NTF V boosts start-ups at African tech show
The world's most talented start-ups gather to discuss Africa's digital economy at GITEX Africa, the continent's must-attend tech show. Held in Marrakech from 28-31 May, the event brought together international leaders, decision makers and investors to discuss the most promising technological innovations. Led by NTF V Tech, a delegation of companies from Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia had the privilege of taking part.
A wealth of opportunities
25,000 steps a day! That's how Hassan Hoballah, Sales Director of ARC Informatique, describes with amusement his experience at GITEX Africa. To conclude 60 business meetings in just three days, Hassan admits that he spared no energy.
‘Specializing in the supply of IT equipment and services, our Senegalese SME would never have taken the time to take part in GITEX, without the support of NTF V,’ he said. ‘I made a point of visiting all the stands! Very quickly, I was able to make dozens of business contacts, which would normally have cost me months of prospecting.’
In addition to expanding his network and meeting his regular suppliers, Hassan has signed a new contract with a Moroccan call center based in Senegal. And there's more to come! Since the show, other perspectives have emerged for ARC Informatique, which wants to develop cloud services. ‘
I've made contacts that will help the company achieve its future objectives,’ Hassan said. ‘A proof of concept is currently underway with a telecoms player in Senegal. And within our own delegation, I got in touch with the start-ups benefiting from the NTF V Project to start thinking together about artificial intelligence.’
If Hassan took full advantage of the GITEX excitement, it was thanks to the solid preparation he received prior to the show: ‘Improvising was not an option. We were perfectly coached by the NTF V team to maximize our chances. And the results are in!’
Making Senegal a start-up nation
The GITEX trade show is an unrivalled stage for African start-ups. It also helps to position Africa as a growing center of technology and innovation. When it comes to fintech, healthcare, agriculture and transport, Senegal comes out on top. In parallel with the show, the SenStartup association organized an event to promote Senegalese start-ups.
SenStartup’s mission is to create an environment that nurtures and grows start-ups. ‘At the heart of a show as prestigious as GITEX, it's a question of highlighting Senegal's talents and encouraging investors to explore our country's opportunities. Our ecosystem is maturing. In the coming years, there will be an increasing number of Series A start-ups in Senegal,’ explains Joëlle Sow, General Secretary of SenStartup.
Several ministerial representatives attended this side event, demonstrating how Senegal is driving technological innovation in Africa.
‘Our workforce is dynamic and skilled. We have an attractive political environment and booming digital infrastructures. Let's not forget that the country has a Start-Up Act, and that our companies are exporting more and more in continental Africa as well as internationally. Senegal has all the cards in hand to become a major technology hub in West Africa,’ Sow says. Organized with the support of the NTF V project, the side event at GITEX featured 26 Senegalese start-ups and brought together over 80 participants, including several foreign investors. For the Senegalese ecosystem, the story continues to unfold.
The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) program (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Trade Centre. NTF V supports SMEs in the digital technology and agribusiness sectors in Benin, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda. Its ambition is to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of agri-food systems partly through digital solutions, to improve the international competitiveness of local tech start-ups and to support the implementation of the export strategy of IT&BPO companies.
