• Senegal rolls out the Startup Ecosystem program under the 2020 Startup Act.
• More than 500 startups are expected to be labeled, with 150,000 jobs targeted by 2034.
• The initiative offers training, tax incentives, financing access, and a digital one-stop shop.

The Senegalese government launched the “Startup Ecosystem” program on November 20, implementing Law No. 2020-01, known as the Startup Act, adopted in January 2020. The initiative aims to support Senegalese startups, promote innovation, ease access to financing, and strengthen public support.

The program includes a “Startup Ecosystem” label and an online one-stop shop to simplify the labeling process and access to services. More than 500 startups are expected to receive the label, with a target of creating 150,000 direct jobs by 2034. The initiative also connects investors, incubators, technical partners, and young innovative companies, supported by monitoring tools to measure impact.

The launch is part of the Technological New Deal and Senegal Vision 2050, which place innovation and digital development at the center of the country’s strategy. Labeled startups benefit from concrete support measures, including training and capacity-building programs, preferential customs regimes for importing equipment, specific tax incentives, priority access to public procurement, and tailored financing opportunities.

With this launch, Senegal now has an operational and measurable framework focused on impact. The Startup Ecosystem program is expected to stimulate local innovation, attract talent and foreign capital, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in Africa. According to StartupBlink, an international organization that ranks global startup ecosystems, Senegal counts 48 leading startups as of November 2025, ranking 92nd worldwide and among the leaders in West Africa.