What CTIC Dakar does

CTIC Dakar is a digital entrepreneurship hub and the first startup accelerator in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, founded in 2011 in Dakar, Senegal. It operates as a public-private partnership under FICTIS (Fondation des Incubateurs TIC du Sénégal), with administrative oversight from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and technical oversight from the Ministry of ICT. Its core offering is a three-tiered program portfolio: BuntuTeki (a pre-incubation/ideation program), Adduna (an acceleration program for prototypes and proofs of concept), and Incub'Action (an 18-24 month incubation program for existing digital startups with market-ready solutions). CTIC Dakar also provides entrepreneurial training, coaching, and mentorship. The organization is staffed by an 8-person core team covering executive direction, finance, acceleration, partnerships, communications, and administration.

CTIC Dakar makes money through a hybrid model. Direct program fees include 80,000 FCFA for pre-incubation and 150,000 FCFA for full incubation per participating founder, while donor grants from development financial institutions and international partners (World Bank, IFC, GIZ, WFP, LuxDev, ISOC Foundation, ADA Microfinance, DER) form the larger revenue base. To date, more than 200 companies have been supported, over 3,898 project holders engaged, 1,834 master classes delivered, 200+ events organized, and 12,000+ working sessions held, with cumulative incubated-company revenue of 5,663,517,852 FCFA (~$9.4M) and 683,051,382 FCFA (~$1.1M) in startup fundraising facilitated. Member companies span agriculture, e-commerce, healthcare, education, diaspora services, events, and AI-enabled civic engagement.

The organization serves early-stage entrepreneurs, growth-stage Senegalese-registered startups, and established digital companies across Senegal, with stated expansion ambition across Togo, Benin, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. Its stated 2030 objective is to become the reference West African sub-regional hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and ICT. CTIC Dakar does not develop proprietary technology products; its underlying platform is its program delivery infrastructure, partner network, and governance under FICTIS.

Name

CTIC Dakar

Legal name

CTIC DAKAR

Website

https://cticdakar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CTIC Dakar is a Dakar-based digital entrepreneurship hub and the first startup accelerator in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, founded in 2011. It operates three programs — BuntuTeki pre-incubation, Adduna acceleration, and Incub'Action incubation — serving early-stage to market-ready digital startups across Senegal with stated sub-regional expansion ambitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Business acceleration programs
• Digital entrepreneurship support
• Pre-incubation programs
• Technology hub services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Incubation and Acceleration Services: CTIC Dakar generates revenue through membership fees charged to incubatees: 80,000 FCFA for pre-incubation, and 150,000 FCFA for full incubation programs. The organization also receives grants and subsidies from development partners including the World Bank, IFC, and other international development organizations.
2. Donor Grants and Subsidies: CTIC Dakar receives significant funding from development financial institutions and international donors as part of its public-private partnership model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CTIC Dakar operates as a digital entrepreneurship hub and startup accelerator offering three tiered programs: BUNTUTEKI (pre-incubation) for ideation-stage entrepreneurs, ADDUNA (acceleration) for startups with prototypes, and INCUB'ACTION (incubation) for market-ready startups. Services include entrepreneurial training, coaching, mentoring, market access facilitation, and investment connection for ICT and digital ventures in Francophone West Africa.

Product overview

CTIC Dakar is a digital entrepreneurship hub and the first startup accelerator in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, founded in 2011. Rather than a traditional software product company, CTIC Dakar operates as a layered accelerator ecosystem offering three distinct incubation programs: the BUNTUTEKI pre-incubation program for ideation-stage entrepreneurs, the ADDUNA acceleration program for startups with prototypes or proofs of concept, and the INCUB'ACTION incubation program for established startups with market-ready solutions. The organization also provides entrepreneurial training, coaching, mentoring, and facilitation services for market access and financing. Through its programs, CTIC Dakar has supported over 200 companies, trained more than 3,500 project managers, and facilitated cumulative revenue exceeding $6 million among incubated companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BuntuTeki: Pre-incubation program for ideation and innovative entrepreneurship dedicated to project holders, targeting youth, women, students, and idea carriers.
• Adduna
• Incub'Action

