addressed interoperability between eLMIS Medexis and other digital health platforms. The government aims to integrate health data more effectively and improve coordination across the healthcare system.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) launched a partnership to expand digital skills training and entrepreneurship support for youth and women in Africa.
- The pilot program will be deployed in Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo over 12 to 24 months.
- The initiative targets high-demand fields such as AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and software development, with pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday, June 24, to support digital training and entrepreneurship across several African countries. OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo and AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah formalized the agreement following a meeting in which both institutions emphasized the strategic role of youth and women in Africa’s digital transition.
The first phase of the program will be implemented in Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative addresses a shared challenge across Francophone countries, where young populations face high levels of unemployment and underemployment despite growing digital opportunities.
The program will deliver training in high-demand sectors, including web and mobile development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data analytics. It will also provide participants with structured pathways to employment, self-employment and business creation.
In addition, the initiative will include bootcamps, prototyping workshops and partnerships with incubators and accelerators to support innovation and startup creation.
The two institutions will place particular emphasis on projects led by women and young entrepreneurs. They aim to reduce inequality in access to digital skills and economic opportunities across participating countries.
The initiative builds on the OIF’s previous experience in youth programs. The organization reports that it has already supported nearly 19,000 young people in digital skills, employability and entrepreneurship across the Francophone world through programs such as D-CLIC.
Beyond training activities, the OIF and AfDB will work closely with governments, training institutions and local stakeholders to strengthen national capacities. They aim to ensure local ownership of the program and long-term sustainability.
The pilot phase will run for 12 to 24 months in the five selected countries. Depending on results, the program could later be expanded to other member states of the Francophonie.
For the OIF, the partnership represents a strategic step in mobilizing funding and partnerships to scale its impact. Through collaboration with the AfDB, the organization aims to accelerate projects focused on employment, entrepreneurship and digital transformation for Francophone youth.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
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- Maminda combines AI-powered agronomic advice, digital financial services, satellite crop monitoring, cooperative finance and market access in a single platform for Zimbabwean smallholder farmers.
- The self-funded start-up launched in 2025 and currently serves fewer than 100 active users while validating its business model ahead of a pre-seed fundraising round.
- Maminda ranked among Zimbabwe’s top 10 start-ups and represented the country at VivaTech 2026 in Paris as it prepares regional expansion into Zambia and Malawi.
Maminda is an agri-fintech solution developed by a Zimbabwean start-up. The platform combines several services that farmers traditionally accessed separately, including AI-assisted agronomic support, digital financial services, satellite-based crop monitoring, a cooperative financing system and market access tools.
Founder Edward Gandanzara launched the company in 2025. Farmers use the platform to receive personalized recommendations tailored to their crops, monitor field health through satellite imagery, participate in digital savings and financing groups via the "Smart Digital Mukando" system, build alternative credit profiles and connect directly with produce buyers and agricultural input suppliers.
"Maminda operates across the entire agricultural value chain, supporting farmers from seasonal planning and input financing to production, crop monitoring and post-harvest marketing," said Edward Gandanzara, the company's founder.
He added that most existing solutions address only one challenge at a time, such as agronomic advice, financing or market access. He said Maminda integrates all of these services into a single platform designed around the practical realities of smallholder farming.
The start-up has already gained national recognition. It ranked among Zimbabwe's top 10 start-ups and represented the country at VivaTech 2026, the global start-up exhibition held in Paris from June 17 to June 20, 2026.
Maminda has financed its operations through internal resources. The company currently has fewer than 100 active users, with pilot activities concentrated in the Mashonaland and Manicaland farming communities.
Gandanzara said the company currently prioritizes learning and business model validation over rapid customer acquisition. He said the strategy will prepare the business for a pre-seed fundraising round that will finance further product development and pilot expansion.
Over the medium term, Maminda plans to expand into Zambia and Malawi before extending its footprint across Southern and Eastern Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum
- Nigerian edtech startup StudyCrew combines artificial intelligence and gamification to improve student engagement and study consistency.
- Founder Josiah Dhev launched the platform in 2025 to help students organize academic work, track progress and collaborate more effectively.
- The self-funded startup has attracted more than 200 users across Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom and plans to expand into educational institutions.
StudyCrew is an edtech platform developed by a Nigerian startup. The company designed the platform to make learning more interactive, collaborative and structured.
Founded in 2025 by Josiah Dhev, StudyCrew combines several tools that help students organize academic work, monitor progress and collaborate with peers. The platform offers study session tracking, task and schedule management, and virtual study groups.
"Initially, this was a personal idea aimed at solving students' motivation and consistency challenges in learning. Since then, the project has evolved into a structured product that is currently under development, with a small founding team focused on product development, growth and community building," said Josiah Dhev.
StudyCrew integrates artificial intelligence-powered tutors that provide explanations, answer student questions and generate summaries from class notes.
In addition, the platform offers planning tools and matchmaking features that connect students who share similar academic goals. The company aims to create a more collaborative learning environment while helping users manage their academic responsibilities more effectively.
StudyCrew differentiates itself through its use of gamification. Users can earn points, maintain study streaks, unlock virtual rewards and compete with other members through leaderboards. The platform uses these features to encourage regular study habits and reduce the disengagement that frequently affects digital learning platforms.
