Date: June 12, 2024
Time: 10:00 am (Cameroon time)
Venue: Mansel Hotel, Yaoundé (REGISTER NOW)

Background

With an estimated population of about 28 million (World Bank, 2022), Cameroon is brimming with economic opportunities. Its large youth population and growing access to the Internet are factors that foster an environment conducive for innovation and entrepreneurship. As a result, the country’s technological development is on the rise, providing a fertile ground for the emergence of innovative young businesses in general and startups in particular. Cameroonian startups are driving innovation and redefining technology, culture, and lifestyle. With over 30 groundbreaking companies spanning AgriTech, CleanTech, Fintech and EdTech, these forward-thinking entrepreneurs are tackling local challenges while making a global impact (Peng Boris, 2023). The government has taken steps to exempt these companies from taxes for the first five years of their existence (Finance Law, 2021), but they still face many challenges that hinder startup growth and momentum. Many still struggle to raise funds, recruit talent, overcome regulatory hurdles, and develop viable business models due to a lack of support institutions, incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programs. Addressing these challenges facing startups in Cameroon and fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem requires a multifaceted approach involving many stakeholders. With this in mind, the Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation is organizing an operational working group on the theme « Building Momentum and Growth for Startups in Cameroon » to gather contributions that will help promote a thriving and prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem for startups in Cameroon.

Objectives

The main objective of this event is to identify what needs to be done to promote a thriving start-up ecosystem in Cameroon. More specifically, it will address the following issues:

• Understand the role of startups in the Cameroonian context;
• Identify strategies to overcome the lack of talent and skills needed for startups to succeed in Cameroon;
• Analyze the feasibility of establishing startup support organizations and services in Cameroon;
• Identify key regulatory and policy provisions necessary for the development of startups in Cameroon;
• Develop strategies for building partnerships between startups, the public and private sectors in Cameroon.

Expected Outcome

Stakeholders are enlightened on the actions needed to promote a thriving start-up ecosystem in Cameroon.

Target audience

Start-up promoters, public authorities, telecoms engineers, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, social economy players and other private sector stakeholders.

Contact details

Email: [email protected] / Tel: (+237) 654 86 72 54