Saviu Ventures
Saviu Ventures is an Africa-focused venture capital fund manager investing Seed-to-Series A capital in early-stage B2B tech startups, with structural concentration in Francophone West and Central Africa and operations across Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEbène, Mauritius
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Saviu Ventures does
Saviu Ventures is an Africa-focused growth capital venture capital fund manager that invests in early-stage tech and tech-enabled companies, with a structural concentration in Francophone West and Central Africa. Founded in 2018 by Benoit Delestre and Samuel Touboul, the firm operates through Saviu Partners (Mauritius) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Saviu Capital (Paris), regulated as a Collective Investment Scheme Manager by the Mauritius Financial Services Commission. Saviu runs two successive funds: Saviu I, a EUR 10 million fund fully deployed in 12 startups with roughly 72–82% in Francophone Africa, and Saviu II, which reached a EUR 12 million first close in November 2023 with a EUR 45 million target and an EUR 6.5 million anchor from the African Development Bank (EUR 4.5M equity plus EUR 2M first-loss tranche under the Boost Africa Programme) approved in March 2026.
Saviu's core offering to portfolio companies is a combination of growth capital (EUR 500K to EUR 3M tickets at Seed to Series A) and hands-on operational support covering business development, recruitment, fundraising assistance, and access to an established B2B network across Francophone West Africa. The firm targets B2B or B2B2C tech-enabled startups with a clear path to profitability, differentiating itself through an operator-led investment style — its founding partners and several team members have previously built and exited companies. Notable portfolio companies include Julaya (Côte d'Ivoire fintech), Zanifu (Kenya inventory financing), Anka (pan-African e-commerce SaaS), Paps (Senegal logistics), Waspito (Cameroon digital health), Workpay (Kenya HR/payroll), and Rubyx (Senegal lending-as-a-service), with 19 active portfolio companies across approximately 10 countries at the time of reporting.
The firm's revenue model follows standard VC fund economics: management fees on committed capital (subscription/recurring) plus performance-based carried interest on successful exits (transaction-based). Saviu monetizes its fund management franchise by raising capital from private investors, family offices, HNWI, and development finance institutions, then deploying that capital into portfolio companies alongside operational engagement. The team comprises approximately 7 investors and operators distributed across Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris, supported by independent investment committee members. Saviu sources deal flow through direct outreach, network referrals, a website pitch submission form, and its established brand within the Francophone African tech ecosystem.
Saviu Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saviu Ventures
- Legal name
- Saviu Partners
- Website
- https://saviu.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Saviu Ventures is an Africa-focused venture capital fund manager investing Seed-to-Series A capital in early-stage B2B tech startups, with structural concentration in Francophone West and Central Africa and operations across Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saviu Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital Fund Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN), Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC)
Keywords
Where Saviu Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ebène
- HQ country
- Mauritius
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Saviu Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Management Fees: VC fund management fees charged on committed capital under management
- Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from fund returns upon successful exits
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Saviu Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saviu Ventures is a venture capital fund manager that invests EUR 500,000 to EUR 3 million per company in early-stage (Seed to Series A) tech and tech-enabled startups across Africa, with a primary focus on Francophone West and Central Africa. The firm manages two successive funds — Saviu I (EUR 10 million, fully deployed across 12 companies) and Saviu II (EUR 12 million first close toward a EUR 45 million target) — and supplements capital with hands-on operational support including business development, recruitment, fundraising introductions, and board participation.
Product overview
Saviu Ventures is a Growth Capital venture capital fund that operates as a single unified investment offering, managing two successive funds (Saviu I and Saviu II) that provide capital and operational support to early-stage African tech and tech-enabled companies. Saviu I (EUR 10 million) invested in 12 tech companies focused 72% on Francophone Africa, while Saviu II (EUR 45 million target) aims to invest in 15-20 tech companies with at least 60% in Francophone Africa. The firm offers portfolio companies not just capital but hands-on support including business development, recruitment, network access, and strategic guidance from a team of former entrepreneurs and investors based across Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Saviu I: First fund of Saviu Ventures, EUR 10 million fund deployed in 12 startups in Francophone Africa
- Saviu II
Products and services
- Saviu I Saviu's first venture capital fund — a EUR 10 million fund that fully deployed capital into 12 tech and tech-enabled companies with a heavy concentration in Francophone Africa. The fund provided Seed to Series A financing to early-stage African tech startups and is the foundation of the firm's investment track record.
