What Impact Hub Dakar does

Impact Hub Dakar is a coworking space and startup incubator based in the Cité Keur Gorgui neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal, founded in late 2017 as a locally operated affiliate within the global Impact Hub network of more than 90 locations and 15,000 members. The company sells flexible coworking memberships (day passes at 4,000 XOF, part-time at 30,000 XOF, and full-time at 60,000 XOF per month), event space rental (120,000 XOF for a 120 m² room accommodating 100 seated or 150 standing guests), and meeting room rental (8,000 XOF for a 10-person room), supplemented by a consultancy offering routed through a Google Forms inquiry.

Beyond workspace, Impact Hub Dakar delivers six sector-specific incubation and acceleration programs — Lafiya Innovators (health innovation), Singa (inclusive entrepreneurship for returning migrants and women), SUQALI (financial inclusion for rural SMEs), USAID Entrepreneurship and Investment, Agreenlab (agro-industry and renewable energy), and Enrich in Africa (multi-country scaling) — funded and co-designed with development partners including USAID, GIZ, the European Union, Fondation Botnar, SDC, Teranga Gestion, Winrock, and peer Impact Hubs in Basel and Accra. Program revenue is grant-based rather than market-rate, and customer segments range from early-stage entrepreneurs and freelancers to returning migrants, women entrepreneurs, rural SMEs in agriculture and fishing, and health-innovation startups across Senegal, with selected program footprints in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and additional African countries.

The business is operated by a small team of approximately 8 people and relies on community-led acquisition — trial days, member referrals, and event-based funnels — supported by organic social channels, a newsletter, an Eventbrite listing, and a community Stories blog. The technology footprint is light, centered on a website with direct booking, Eventbrite for events, and Google Forms for consultancy intake, with no proprietary software, AI/ML capabilities, or disclosed funding rounds.

Name

Impact Hub Dakar

Legal name

Impact Hub Dakar

Website

https://dakar.impacthub.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Impact Hub Dakar is a coworking space and startup incubator in Dakar, Senegal, operating as part of the global Impact Hub network. It sells flexible memberships, event and meeting room rentals, and runs six sector-specific incubation programs funded by development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coworking and Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (56121), Administrative and Support Services (561)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Coworking space
• Startup incubation
• Accelerator programs
• Entrepreneurship support
• Business consultancy

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Coworking Memberships: Day passes (1 day at 4,000 XOF), Part-time (15 days at 30,000 XOF), and Full-time (30 days at 60,000 XOF) memberships provide recurring revenue from access to co-working space, event space discounts, tea/coffee/water, and workshop access.
2. Event Space Rental: The 120 m² event space accommodates up to 100 seated or 150 standing guests and rents at 120,000 XOF per booking, generating one-time transactional revenue from event hosts.
3. Meeting Room Rental: A 10 m² meeting room seating 10 people rents at 8,000 XOF per booking, providing flexible one-time revenue for professional meeting needs.
4. Incubation & Accelerator Programs: The hub runs multiple startup programs (Lafiya Innovators, Singa, Suqali, USAID, Agreenlab, Enrich in Africa) funded by development partners (USAID, GIZ, EU, Fondation Botnar, SDC), with program delivery generating consultancy revenue and supporting operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Impact Hub Dakar operates a coworking space and startup incubation hub in Dakar, Senegal. It sells flexible memberships (day, part-time, full-time), rents a 120 m² event space and a 10-seat meeting room, and delivers multiple sector-specific incubation and acceleration programs (Lafiya Innovators, Singa, SUQALI, USAID Entrepreneurship and Investment, AGreenLab, Enrich in Africa). It also offers business consultancy via an online inquiry form.