Consequently, the company seeks to transform studying into a more engaging and rewarding experience while improving long-term commitment among users.
StudyCrew has funded its operations through internal resources and has attracted more than 200 users across Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom. The startup is also working to integrate universities and secondary schools into its offering. Meanwhile, Josiah Dhev plans to use the Nigerian student market as a testing ground before pursuing expansion across other African countries.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Malawian entrepreneur Tapiwa Kandiado founded SpaceAI to help businesses, development institutions and local communities integrate artificial intelligence into their operations.
- SpaceAI develops customized AI platforms, applications and infrastructure while providing training and advisory services to support long-term adoption.
- The company partnered with AfriLabs on the AI Bridge project between 2024 and 2025, strengthening its presence in Africa’s growing AI ecosystem.
Tapiwa Kandiado has emerged as a prominent figure in Malawi’s technology entrepreneurship ecosystem. She founded SpaceAI, a startup dedicated to helping businesses, development institutions and local communities adopt and integrate artificial intelligence into their activities.
Launched in 2024, SpaceAI specializes in embedding advanced technology tools into existing operational processes. The company develops customized platforms and applications designed to meet the requirements of multiple industries. In addition, SpaceAI deploys the technical infrastructure required to ensure the sustainable use of its solutions.
SpaceAI places capacity building at the center of its growth strategy. The company delivers training programs and advisory services that enable organizations to understand, adopt and manage emerging technologies effectively. Through this approach, SpaceAI aims to maximize the long-term impact of its innovations while helping clients develop internal expertise.
As demand for artificial intelligence solutions increases across Africa, many organizations continue to face challenges related to skills shortages and implementation capacity. Consequently, SpaceAI combines technology deployment with workforce development to improve adoption outcomes.
Among the company's most notable achievements is its participation in the AI Bridge project, which SpaceAI implemented in partnership with AfriLabs between 2024 and 2025. The initiative strengthened the startup’s visibility within Africa’s technology ecosystem and reinforced its role in promoting AI adoption across the continent.
Moreover, SpaceAI actively contributes to regional innovation initiatives and regularly participates in major African technology and innovation events. These engagements have helped the company expand its network and showcase its expertise in artificial intelligence integration.
A Career Focused on Technology and Social Impact
Kandiado has built her career around the intersection of technology, policy and social impact. She serves on the board of Creative Minds Foundation Africa (CMF AFRICA), a pan-African non-profit organization that aims to transform the lives of young people across the continent. She earned a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the University of Malawi in 2016. More recently, she joined the research group of the Center for AI and Digital Policy between January and April 2026. The organization works to ensure that artificial intelligence and digital policies promote a more equitable, accountable and socially beneficial society.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Senegal launched the $50 million Catalyst DER/FJ fund to finance innovative startups at the pre-seed and seed stages.
- The initiative aims to address a persistent funding gap that limits the growth of early-stage companies in Francophone West Africa.
- Seed financing accounts for only 1.5% of total startup capital raised in Africa, according to data from Africa: The Big Deal.
Senegal's Rapid Entrepreneurship Delegation for Women and Youth (DER/FJ) announced the creation of the Catalyst DER/FJ fund in Paris on June 20. The investment vehicle will deploy $50 million to finance innovative Senegalese startups operating at the pre-seed and seed stages.
Aida Mbodji, General Delegate of DER/FJ, announced the initiative during a keynote address on the AfricaTech stage at VivaTech 2026. Her presentation, titled "Bridging the Pre-Seed Funding Gap in Francophone West Africa: How Institutional Capital Builds the Next African Unicorns," highlighted a longstanding weakness in the region's venture capital ecosystem.
DER/FJ's assessment aligns with the conclusions of industry experts. While record fundraising rounds continue to attract attention across Africa, financing at the earliest stages of startup development remains the weakest segment of the investment chain.
Data compiled by Africa: The Big Deal confirms the imbalance. Seed-stage financing represents only 1.5% of total capital invested across Africa, a share that remains three to four times lower than the 4% to 6% typically recorded in the United States.
Consequently, many startups struggle to secure funding when founders are still building teams, validating business models and developing prototypes.
Against this backdrop, Grégoire de Padirac, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Africa, part of the AFD-Proparco group, recently underscored the importance of seed financing in an opinion piece. "Seed financing remains the cornerstone of African innovation, yet it is often overshadowed by massive fundraising rounds," he said. He added that entrepreneurs frequently face a shortage of capital precisely when teams remain incomplete and products remain at an early development stage.
Senegal's initiative seeks to address that challenge by mobilizing public resources to attract private investment, generate a leverage effect and strengthen the competitiveness of the country's startup ecosystem.
Following the official launch of the fund, five startups accompanying the Senegalese delegation—Andakia, Baamtu, SenITI, FAJMA and Absar—presented their solutions during a pitching session attended by international investors and strategic partners. The presentations provided a snapshot of Senegal's innovation pipeline and highlighted the types of ventures that could benefit from expanded access to early-stage capital through the new Catalyst DER/FJ fund.