Products and services

• BUNTUTEKI (Pre-incubation Program) Ideation-stage program for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, focusing on instilling entrepreneurial culture and developing critical mass of entrepreneur leaders in Senegal. Targets youth, women, students, and idea holders with a 3-month capacity-building duration. Membership fee: 80,000 FCFA.
• ADDUNA (Acceleration Program) Intensive accompaniment program for entrepreneurs with a prototype or proof of concept, focused on product testing, user feedback, business model refinement, and access to first customers. Duration: 6 months. Includes intensive support, market development, access to capital facilitation, and dashboard tools.
• INCUB'ACTION (Incubation Program) One-year renewable incubation program for existing startups with innovative, replicable, high-value-added solutions already on the market. Offers residential and virtual incubation services for duration of 18-24 months. Membership fee: 150,000 FCFA. Targets qualification and autonomous development.
• Entrepreneurial Training and Coaching Services Qualifying training series provided by experts in various management techniques, designed to build the capacity of startups and enhance the performance of business leaders and managers. Includes 1834+ master classes and 12,000+ working sessions delivered.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% annual growth rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ISOC FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization supporting CTIC Dakar's initiatives.
• WFP (World Food Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN World Food Programme partnering on food security and technology initiatives.
• OPTICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident of the Foundation (Fondation des Incubateurs TIC du Senegal - FICTIS) overseeing CTIC Dakar. Key governance partner.
• ADIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CTIC Dakar's governing committee, representing the private sector in the public-private partnership structure.
• AfrilabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African network of innovation hubs, partnering with CTIC Dakar for regional ecosystem development.
• FICTIS (Fondation des Incubateurs TIC du Senegal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation of ICT Incubators of Senegal, the initiating organization behind CTIC Dakar. Coordinates public-private partnership including private sector, administration, and higher education members.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• GrowthAfrica: East Africa-focused accelerator running structured acceleration programs for growth-stage African startups. Comparable venture acceleration methodology but focused on Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda rather than Francophone West Africa.
• BongoHive: Zambia-based technology and innovation hub offering incubation, acceleration, and entrepreneurship programs. Comparable mixed revenue model and donor-funded structure, but operating in Southern Africa.

Direct peers

• iHub Nairobi: Kenya's pioneering tech innovation hub founded in 2010, providing incubation, acceleration, and community programming for African tech startups. Comparable first-generation African tech hub with a similar mixed revenue model of donor funding, programs, and partnerships.
• Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Program: Pan-African entrepreneurship program funding and training thousands of African entrepreneurs annually. Comparable reach and donor-backed model, though spanning the whole continent versus CTIC's Francophone West Africa focus.
• Impact Hub Dakar: Local Senegalese impact-focused innovation hub and part of the global Impact Hub network. Direct local competitor for Senegalese startups with comparable programmatic offerings and coworking/incubation services.
• Jokkolabs: African network of innovation hubs with locations across West Africa including Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Benin. Comparable tech hub operating model and overlapping geographic footprint in Francophone West Africa.
• Seedstars: Swiss-based global emerging markets accelerator running programs across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, including Francophone Africa. Comparable venture selection and acceleration methodology for high-growth startups in emerging markets.
• MEST Africa (Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology): Pan-African tech incubator and venture investor training aspiring African tech entrepreneurs across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Comparable operating model of combining structured incubation with seed investment and large donor/foundation backing.
• Co-creation Hub (CcHUB): Nigeria-based technology and innovation hub operating pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programs. Closest analog as a leading African tech hub with a multi-stage program model, government and corporate backing, and a similar mission of building African tech entrepreneurship, though primarily Anglophone-focused versus CTIC's Francophone focus.

Others

• AfriLabs: Pan-African network of over 400 innovation hubs of which CTIC Dakar is a member. Network partner and ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, supporting regional cooperation between African tech hubs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cticdakar
• Facebookfacebook.com/cticdakar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2411075

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CTIC Dakar