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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund to support technology startups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, with a focus on French-speaking Central and West Africa.

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The investment marks a significant commitment to nurturing early-stage tech ecosystems in regions often underserved by venture capital.

Investment Structure

The Bank Group’s participation is structured in two parts:

  • €4.5 million as equity investment in the fund
  • €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme

This structure enables Saviu II to prioritize companies with a strong technological or digital component while mitigating investment risk.

Saviu II: Targeting Seed-Stage Innovation

Saviu II is the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, a venture capital firm focused on African tech ecosystems. The fund plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in approximately 20 technology or technology-oriented B2B startups at:

  • Seed phase
  • First institutional fundraising stage

Geographic Focus: Francophone Africa First

A defining feature of Saviu II is its commitment to French-speaking Africa:

  1. At least 60% of commitments will target French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa, including:
  • Cameroon
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • BeninSenegal
  • Togo
  • Burkina Faso
  • Mali

The fund may also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that demonstrate:

  • A strong team and business model
  • A clear strategy to enter and establish presence in French-speaking West African markets

Pre-Seed Investments: Building the Pipeline

Beyond its core investment strategy, Saviu II will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity positions—typically in co-investment with:

  • Studios
  • Incubators
  • Other ecosystem partners

This approach helps build a robust pipeline of future-ready startups while sharing risk and expertise across the early-stage ecosystem.

Why This Matters

French-speaking Africa has long been underrepresented in venture capital flows compared to English-speaking counterparts. The AfDB’s investment in Saviu II directly addresses this gap by:

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  • Providing critical early-stage capital to founders in underserved markets
  • Strengthening local tech ecosystems through targeted investment
  • Creating pathways to scale for startups with regional ambitions
  • Demonstrating institutional confidence in Francophone Africa’s digital future

Boost Africa Programme Backing

The €2 million first-loss tranche provided on behalf of the European Commission under the Boost Africa Programme enhances the fund’s risk-bearing capacity, enabling investments in earlier-stage, higher-risk ventures while protecting other investors.

Leadership Context

While no direct quotes were included in the announcement, the investment aligns with the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities to:

  1. Foster private sector development
  2. upport digital transformation
  3. Create jobs and economic opportunities for Africa’s youth]
  4. Bridge the financing gap for early-stage innovators

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