Product overview

Impact Hub Dakar is a startup incubator and coworking space in Dakar, Senegal, launched in late 2017. The company offers a portfolio of physical workspace solutions (Co-Working Space, Meeting Rooms, Event Space) and multiple startup incubation programs (Lafiya Innovators, Singa, SUQALI, USAID program, AGreenLab, Enrich in Africa). The core offering combines flexible workspace access with entrepreneurial support services, including consultancy. The programs target different sectors (health innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, agro-industry, renewable energies) and stages (ideation to growth), supported by various international partners including GIZ, USAID, European Union, and Fondation Botnar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co-Working Space Flexible shared workspace providing entrepreneurs and startups with access to desks during office hours (9am–6pm), plus tea, coffee, water, and free workshop access. Available as Day Pass (1 day), Part-time (15 days/month), and Full-time (30 days/month) memberships.
• Meeting Room Professional meeting space accommodating up to 10 people, equipped with Wi-Fi and a video projector, available for one-off bookings.
• Event Space Versatile 120 m² event room for workshops, press conferences, networking, product launches, and corporate or social celebrations. Seats up to 100 (seated) or 150 (standing) guests, with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, sound system with 4 microphones, whiteboard, tables, chairs, and video projector.
• Lafiya Innovators Six-month startup incubation program for early- to mid-stage health-focused startups in West Africa (clinical care, public health, nutrition, WASH, health logistics, health fintech, health edtech). Includes direct incubation support, health innovation advisory, networking, and an all-expenses-paid immersion week in Switzerland.
• Singa (Meun Nga Tekki FI) Inclusive entrepreneurship program for returnees and women in Senegal, combining 4-month INCUBER and ACCELERER tracks that cover business creation, financial management, and marketing. Supported 26 entrepreneurs (10 INCUBER + 16 ACCELERER).
• SUQALI Financial inclusion program for rural-based SMEs, SMIs, and micro-enterprises in agriculture, fishing, and handicraft sectors across Senegal. Provides training, personalized support, repayable advances without rates or guarantees, and access to investor networks.
• USAID Entrepreneurship and Investment Program Program funded by USAID and executed by Winrock to structure the Senegalese entrepreneurial ecosystem. Impact Hub Dakar supports 10 entrepreneurs through training, individual follow-up sessions, investor introductions, mentorship, and a culminating demo-day pitch event.
• AGreenLab Nine-month support program offering incubation and acceleration courses for entrepreneurs in agro-industry and renewable energies across Senegal and Burkina Faso. Includes technical grants (AgreenTech: 2,000 EUR; AgreenFin: 10,000 EUR) and loans (Agri Invest: 30,000 EUR). Supported 10 entrepreneurs in the first cohort and 17 in the second cohort.
• Enrich in Africa Six-month scaling journey for selected African innovators, drawing on codified knowledge from IMPH, iHub, and SBCA. Impact Hub Dakar supported 3 entrepreneurs (Lebfay, Vet Info Group, RODICLE) through this program.
• Consultancy Business consulting services for entrepreneurs, accessed through a Google Forms-based inquiry that connects them with consultants for advisory support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 entrepreneurs supported through the Singa 'Meun Nga Tekki FI' program (10 INCUBER + 16 ACCELERER course participants)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teranga GestioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Teranga Gestion is a Senegalese fund management company that co-launched the SUQALI program with Impact Hub Dakar. It provides the funding for repayable advances and financial support to rural SMEs, while Impact Hub Dakar delivers the program operations and training.
• SINGA DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SINGA Deutschland co-designed and funded the 'Meun Nga Tekki FI' inclusive entrepreneurship program alongside GIZ, with Impact Hub Dakar as the local implementing partner.
• Winrock InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Winrock is the NGO executing the USAID Entrepreneurship and Investment program. Impact Hub Dakar serves as the implementing partner responsible for supporting 10 entrepreneurs through training, individual follow-up, and investment readiness.
• MakeSense AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MakeSense Africa is a partner in the Agreenlab program, contributing sectoral expertise in agro-industry and renewable energies, alongside coaching support for entrepreneurs.
• Energy 4 ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Energy 4 Impact partners in the Agreenlab program, providing technical and sectoral expertise in renewable energies to support entrepreneurs in the agro-industry and clean energy sectors.
• La FabriquecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023La Fabrique is a partner in the Agreenlab program, contributing to the incubation and acceleration of entrepreneurs in Senegal and Burkina Faso.
• Yeesal AgrihubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Yeesal Agrihub is a partner in the Agreenlab program, contributing agri-hub expertise and agricultural sector knowledge to support entrepreneurs in Senegal and Burkina Faso.
• Enrich in Africa (EiA) — IMPH, iHub, SBCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Enrich in Africa is a multi-country project (Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Senegal, Sudan, Zambia) run by 'Champions' including Impact Hub Dakar. The program draws on codified knowledge from IMPH, iHub, and SBCA to deliver a 6-month scaling journey for selected African innovators.
• Impact Hub BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Impact Hub Basel developed the Lafiya Innovators program and collaborates with Impact Hub Dakar and Impact Hub Accra for implementation, providing global connectivity and program design expertise.
• Impact Hub AccracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Impact Hub Accra co-implements the Lafiya Innovators program alongside Impact Hub Dakar, with Accra hosting the Growth Track for mid-stage startups.
• African Health Innovation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The African Health Innovation Centre provides specialized health innovation advisory and networking support to startups in the Lafiya Innovators program across both Dakar and Accra.
• DalbergminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Dalberg is a global consulting firm with expertise in entrepreneurship and innovation support. They serve as thought partners providing advisory services and ecosystem development insights to the hub.
• ConcreeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017A SENEGALO-AMERICANA organization specializing in the design and management of programs and technologies to advance startups from the idea phase to the growth phase. Concree develops its own incubation and acceleration programs (virtual and in-person) and collaborates with public and private organizations in setting up and managing entrepreneurship programs.
• Reach for ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Reach for Change finds and supports local early-stage social entrepreneurs working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They provide capacity building, networks, and funding, co-created by successful entrepreneurs from both non-profit and business sectors in 2010. They have supported entrepreneurs in 18 countries across three continents.
• Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal (CJS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017CJS is an association of young social innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, decision-makers, and researchers. It counts public institutions, international partners, CSOs, and private actors committed to supporting youth empowerment in Senegal among its key allies.
• La Délégation Générale à l'Entreprenariat Rapide des Femmes et des Jeunes (DER/FJ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017DER/FJ is a structure attached to the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Senegal, focused on rapid entrepreneurship for women and youth. It serves as a government partner for ecosystem development.
• PPI GROUPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PPI's vision is to fight global poverty by developing economic, social, and environmental inclusion in a sustainable and equitable way. It supports the poorest to create conditions for financial independence while participating in community development. PPI leads the Agreenlab program in collaboration with Impact Hub.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Bongo Hive: Bongo Hive is a Zambia-based innovation and technology hub supporting entrepreneurs through coworking, training, and incubation. Comparable mission and service offering to Impact Hub Dakar, though serving a different national market.

