Discovering the Ivorian Tech Ecosystem for the Promotion of HEC Challenge + Dakar

From February 12th to 15th, 2024, Côte d'Ivoire warmly welcomed the HEC Challenge + Dakar promotion, following the recent launch of the HEC Paris program in Senegal. Over four intense days, project leaders from 16 selected startups gathered in Abidjan to exchange ideas, draw inspiration, and shape the future of entrepreneurship on their continent. This learning expedition was a unique opportunity to meet potential future business partners, develop perspectives, and capitalize on the know-how of renowned experts. Let's look back on this enriching journey.

Akwaba Dakar! A first day focused on diagnosis

Senegalese project leaders, members of the LIONSTECH Invest Senegal community supported by the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth (DER/FJ) and the French Embassy in Senegal, began their week with a pitching session aimed at diagnosing each project. During this exercise, the 16 innovative projects, ranging from BioTech to robotics, GreenTech, and EdTech, were meticulously evaluated by the supervising team. Etienne Krieger, an affiliate- professor at HEC Paris and Academic Director of the program in France, accompanied by Birahim Diop, the sponsor of the Dakar promotion and CEO of PetroStock SA, shared valuable advice, providing personalized support while stimulating collective intelligence to enrich perspectives and maintain focus on the objectives.

It was an intense but necessary inaugural day to unleash creative energy and explore the full potential of the projects!

Immersion in the African Tech Ecosystem

The second day marked one of the highlights of the week with a Learning Expedition for HEC Challenge + Dakar participants. The entrepreneurs from the 16 startups in the cohort visited emblematic places in the Tech ecosystem in Abidjan, such as the innovation hubs ZEBOX, Mstudio, and Orange Digital Center Côte d'Ivoire. This was an opportunity to expand their horizons and familiarize themselves with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Beyond visits, participants met renowned Ivorian entrepreneurs in the African tech ecosystem:

• Joseph-Olivier Biley, an expert entrepreneur in AgriTech and a true ambassador of innovation in Côte d'Ivoire, and the West Africa hub manager of Ze Box.
• Leslie Ossete, founder and COO of one of the largest startup incubators in Africa.
• Didier ANY, Director of Orange Fab Côte d'Ivoire and Secretary General of the Digital Youth Foundation in Abidjan.

The day also included an inspiring and candid talk with investors Visseho Thierry Gnassounou, co-founder of Adiwale Partners, and Alyune-Blondin Diop, partner at LoftyInc Capital Management. Their passion and enthusiasm infused a great deal of motivation, essential for the boldness and perseverance that participants will need throughout the Challenge + journey and beyond!

Two days to share vision and teach strategy

The rest of this exceptional module continued with a return to HEC Paris for both promotions. The program included two days dedicated to the development of a business. The Academic Co-Directors of the Challenge + Abidjan program, Adama Touré and Talibi Haidra, shared their expertise through three modules:

- Structuring for financial partners: An essential session to acquire the necessary skills to effectively present your project to investors and potential financial partners.

- Steering the growth of your startup: Entrepreneurs' experiences to provide participants with a concrete overview of the challenges they may face, both professionally and personally, as well as key strategies to successfully navigate the development of their startup.

- Developing a disruptive offer: The challenges of the entrepreneur-innovator: A module dedicated to the creation and development of an innovative offer that stands out in the markets, as well as the challenges it poses.

Valentine's Day was also marked by a speed dating session to foster synergies between entrepreneurs from both cohorts. During these two days, the cohorts were able to share advice, questions, and enrich their visions and perspectives alongside their fellow cohort members, our academic team, and startup ecosystem experts.

The HEC Challenge + Africa x French Tech Abidjan Afterwork

To conclude this memorable stay, both cohorts gathered at the HEC Paris West Africa regional office, located at the House of Enterprises (CGECI), for an exclusive afterwork event in collaboration with La French Tech Abidjan. It was an opportunity to network with talented entrepreneurs and professionals from the Ivorian tech ecosystem. It was a golden opportunity for our 'Challengers' to expand their contact networks and, potentially, pave the way for great collaborations...

HEC Challenge +, more than just training, a real springboard

This program needs no introduction, as it has left its mark on the French and African entrepreneurial ecosystems. With 1,000 companies passing through Challenge +, 8 IPOs, +1,000 patents filed, and +1.4 billion raised, the program has established itself as one of HEC Paris's flagship entrepreneurship programs, both in Europe and Africa. Its uniqueness lies in the diversity of its network and the exceptional quality of its experts. It is a powerful alliance to propel entrepreneurs from around the world to success.

But it's more than that... Its learning formula goes far beyond simple theoretical lessons: it offers a total immersion providing in-depth diagnosis and concrete perspectives to participants, where learning is forged through personalized support, wise advice, and challenges overcome!

Learn more about the HEC Challenge + Africa program.