The official adoption of the “Start-up Ecosystem” program by the government marks a major turning point: digital technology is now recognized as an essential infrastructure of sovereignty for Senegal. In this interview, Moustapha Ndoye, co-founder of the startup Chargel, analyzes the strategic scope of this initiative. He insists on three priority reforms to bring out true continental champions: the adaptation of taxation to the life cycle of startups, the crucial involvement of local banks in financing, and the establishment of Public-private partnership (Ppp) in Fast-Track mode He gives the concrete example of Chargel, which, by positioning itself as a reference platform in logistics and fintech, illustrates the national ambition to consolidate the digital industry and technological sovereignty.
The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs has officially launched the “Start-up Ecosystem” program. How do you assess this initiative?
The launch of the “Startup Act” in Senegal is a strategic and timely decision. Senegal’s digital transformation is reaching a tipping point. Digital is no longer just a sector; it is now recognized as a national infrastructure of sovereignty, in the same way as energy or security. This program is essential for two reasons: it finally offers a structured and coordinated framework to an ecosystem which until now relied solely on the strength of entrepreneurs and fits our action into the vision of the New Technological Deal which aims for digital sovereignty, local production and youth employment. By adopting this law, Senegal is sending a strong signal: that of moving from the status of consumer of technologies to that of producer. Startups are our best assets to achieve this ambition, because they innovate and develop solutions perfectly adapted to local realities. We fully welcome this initiative, which will create the ideal environment for the emergence of competitive national champions on a continental scale.
The Senegalese startup ecosystem has shown dynamism over the past ten years. What factors explain this development?
The profound transformation of our ecosystem is the result of a convergence of powerful dynamics. We are witnessing the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs. Trained and exposed to international standards, they returned to the country, bringing technological excellence, a culture of execution and a global ambition that has considerably professionalized the local environment. At the same time, the massive democratization of smartphones and mobile money has constituted a real revolution. Mobile money has acted as a catalyst for innovation in payments, logistics, healthcare and e-commerce. The emergence of the first unicorn in French-speaking West Africa has placed Senegal on the radar of international Venture Capitalists (VC). Today, we benefit from the presence of renowned investors and accelerators (Partech, Seedstars, etc.) who do not just inject capital, but who import methodologies, governance standards and growth discipline, allowing our startups to scale up. Finally, Africa offers unique potential: its local challenges – in agriculture, logistics, mobility, financial inclusion – are immense opportunities for technology. The story of Chargel, which uses digital technology to bring transparency and reliability to logistics, is a telling example. The ecosystem has clearly left the exploratory phase for that of progressive industrialization, and the next few years will be crucial.
What reforms are necessary to make Senegalese startups true continental champions?
To create national champions, we must align our regulatory environment with the pace of innovation and the actual operating methods of startups. This is crucial because they scale much faster than traditional businesses.
Three reforms should be considered priorities. Our current tax system is designed for mature companies and is not adapted to the life cycle of startups, which invest massively before reaching profitability. We need a tax framework that reduces upfront costs to encourage innovation and attract foreign investors. It is fundamental to facilitate the granting of stock options and employee shareholding. This is essential to attract and retain high-level talent. A successful startup is a powerful economic multiplier and creator of skilled jobs. Our taxation must encourage this growth, not slow it down.
Today, most start-up funding comes from abroad. However, local banks have a major role to play in financing the operational needs of young businesses: working capital, supplier credit, pre-financing of invoices, etc. Collaboration between the public sector, startups and banks is key. Models like the one we are developing with Chargel Pay and Ecobank to finance thousands of carriers prove that these partnerships are possible. Such collaboration has enabled the explosion of technology ecosystems in Kenya and Nigeria.
“The profound transformation of our ecosystem is the result of a convergence of powerful dynamics.”
It is also very important to create a Public-Private Partnership (Ppp) in Fast-Track mode. This is potentially the most powerful lever. Traditional PPP schemes are long and complex, designed for large infrastructure projects. They are incompatible with the pace of innovation. We must set up a Fast-Track PPP specific to startups, which is fast, flexible and impact-oriented. A startup must be able to test its pilot solution in a few weeks (and not in several years). This involves lighter contractualization, a limited trial scope and an accelerated agreement mechanism. The evaluation must be based on verifiable and concrete results (cost reduction, improvement in deadlines, transparency, jobs created). After 6 to 9 months, a clear decision must be made: scale up, adapt the solution (pivot) or close the pilot. This is how innovation works on a global scale.
Beyond these three pillars, building a sustainable digital industry requires the emergence of sovereign technological platforms. Data – logistical, financial, mobile – is a national strategic issue. Senegal must rely on local companies for the hosting of its data, the development of critical digital infrastructure, and training for Tech professions. It is from this perspective that we propose, for example, the National GPS and Logistics Data Sovereignty Platform.
Your Chargel startup is one of the most dynamic in the country. What are your projects and prospects?
Chargel is now entering a phase of structuring growth, structured around three main axes. The first axis is to build the benchmark digital logistics platform in West Africa. With more than 8,000 carriers, Chargel already operates in Senegal and Ivory Coast, and is gradually rolling out to Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. We work with the largest companies in the sector: Maersk, Cma-Cgm, Nestlé, AGL, Auchan and Pmi. The objective is to cover all of the region’s strategic corridors by 2026. Our second axis concerns the acceleration of Chargel Pay, our fintech solution dedicated to transport. Technology today allows instant payment of carriers, advance payment on invoices, logistics scoring, automated invoicing and transparency of financial flows. We are preparing a pilot with three to five major companies, in partnership with a leading bank. Our objective is to finance more than 28 billion FCFA of logistics flows in the coming years.
Thus, we want to contribute to the digital sovereignty of Senegal, by launching a national GPS data platform, a GPS tracker assembly unit in Senegal, a training center for telematics professions and a real-time monitoring system for strategic logistics flows. This project is fully in line with the vision of the New Technological Deal and could generate hundreds of qualified jobs. Logistics is the backbone of the African economy. By modernizing this sector using technology, Senegal can become a true regional hub. At Chargel, we are building a robust, sovereign digital infrastructure supported by local talent. Our ambition is to position Chargel as an African champion of digital logistics and fintech, aiming to generate a massive economic impact, create employment and consolidate Senegal’s technological sovereignty.
