Suguba announces Afrikhaliss in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD) and Mercy Corps
BAMAKO, Mali, June 16, 2020/ -- Suguba (www.Suguba.org) - in partnership Mercy Corps and the French Development Agency (AFD)
and Mercy Corps - is organizing their second 6-month investment
readiness program in West Africa to support the 8 most promising
startups in the digital sector in Francophone West Africa.
L’Afrique Excelle, the francophone adaptation of the World Bank’s XL Africa (www.XL-Africa.com) tech accelerator, was Suguba’s first acceleration program. The
programme which took in 2018/2919 aimed to connect francophone startups
across the continent with mentors and investors. Afrique Excelle had
enabled 18 of the top 20 startups in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa
to raise funds for a total amount of approximately 10 million dollars,
making it a total success.
Afrikhaliss is aimed at digital
startups with impactful solutions for local and regional value chains.
The program targets companies that already have a product or service on
the market and are generating revenues. However, applications from
companies not yet generating revenue will also be considered.
Eligible companies are based or generate at least 75% of their turnover in one
or more of the following markets in Francophone West Africa: Benin,
Togo, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger and
Senegal. We are sector agnostic and are looking for later stage digital
solutions with services or products available on the market now.
Entrepreneurs will be mentored by international and local experts, trained through a
tailor-made program, increase their brand visibility and have access to
potential partners and investors. Through its collaboration with leading investors with a focus on Francophone Africa, Afrikhaliss will help the selected start-ups attract capital.
This year's program will
take place in two virtual or physical residences, in Senegal, depending
on the evolution of the health situation, and in Côte d'Ivoire.
Flagship activities include two one-week residential training sessions in Dakar
(Senegal) and another in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their professional network and learn from
mentors, peers and local and international partners. The residential
training in Dakar will conclude with a Pitch which will take place
during the second edition of the Francophone Africa Investment Summit
where entrepreneurs will present their start-ups to a large audience of
new technology experts, investors, large companies, experts and media.
The program has as partners leading investment funds and business angels active in Francophone Africa.
Interested companies can apply online at www.Suguba.org , no later than 19 June 2020.
The Afrikhaliss program was initiated by Suguba and Mercy Corps, with
financial support from the French Development Agency and is implemented
by Suguba in partnership with Village Capital, Impact Hub Dakar and
Impact Hub Abidjan.
For more information about the program or if you are interested in becoming a partner in this initiative, please contact us at Contact@suguba.org .