- Saviu Ventures has successfully achieved the first closure of Saviu II, its second fund dedicated to Francophone Africa, amassing $13 million.
- The fund is backed by private investors and family offices and will enable Saviu to continue investing in the region’s most promising entrepreneurs.
- Saviu Ventures, co-founded by Benoit Delestre, Samuel Touboul, and Cynthia Mandjek, has a portfolio of 12 startups, investing in a variety of sectors including fintech, e-health, edtech, climate-tech, and ecommerce.
- The company recently secured regulatory approval from Mauritius Financial Markets Authority (FSC), positioning itself as one of few fully regulated venture capital fund management companies in the Francophone West African region.
Saviu Ventures, an early contributor to the Francophone African V.C. industry, has successfully closed the first round of its second fund, Saviu II. The fund, backed by private investors and family offices, amounting to EUR12 million (US$13 million) will enable the firm to continue investing in the region’s most promising entrepreneurs. The company was co-founded in 2018 by Benoit Delestre, Samuel Touboul, and Cynthia Mandjek.
Operating from Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris, Saviu Ventures has a robust team of seven investors and operators. The company has invested in diverse sectors such as fintech, e-health, edtech, climate-tech, and e-commerce, demonstrating its commitment to fostering innovation without being limited to specific industries. Startups in its portfolio include Anka, Julaya, Zanifu, Lapaire, and Paps among others.
Saviu Ventures’ second fund, similar to its predecessor, is dedicated to supporting early-stage companies in Africa, with a particular emphasis on the Francophone regions, covering funding from seed to Series A. Noteworthy investments from Saviu II include Waspito (Cameroon), Rubyx (Senegal), and Workpay (Kenya).
Recently, Saviu Ventures received regulatory approval from the Mauritius Financial Markets Authority (FSC), a significant milestone in the firm’s journey and a move that positions it as one of few fully regulated venture capital fund management companies in the Francophone West African region.
Benoit Delestre, one of the co-founders, commented on this achievement as a reflection of five years of dedicated work and expressed the company’s eagerness to continue its collaborative journey with emerging tech talent in the region.