Direct peers

• Impact Hub Accra: Impact Hub Accra is a sister node of the same Impact Hub network and co-implements the Lafiya Innovators program with Impact Hub Dakar. Operationally identical model in a neighboring market, making it the most directly comparable same-network peer.
• Jokkolabs: Jokkolabs is a Senegalese-rooted coworking and innovation hub network spanning several West African cities. It is directly comparable to Impact Hub Dakar in geography, target audience (local entrepreneurs, freelancers, NGOs), and service mix (coworking + incubation + events).
• Impact Hub Bamako: Impact Hub Bamako is a direct same-network peer operating coworking and incubation services in neighboring Mali. Closely comparable service mix, community model, and donor-program exposure within Francophone West Africa.

Broad incumbents

• iHub Nairobi: iHub is one of Africa's original tech innovation hubs based in Kenya. It offers coworking, incubation, and community programming for African startups, comparable in mission and structure to Impact Hub Dakar though at a larger scale and English-market focus.
• CcHUB (Co-Creation Hub): CcHUB is a leading Nigerian innovation hub and investor. While based in Lagos, it serves a comparable West African entrepreneur and developer base, runs incubation/acceleration programs, and operates coworking spaces — making it the closest broad incumbent peer for programming and ecosystem influence.
• MEST Africa: MEST is a pan-African entrepreneur training program and seed investor with hubs in multiple African countries. Its incubator + technical training model and donor-funder mix parallel several of Impact Hub Dakar's programs (Lafiya Innovators, Agreenlab).

Others

• AfriLabs: AfriLabs is a pan-African network of over 400 innovation hubs, including many coworking/incubation spaces. It is comparable as an ecosystem umbrella organization supporting peer hubs like Impact Hub Dakar with capacity building, donor access, and network effects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/impacthubdakar
• Facebookfacebook.com/impacthubdakar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/impact-hub-dakar
• Instagraminstagram.com/impacthubdakar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Impact Hub Dakar