Senegal has officially launched its participation in VivaTech 2026, one of the largest international events dedicated to innovation and technology. This year, 15 Senegalese startups, supported by the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth (DER/FJ), the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI), the French Embassy in Senegal and Wave Senegal, are exhibiting at the Senegal Pavilion to present their innovative solutions to an international audience of investors, companies, institutions and key players in the global technology ecosystem.

To mark the official opening of Senegal's participation, the Ambassador of Senegal to France, His Excellency Baye Moctar Diop, inaugurated the Senegal stand on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in the presence of the General Delegate of the DER/FJ, Dr. Aïssatou Mbodji, the Director General of Wave Senegal, Mr. El Hadji Malick Gueye, the Director General of Research and Innovation, Professor Hamidou Dathe, as well as the Attaché for Cooperation and Innovation at the French Embassy in Senegal, Mr. Aymar Pringent.

This first day was marked by several highlights, notably the signing of a partnership agreement between DER/FJ and Wave Senegal within the framework of the LionsTech program, illustrating their shared commitment to sustainably supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Senegal. The delegation also received a visit from Ms. Sandra Kassab, Director for Africa at the AFD Group, who met with the Director General of DER/FJ to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, which are already partners through the PAVIE I and PAVIE II programs.

Senegalese startups also benefited from strong visibility among visitors, investors and partners present at the show, while multiplying opportunities for exchange and collaboration with leading institutional and economic players.

For the fifth consecutive year, the DER/FJ is leading the Senegalese delegation to VivaTech with the ambition of fostering the internationalization of Senegalese startups, facilitating their access to new markets, and creating strategic growth opportunities. Present at the inauguration, the Director General of ASEPEX, Mr. Modou Mbène Guèye, welcomed this momentum and expressed his intention to join the DER/FJ and its partners next year in this initiative to promote Senegalese excellence and innovative know-how on an international scale.

VivaTech continues until June 20, 2026, with a program packed with business meetings, networking sessions, and exchanges with investors, technical partners, and innovation stakeholders. Among the key events is the presentation by the Senegalese delegation, scheduled for Friday, June 19, at 11:00 AM on the AfricaTech Lab stage. Dr. Aïssatou Mbodji will deliver a keynote address entitled: "Bridging the Pre-Seed Funding Gap in Francophone West Africa: How Institutional Capital Is Building the Next African Unicorns," followed by pitch sessions from the delegation's startups.

The 15 startups in the Senegalese delegation at VivaTech 2026

* DOCSEN

* FAJMA

* AFRICANITY GROUP

* SAHKAN'NA

* NGOM RECYCLING TRANSFORMATION (NRT)

* FOSSETIC

* TELLURICQ

* ANDAKIA

* LAFRICAMOBILE

* LINKUP

* OGUNSEC

* BERCO PLUS

* ABSAR GROUP

* SEN-ITI

* BAAMTU

Through this collective presence, Senegal reaffirms its ambition to establish itself as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, driven by high-potential startups and an ecosystem resolutely focused on the future.