The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a €6.5 million investment in the Saviu II fund, aimed at supporting technology start-ups in French-speaking West and Central Africa through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising.
Under the agreement, the Bank Group will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedge on behalf of the European Commission through the Boost Africa Programme. This strategic support will enable the fund to prioritize companies with strong technological or digital components.
Saviu II, the second fund from Saviu Partners, plans to invest €500,000 to €3 million in approximately 20 technology-oriented B2B start-ups. At least 60% of the fund’s investments will target Francophone countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali, while also co-investing in promising East African ventures planning to enter the West African market.
The fund also includes a dedicated envelope for pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity stakes often made in partnership with studios, incubators, or ecosystem partners. This structure is designed to nurture early-stage ventures and provide them with hands-on support in business development, recruitment, fundraising, and international expansion.
Since its founding in 2018, Saviu Partners has demonstrated expertise in backing high-potential start-ups. Its first fund, Saviu I, invested in 12 early-stage companies in Francophone West Africa, laying the groundwork for Saviu II’s expanded impact.
The AfDB’s backing of Saviu II is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Africa’s digital economy, drive innovation, and support the growth of homegrown technology ventures across the continent.
