Using entrepreneurship to innovate in Senegal

Around the world, startups are a vital part of economic development and growth. Senegalese startups are no exception to this rule. In my time working to support, sustain, and grow an entrepreneurial culture in Dakar, I have witnessed the untapped potential of startups first-hand. Their ability to respond with innovative solutions to the multiple socio-economic needs of Senegal is unrivaled.

I have had the opportunity to live and work in many francophone startup ecosystems including France, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea Conakry, and finally my home country of Senegal. In France, I founded my own startup; in several West African countries, I was able to observe and invest in the local startup ecosystems. It is because of these experiences that I learned to see startups as a fountain of innovation and creativity. Especially in a country such as Senegal, startups provide innovative ideas and solutions for specific endemic problems. In this way, they promote much needed inventions for their country. It was for this reason that my passion for startup ecosystems was kindled. It didn’t take long until it became my mission to make Senegal better through empowering entrepreneurs. 

Senegal has been a rewarding place to work with startups. We Senegalese have a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. Furthermore, our country has a growing infrastructure to support startups through new policies and law, public-private partnerships, and a general practice of excellence. As a major hub and center for francophone West Africa, many in the Senegalese ecosystem aim to not only grow locally, but regionally, in order to serve the wider West African community. Already, this gives us Senegalese the advantage to always think bigger, to always look to the future. 

I see Senegal as a natural birthplace for innovation tailored to our own needs. This is why my organization, SenStartup, offers specific services and training sessions for entrepreneurs. We aim to not only offer generalized support, but to spread crucial information and enable more entrepreneurs to enter sectors such as FinTech, GreenTech, spatial mapping, recycling, sanitation and telemedicine, all of which we see as growth areas in the near future.

Of course, building a startup in Senegal does not come without its own set of challenges. Finance is, as is common in many African economies, the continual plague of the startup ecosystem — always there, always a challenge. Access to secure financing is a major impediment regarding the full development of Senegalese startups. But we also face challenges with informality, a true knowledge of the Senegalese market size, and a lacking culture of market research and business development. The domestic market is rarely studied to understand the consumer or to understand product-market fit. There is also no sufficient and consistent effort to track performance indicators. These types of knowledge and best practices are the way forward as they can address the challenges that stem from a lack of formality. The Senegalese startup culture deserves to be better known by its peers. 

At the same time, we should not resolve to follow only occidental practices without critical thought or innovation. In order to be successful, we need to create methodologies that suit our African values and way of life. Things that work in France may not necessarily work here. And that is why we need visionary entrepreneurs who develop and shape our future.

Clearly, there is still more work to do. That is why research and writing about the Senegalese startup ecosystem is needed. With more information, there is more power. The world must see the innovation, ingenuity and potential of the Senegalese ecosystem. Resolutely open and capable of going beyond our national, sub-regional or continental geographic spaces, we affirm a strong will to continue to build our country and to transform it in depth.