AI agents and state contracts power Côte d’Ivoire’s startup push

In August 2026, Côte d'Ivoire launched two flagship programs, Ivoire Tech Next 15 and Ivoire Tech Scale Up, to support 30 startups with 24 months of structured assistance. Minister Djibril Ouattara unveiled the ministry's 2026-2028 roadmap, which includes seven pillars and 40 projects, along with a third initiative, Ivoire Gouv Tech Lab. Digital activity currently contributes between 6% and 8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the government aims to increase this to over 10% by 2030.

Eighty-eight percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surveyed identified accessing funding as their primary growth obstacle, with fewer than 25% securing bank loans. SMEs make up 98% of businesses in Côte d'Ivoire, contributing to 23% of the GDP and 23% of formal employment. The government invested 250 billion CFA francs (FCFA) in the digital sector alone in 2024, part of a larger investment plan. The national digital economy is mandated to help transform the country into a regional technology hub.

Ivoire Tech Next 15 targets 15 innovative startups operating for at least a year, with eligibility based on seven criteria such as having a social hub and primary activity in Côte d'Ivoire, established and growing revenue, an innovative product or service, majority ownership by founders, and compliance with fiscal regulations. Ivoire Tech Scale Up aims for more established technology SMEs, with eight more stringent eligibility criteria.

Candidates must be incorporated as an Ivorian company with three to five completed fiscal periods, have Ivorian nationals owning at least 75% of the capital, and generate a mean annual revenue of 500 million FCFA (877.700 million dollars) with at least 65% from digital sources, a minimum of ten employees, and a clean fiscal and social record.

The application is free and open online with a deadline of September 13, and pre-selected candidates will present their projects to an international jury, with winners announced in Abidjan at the end of September.

Recipients of the award benefit from a comprehensive support system beyond a subsidy. They gain access to AI agents deployed to handle key functions such as recruitment, marketing, finance, and human resources, effectively equivalent to two to three additional employees without salary costs, all fully funded by the state. Additional funding covers connections to venture capital, lenders, loan guarantees, and technical assistance, as well as access to public procurement under the 2023 Startup law, a theoretical option not accessible to many Ivorian startups until now.

The ministry also promises connections to banks, telecommunications operators, large industrial groups, and participation in official delegations at international events. Selected companies receive access to national data centers, cloud credits, cybersecurity certifications, and participants in Ivoire Tech Scale Up receive legal and fiscal assistance, certification support, and priority access to the Village des Technologies de l'Information et de la Biotechnologie de Côte d'Ivoire (VITIB), a technology and biotechnology park.