On July 29, Côte d'Ivoire launched its Ivoire Tech programme, selecting 30 startups and SMEs for 24 months of intensive AI-backed support. The goal: grow the digital sector's share of GDP from 6-8% to over 10% by 2030, in a continent where Francophone Africa still captures only 10-15% of African startup funding.
Two complementary programmes
The initiative unfolds in two distinct tracks. Ivoire Tech Next 15 targets 15 innovative startups that have been operating for at least one year. Ivoire Tech Scale Up targets 15 established tech SMEs ready to reach the next level. Together, the 30 selected companies will benefit from 24 months of structured support, with access to AI agents, cloud credits, facilitated access to public procurement, and legal and tax advisory services.
AI as a resource multiplier
The programme's originality lies in its approach: each selected company receives dedicated AI agents for recruitment, marketing, finance, and human resources functions. Programme designers describe them as "the equivalent of two to three additional employees with no salary costs" — a way to address the skilled human resource gap that holds back many African startups during their growth phase.
A necessary catch-up
Francophone sub-Saharan Africa captures only 10 to 15% of African startup funding, despite representing roughly a fifth of the continent's population. Côte d'Ivoire, with a digital sector already contributing 6-8% of GDP, is among the most advanced economies in the zone. Applications are open until September 13, with an international jury shortlisting candidates and laureates announced in late September in Abidjan.
Why it matters
The Ivorian programme is not isolated — it reflects a broader regional dynamic where several Francophone countries (Rwanda, Morocco, Senegal) have recognised that tech is now a structural economic pillar. The real breakthrough is in using AI not as an end in itself, but as a competitiveness lever for SMEs that lack both the means and the time to hire. If the model proves its worth in Abidjan, it could inspire other capitals across the franc zone.