AfricArena Dakar FinTech, Mobility & Logistics Summit, a welcome boost to Senegal’s startup ecosystem
Senegal’s startup ecosystem is set to receive a welcome boost as investors flock to Dakar this week to attend the two-day AfricArena Dakar FinTech, Mobility & Logistics Summit taking place at The Museum of Black Civilisations from 24 – 25 May 2023. Senegal is emerging as a leader in the technology startup and innovation space in Francophone Africa.
Home to just over 3 million people and 93% of Senegal’s startups, Dakar boasts the most mature startup ecosystem in Francophone Africa.
In 2017, Senegalese President Macky Sall established the The General Delegation for the Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth (DER/FJ). DER/FJ’s mission is to stimulate entrepreneurship within Senegal, with a focus on supporting and promoting entrepreneurship among women and its youth. This is in line with the country’s General Business Census 2016 which revealed that 60% of Senegal’s active population are individual entrepreneurs.
Dr. Mame Aby Seye, DER/FJ General Delegate of Entrepreneurship says, “We are excited about our partnership with AfricArena in showcasing the best of Dakar and Africa’s startup and tech ecosystem as our objectives align in attracting investment to Africa and ensuring successful entrepreneurs have access to training, funding and a network of investors.”
To date, DER/FJ has financed a total volume of CFA 107 million that enables Senegalese entrepreneurs to access financing and get their ventures off the ground AfricArena CEO and Founder Christophe Viarnaud says, “AfricArena is excited to return to Dakar, West Africa’s “Gateway to Africa” as the number of investors showing interest in Francophone Africa is rising. This partly is due to how startups in the region understand early on the importance of regional expansion which forms part of their startup strategy and how investors understand that Francophone Africa is a unique market. With just over 400 million people living in West
Africa, we are beginning to understand the vast magnitude of investment opportunities within this fast-growing market and how to unlock new business opportunities within Francophone Africa.”
There will be keynote speeches, panel discussions and a showcase of over 30 startups pitching their ventures to investors at the AfricArena Dakar FinTech, Mobility & Logistics Summit.
These startups operate all across the African continent in specific sectors between Seed Stage and Growth Stage in Africa’s Fintech, Mobility & Logistics ecosystem. Delegates will get a closer look into what is happening in Africa’s tech ecosystem and investment landscape as the brightest minds in tech, business, fintech, mobility, logistics, law and venture capital convene at this summit to share their thoughts, learnings and insights about growing and strengthening Africa’s startup and tech ecosystem.
Startupbootcamp AfriTech in partnership with AfricArena, DER/FJ, and Telecel will host the ASIP Accelerator Demo Day on Africa Day (25 May 2023) and showcase the most promising startups from the ASIP Accelerator Program, providing a platform for them to pitch their innovative ideas and products to investors and potential partners.
Speakers at the summit include Zachariah George, Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures; Senyabou Thiam Monnier, Founder at Smart Ecosystem for Women; ‘Tomi Davies, Chief-in-Collaborator at TVC Labs; Hangwi Muambadzi, Principal Head of Africa at CommerzVentures; Jacques Nyembe, Francophone Startups
Program Manager at GIZ; Papa Kane, Program Manager at Sen Startup; Nivesh Pather, Investment Manager at Norrsken22; Nick Allen, Managing Partner at Savant; Charlotte Newman, Head of Underrepresented Founder Startup BD at AWS; Covadonga Rayón Barcelona, EU Project Manager at EBN and Head of Communications at ENRICH in Africa; and Eduardo Herrman, Head of Department: Smart Manufacturing and Sustainability at Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum and Project Director at ENRICH in Africa among many more
