Impact Dakar launches its first early-stage incubation programme Incuberation

A month after its official launch, Senegalese entrepreneur hub Impact Dakar has launched its first incubation programme for early-stage startups, Incuberation.

The incubation programme — which is run in collaboration with international strategy consulting firm Dalberg, and is funded by entrepreneurship platform Suguba — kicked-off earlier this month and will run until December.

Suguba co-founder and MD Fayelle Ouane told Ventureburn in an email that the platform had invested €60 000 into the incubation programme in addition to the €100 000 it plans on investing in Impact Dakar this year.

Impact Dakar’s inaugural cohort includes four women who were selected from an applicant pool of 60 entrepreneurs

Ouane said the next cohort is scheduled for October with Impact Hub — which was founded late last year — intent on running two cohorts per annum.

Incuberation’s first cohort of 12 entrepreneurs — which includes four women– was selected from an applicant pool of over 60 entrepreneurs.

Programme participants will first undergo training in startup development, design thinking, English as well as fundraising.

“The programme and coaching sessions last for three months and after that participants can enjoy the co-working space for six months for business development on their startups,” explained Ouane.

During the six month-long in-house acceleration programme, the participants will also receive one-on-one consultations with the Impact Dakar team.

After programme support

“Upon successful completion of the programme, the best startups will be eligible for seed funding,” she said without disclosing the amount, or terms of investment.

In addition, those startups that graduate the incubation programme will be provided with co-working space at the hub, should they need it.

Ouane said the entrepreneurs will also be able to continue working with the Impact Dakar team on an ad hoc basis.

“We will continue to facilitate connections between the startups and investors after the completion of the programme,” she added.

Here’s the first cohort

The 12 innovators are working on solutions that include education, health, fraud and pollution. Impact Dakar’s inaugural cohort comprises:

• Xquantum: This startup’s solution allows mobile phone operators and individual customers to combat fraud and call diversion. The company was founded by Mohamed Dabo.
• Atelier des Génies: Founded by Ibrahima Ndiaye, this edtech startup develops extra-curricular activities and programmes for children aged five to 18 to help them hone their problem-solving skills.
• Plas’Tech Energy: Ndeye Marième Ndiaye greentech startup aims to transform plastic waste into new energy sources
• Ayssa Cars: Awa Ka’s Ayssa Cars car rental platform enables Senegalese car owners to rent our their cars
• Atiley: Senam Azanlekor founded this online platform that aims to support social causes by collaborating with advertisers and corporates on campaigns
• Dakarlives: Olivia Codou N’Diaye’s online platform aims to promote Senegal’s culture and tourism
• Sauver: This Internet 0f Things-enabled healthech platform facilitates the sharing of medical information and allows users to check for the availability of beds in hospitals
•  Socle: Tech entrepreneur Ibrahima Tounkara’s Socle edtech platform enables users to track students’ progress and tailor tutoring sessions
• Sunubus: Saalihou N’Diaye has come up with a platform that uses geolocation to enable customers to check for the availability of buses
• Yannick Minkilan: Farmer Yannick Minkilan is currently expanding the setup of a chicken and pig farm in the Bambey municipality next to Diourbel
• SET TIC: Founder Boussoura Talla wants to take on Senegal’s waste problem by recycling and re-using non-toxic waste at SET TIC’s dismantling centre
• Le Lionceau: Siny Samba’s Le Lionceau produces baby food

Featured image: Dakar Impact via Twitter