The African Development Bank Group has approved a €6.5 million equity investment in Saviu II, a venture capital fund targeting early stage technology startups across francophone West and Central Africa. The decision was endorsed by the Bank’s Board of Directors on February 27, 2026, in Abidjan, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem and supporting high growth digital enterprises.
Of the total commitment, the Bank will invest €4.5 million in equity, while an additional €2 million will be provided as a first loss guarantee tranche on behalf of the European Commission under the Boost Africa programme. The structure is designed to de risk private investment and catalyse additional capital into early stage ventures operating in challenging but high potential markets.
Saviu II will prioritise startups with a strong technological or digital component, particularly those at the seed stage or undertaking their first institutional fundraising round. The fund aims to allocate at least 60 percent of its commitments in francophone countries in West and Central Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali. The fund may also co invest in promising East African technology companies that demonstrate strong teams and business models, particularly if they intend to expand into francophone West African markets and establish a significant regional footprint.
Saviu II is the second investment vehicle managed by Saviu Partners, an independent fund manager established in 2018 with a focus on early stage technology ventures in francophone Africa. The new fund plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in approximately 20 business to business technology startups or technology enabled companies. These investments will target enterprises in the seed phase or at the point of their first institutional fundraising, providing them with not only capital but also strategic and operational support.
In addition to its main investment strategy, Saviu II will dedicate a specific allocation to pre seed investments. Through smaller ticket sizes and minority equity stakes, the fund will back very early stage startups, often in partnership with venture studios, incubators and other ecosystem players. This blended approach aims to strengthen the pipeline of scalable ventures and address the financing gap that frequently constrains innovation in emerging African markets.
Saviu Partners’ first fund, Saviu I, was launched in 2018 with a capitalisation of €10 million and has invested in 12 startups primarily based in francophone West Africa. Its strategy combined seed investment with hands on support in areas such as business development, talent acquisition, international expansion and follow on fundraising. The performance and experience gained through Saviu I laid the foundation for the launch of Saviu II, which seeks to deepen the manager’s regional footprint and broaden its impact.
The African Development Bank’s participation in Saviu II aligns with its broader objective of promoting private sector development, digital transformation and job creation across the continent. By supporting venture capital funds that focus on underserved markets, the Bank aims to stimulate entrepreneurship, foster innovation driven growth and enhance the competitiveness of African economies in the global digital landscape.
Through the Boost Africa initiative, a partnership between the African Development Bank and the European Commission, the institution has sought to mobilise capital for high potential startups and small and medium sized enterprises. The first loss guarantee mechanism under Saviu II is expected to attract additional investors by mitigating risk, thereby amplifying the overall impact of the fund.
With technology adoption accelerating across Africa and digital solutions increasingly addressing challenges in sectors such as finance, health, agriculture and logistics, access to early stage capital remains critical. The AfDB’s €6.5 million commitment to Saviu II signals continued confidence in the region’s entrepreneurial talent and in the potential of venture capital to unlock sustainable economic growth in francophone West and Central Africa.
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