- Saviu II Saviu's second venture capital fund targeting EUR 45 million to invest in 15–20 tech and tech-enabled companies, with at least 60% targeted at French-speaking West and Central African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali). Investment tickets range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 3 million. The fund received a EUR 6.5 million commitment from the African Development Bank (EUR 4.5m equity + EUR 2m first-loss tranche under Boost Africa Programme).
- Saviu Investment Services (Operational Support to Portfolio Companies) Operational support offering provided to portfolio companies alongside investment capital. Services include day-to-day strategic support, business development assistance, recruitment support, access to Saviu's B2B network across Francophone West Africa, coaching, and facilitation of international expansion and follow-on fundraising. Designed for early-stage African tech founders who need more than passive capital.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saviu I still holds significant stakes in successful portfolio companies: 20% in Anka, board seat in Julaya, 15% in Zanifu, 22% in Lapaire
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Saviu Ventures
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Saviu Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Saviu Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saviu Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Partech: Pan-African and global VC firm with Africa funds (Partech Africa) investing across Seed to Series B. Comparable as Africa-focused VC manager, but materially larger and broader geographically.
Direct peers
- Novastar Ventures: East Africa-focused early-stage VC firm backing tech-enabled businesses in Africa. Most comparable in fund size, sector focus, and emerging-markets operator model to Saviu.
- TLcom Capital: Nairobi and Lagos-based Africa VC manager with multiple funds investing in Seed to Series B African tech startups. Closely comparable business model and sector.
- 4DX Ventures: Pan-African early-stage VC firm focused on African tech startups with a sector-agnostic mandate. Comparable fund size and stage focus to Saviu.
- Breega: Africa and Europe-focused early-stage VC that co-led Agenz alongside Saviu. Comparable early-stage Africa tech investor with operator-founder model.
- Kibo Capital Partners: Africa-focused early- to growth-stage VC firm investing in tech-enabled businesses across the continent. Directly comparable as a multi-fund Africa tech investor.
- Microtraction: Nigeria-anchored pre-seed and seed VC fund investing in African tech startups. Comparable early-stage Africa VC operator, narrower geography.
Emerging players
- Lateral Capital: Francophone Africa-focused early-stage VC firm. Highly comparable geography and sector focus, with narrower fund size than Saviu II.
- Satgana: Climate-tech-focused early-stage VC investing in African and emerging-market startups. Comparable early-stage Africa investor with thematic overlay.
Others
- African Development Bank (AfDB): Multilateral development bank that anchor-invested in Saviu II and operates the Boost Africa programme. Not a competitor but a key capital partner and ecosystem backer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Saviu Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceSaviu Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saviu Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Saviu Ventures subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Saviu Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saviu Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments37 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saviu Ventures
What does Saviu Ventures do?
Saviu Ventures is a venture capital fund manager that invests EUR 500,000 to EUR 3 million per company in early-stage (Seed to Series A) tech and tech-enabled startups across Africa, with a primary focus on Francophone West and Central Africa. The firm manages two successive funds — Saviu I (EUR 10 million, fully deployed across 12 companies) and Saviu II (EUR 12 million first close toward a EUR 45 million target) — and supplements capital with hands-on operational support including business development, recruitment, fundraising introductions, and board participation.
Is Saviu Ventures a public or private company?
Saviu Ventures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Saviu Ventures founded?
Saviu Ventures was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Saviu Ventures based?
Saviu Ventures is headquartered in Ebène, Mauritius, in the Africa region.
How does Saviu Ventures make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest.
Who are Saviu Ventures's main competitors?
Partech is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Novastar Ventures, TLcom Capital, 4DX Ventures, Breega, Kibo Capital Partners and Microtraction. Emerging players are Lateral Capital and Satgana. African Development Bank (AfDB) is listed as an others.
Does Saviu Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saviu Ventures.
What industry is Saviu Ventures in?
Saviu Ventures's product category is Venture Capital Fund Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSANAJAN, SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.