Dynamics of the startup ecosystem in ivory coast

Dynamics of the startup ecosystem in ivory coast

Source : Roland berger

Ivory coast has launched a National Master Plan by 2020 on 5 axes:

  • Establishment of a regulatory framework for the telecoms and ICT sector
  • Infrastructure development
  • Accessibility of ICTs
  • Electronic governance
  • Training and human capacity building.

The Digital ICT Scheme aims to achieve a contribution of ICTs to 15% of GDP by 2020.

Ease of business creation and tax benefits

Number of days to start a business 2014/2015
Classement
  • United States
  • Chile
  • France
  • Ivory Coast
  • Mali
  • Morocco
  • Israel
  • Ghana
  • South Africa
  • Kenya
  • 14
  • 18
  • 31
  • 39
  • 57
  • 57
  • 69
  • 69
  • 90
  • 112

  • The Ivorian government, supported by professional federations, has been able to simplify business creation and offers tax advantages to ICT companies.

  • Example of incentives for young ICT companies:

  • Tax exemption during the first year for ICT companies

  • Reduction of the administrative burden related to the tax audit of SMEs

This environment has encouraged many young Ivorians to face unemployment through startup entrepreneurship, but promising projects remain rare:

are mainly technical profiles, often self-taught, poorly trained in the management of a company.
Viable and promising startups

generally have international expertise and financial resources not available in the country.

Supports innovation and entrepreneurship

Idea bearers

face significant shortfalls in support offers, particularly in the start-up phase.
Despite an increase in the creation of incubators,

accelerators and co-working spaces, the offer remains unknown and poorly distributed: two accelerators in Abidjan and a Technology Park, the VITIV, which struggles to attract companies because of its distance from Abidjan (40 km).

Startup financing

The competitions

are now the main source of funds and equipment for promising young start-ups.
A fund has been created

recently offering tickets below €300k, aligned with the needs of a growing startup, but only targeting “traditional” companies.

Infrastructure and services

Résultats
800
600
200
Candidatures traitées
  • > In partnership with UNIDO and Microsoft
200
150
50
Personnes formées
  • > 4-month training program in business aspects, Access to BizSpark (vouchers for Microsoft products)
50
50
Incubated persons
  • > 2-year program at Vitib Funding by the foundation in the first year
Selection process
2500
2440
60
Training applications
20
11
9
Teams trained
9
9
Start-ups incubated
Pays couverts :
  • Flag

    Ghana, applications and training campuses

  • Flag

    Nigeria, applications and incubation

  • Flag

    Kenya, applications and incubation in 2017

  • Flag

    South Africa, applications and incubation in 2017

  • Flag

    Ivory coast, applications in 2017, campus incubation planned in 2018

  • Goals of the Smartup Foundation :

  • Identify high-potential projects

  • Supervise the transformation of these projects into innovative companies in the telecom/ICT sector (mentoring, training)

  • Support the search for funding, mainly through funds

  • This hub offers: 

  • Training programs

  • Investor pitch sessions

  • An incubation program of 1 to 2 years.

The French Tech

also plans to create a technology hub offering integrated support and financing.
In addition, a 1st training experience

complementary to the code has been deployed in the city of Bouaké and will have to be reproduced in Abidjan.
The African Development Bank (AfDB)

has initiated several initiatives to support the development of the Ivorian ecosystem: the Ivorian Innovation Fund, the Prodije Incubator, BoostAfrica (financing and technical support).

Training and Research

Firms in the ICT sector that have successfully emerged will struggle to recruit qualified technician-level profiles.