This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
On January 4, 2020, Senegal made history by becoming the second African nation to pass the Startup Act, with 90% of its parliamentarians voting in favor of the policy.
The new law is part of Senegal's greater initiative to promote innovation under the Digital Senegal 2025 strategy, which aims to create an enabling environment for registration and labeling of Senegalese startups.
According to Disrupt Africa, the policy seeks to provide incentives and a resource center for startups, addressing the country's business regulatory environment, which limits progress in the startup ecosystem.
Senegal ranks 123rd out of 190 in the 2019 Ease of Doing Business ranking, and startups in the country lack access to finance and markets. The country also has a retrogressive tax environment, ranking 166 globally.
As part of its efforts to promote innovation, Senegal's startup manifesto will introduce several proposals to promote innovation and entrepreneurship by creating a more favorable environment for entrepreneurs who want to start startups in Senegal.
"I am convinced that together and in cooperation with our governments, we can change and improve our ecosystem and facilitate the birth and development and success of our talents," said Eva Sow Ebion, Chief Coordinator of the Hackathon.
Italy introduced the concept of the Startup Act to the world in 2012, and Tunisia followed in 2018, becoming the first African country to set up the Startup Act. Mali, Ghana, and Rwanda are underway to create similar policies as the rest of Africa follows.
