Call for entrepreneurs Sénégal 2025

Published: 28/07/2025

About SusTech4Africa

OVO aims to support and promote sustainable entrepreneurship in Africa through the concept of "Sustainable Technologies for Africa" (SusTech4Africa). To this end, OVO collaborates with renowned organizations such as the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) and ICHEC Brussels Management School. SusTech4Africa seeks to help Senegalese companies and entrepreneurs accelerate their growth and prepare both a business plan and a corresponding financial plan.

 

Following a rigorous selection process taking place in August 2025, up to 10 companies will be selected to participate in a multi-day ‘Boost Camp’. During this camp, they will attend training workshops on topics such as sustainability, finance, human resources, sales, and marketing. They will be coached by both local and international experts, as well as students.

At the end of the Boost Camp, the top projects will be eligible for further support over a period of 6 to 12 months, and potentially receive funding to support the growth of their business. If funding is granted, management support will continue until the loan is fully repaid.

 

OVO Entrepreneur Support: SusTech4Africa

  • Intensive coaching to define and support business growth processes
  • Guidance in optimizing the business plan and financial plan
  • After 6 to 12 months of coaching: presentation of the business project to the OVO Investment Committee; if approved, possibility of receiving funding via a loan or equity investment
  • Ongoing support for business growth throughout the financing period
  • Preparing the company for future growth phases and for presentation to new potential partners
  • Organization of exchanges and networking between entrepreneurs

Benefits for Selected Projects

OVO’s support for business growth, both prior to investment and during the financing period, covers a broad range of services, such as:

  • Business model optimization
  • Development of an optimal business plan
  • Financial planning
  • Management assistance
  • Project planning
  • Promotion of inter-company relations

The funding requested by the company to carry out its project must be between €20,000 and €250,000. It can take the form of equity investment or a social loan, with conditions defined in collaboration with OVO and interested investors.

 

Selection Criteria – Target Companies

Legal Status – Financial Performance

The company operates primarily in Africa and is majority-owned by Africans

It has been officially registered as a legal entity for at least three years

It must have generated a turnover of at least €20,000 in the fiscal year 2024

The total amount of funding required ranges between €20,000 and €250,000

People – Social Responsibility

The company contributes to social impact by creating local jobs and providing essential goods and services to vulnerable or underserved populations

It maintains fair and respectful relationships with employees, clients, and suppliers

Planet – Environmental Sustainability

The company’s value chain applies or aims to apply circular economy principles

It strives to minimize its environmental and health impact, going beyond local regulatory standards for current products or services

Technology – Technological Innovation

The company’s production facilities use sustainable technologies

These technologies represent a significant improvement in sustainability compared to similar production units in the same country

Event Timeline

July 23, 2025: Launch of the ST4A 2025 Call for Projects

August 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM CET: Deadline for submitting applications to the program

August 31, 2025: Final selection of projects that will participate in the Boost Camp

October 6–8, 2025 in Thiès: Boost Camp 2025

October 8, 2025 from 4 PM to 7 PM in Thiès: Final Pitch Competition

October 9, 2025: Meeting of the OVO Senegal Club, gathering all companies that have participated in the ST4A Senegal programs since 2020

 

Participation in the Boost Camp

100,000 CFA francs per company
Maximum 2 participants per company

 

About Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs – or ‘Ondernemers voor Ondernemers’ in Dutch, abbreviated as ‘OVO’ – facilitates socio-economic initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. OVO connects developing local businesses with experienced entrepreneurs in Belgium. In this way, OVO encourages access to both expertise and funding for local companies.

By facilitating access to financing combined with training and guidance, OVO contributes to the development of the private sector and positions it as one of the main drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth among underprivileged populations. This combination of financial and non-financial support enables OVO to generate significant impact on business growth.

OVO primarily supports initiatives that contribute to sustainable industrial or commercial operations. Social projects are also considered if they foster entrepreneurship, under the following essential conditions:

The project must be environmentally and socially sustainable.

It must directly (and continuously) benefit the local population.

The project must become self-sustaining in the medium term.

 

Application Process

To submit a project, the project promoter must complete the form available at the following link:

👉 Application Form

 

To complete the application, the project promoter commits to sending the following before August 15, 2025 to daha.diallo@ovo.be:

  • A copy of the official registration of the company with the Senegalese authorities
  • The income statements and financial balance sheets of the company for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 (as submitted to the tax authorities)
  • A pitch presentation (PowerPoint) outlining the growth project for which funding is being requested

The promoter also commits to paying the participation fee of 100,000 CFA francs for the training camp before September 20, 2025 (the bank account number will be communicated by Daha Diallo to all selected companies), and to attending all training sessions.

 

Failure to submit these documents and make the payment will result in the application to SusTech4Africa being considered incomplete and therefore rejected.

 

For more information, please contact:

Bruno Van der Wielen: bruno.van.der.wielen@ovo.be

Daha Diallo: daha.diallo@ovo.be

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