Senegal has taken a decisive step to activate its long-promised Startup Act with the official launch of the “Écosystème Startup” platform. Presented by the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, the new system is designed to turn a largely symbolic law into an operational framework for entrepreneurs. The initiative is positioned as a cornerstone of the government’s broader New Deal for Technology and its vision of digital sovereignty and job creation.
From Dormant Law to Operational Framework
Law №2020/01, widely known as the Startup Act, was hailed as a breakthrough when it was passed by parliament in 2020 and ratified in 2021. Yet for nearly five years, founders saw little more than promises, as the mechanisms to deliver tax relief, procurement access, and formal recognition remained absent. The launch of Écosystème Startup is presented as the long-awaited answer to this implementation gap and the third serious effort to make the law work in practice.
A Digital Backbone for the Startup Act
Écosystème Startup is conceived as the operational backbone of the Startup Act, consolidating processes that were previously fragmented or purely theoretical. The platform digitizes the work of the CEAC, the Evaluation, Support and Coordination Commission, which is responsible for granting the coveted “label” that unlocks legal benefits. By moving this process online, the ministry aims to give the ecosystem what it calls a “face, an organization, and a compass” rather than another layer of offline bureaucracy.
How the Platform Works in Practice
At its core, Écosystème Startup functions as a one-stop shop where eligible companies can apply for and track the CEAC label. It centralizes accreditation for startups less than eight years old, introduces clear criteria, and offers a transparent view of application status for both founders and investors. The platform also coordinates interactions between incubators, the state, technical partners, and financial institutions, turning what used to be opaque procedures into a structured pipeline.
Benefits for Founders, Investors and the Ecosystem
For labeled startups, the platform finally makes accessible a package of incentives that has existed on paper for years. These include a three-year tax exemption aimed at easing early cash burn, as well as preferential access to public procurement where labeled firms benefit from a 5 percent margin in tenders and can gain work through subcontracting mandates. The initiative also formally recognizes incubators and support structures as official actors, while giving investors a clearer, vetted deal flow aligned with national priorities in digital and territorial development.
Eligibility, Local Ownership and Strategic Ambition
To qualify for the label via Écosystème Startup, companies must be created in Senegal, be less than eight years old, and show strong growth potential based on a disruptive business or technological model. The law maintains a protectionist stance on ownership, requiring at least one-third of equity to be held by Senegalese nationals or residents, or half to be owned by members of the Senegalese diaspora. This structure is intended to anchor value creation in the country, even as the ecosystem seeks international capital and expertise under the banner of digital sovereignty.
Expectations, Risks and the Road Ahead
Despite broad support from international partners and domestic stakeholders, the launch does not erase lingering skepticism in the ecosystem. The true test will be whether the CEAC processes applications efficiently, whether tax administrations actually apply exemptions, and whether procurement officials respect the preference margins written into the law. If Écosystème Startup becomes little more than a digital waiting room, it will repeat the pattern seen in other African Startup Acts, but if it functions as the “common home” envisioned by the ministry, it could finally translate years of political rhetoric into concrete opportunities for Senegalese founders.
The launch of Écosystème Startup marks a symbolic and operational turning point in Senegal’s startup policy. It shifts the conversation from lofty promises to the mundane but crucial work of labeling companies, applying tax rules, and opening procurement channels in a transparent way. Whether this new digital infrastructure can consistently deliver those outcomes will determine if Senegal emerges as a true hub of innovation in Africa or remains another case study in unrealized ambition.