The African Development Bank Group has approved a €6.5 million investment aimed at accelerating the growth of technology startups across French-speaking regions of West and Central Africa.
The funding, channelled into the Saviu II venture capital fund, is designed to support startups at the seed stage and during their first institutional fundraising rounds. According to the Bank, the initiative will strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem and unlock new opportunities for digital-driven enterprises.
Under the arrangement, the AfDB will provide €4.5 million in equity, alongside a €2 million first-loss hedging tranche backed by the European Commission through the Boost Africa Programme. The structure is expected to de-risk investments and attract additional private capital into the fund.
Managed by Saviu Partners, the Saviu II fund plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in approximately 20 startups with strong technological or digital business models, particularly those operating in the B2B space.
At least 60 percent of the fund’s investments will target key Francophone markets, including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The fund also retains flexibility to co-invest in high-potential startups in East Africa, particularly those with expansion plans into Francophone West Africa.
In addition to seed-stage funding, Saviu II will allocate a dedicated portion of its capital to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity stakes. These investments will often be made in collaboration with startup studios, incubators, and other ecosystem partners.
The initiative underscores AfDB’s broader commitment to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and driving inclusive economic growth across Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
