You recently launched "French Tech Abidjan 2.0," a new version of this tech-focused organization. Can you tell us more about it?
French Tech, a Paris-based social movement for startups, has decided to rethink the model for French Tech communities internationally with a new certification scheme to make communities within the same network more consistent. The idea is to harmonize practices and actions and bring communities together around the "French Tech" brand, all over the world.
As part of this dynamic, we have launched a V2 of our French Tech Abidjan. This renewal was necessary in order to continue our actions in support of the local digital ecosystem.
A new organization means a new team! The French Tech headquarters in Paris has approved the applications of the board members of our Ivorian entity, of which I am a member of the general secretariat.
Who are the players that make up the French Tech Abidjan team?
There are eight of us on the BOARD in total, 75% of whom are entrepreneurs and 25% of whom are international group companies. The entire board includes players from the tech and digital world in the broadest sense. This new version will include players such as Denis Motte (DIP SYSTEMES AFRIQUE) as Chairman, Fabrice Piofret (Veilleur des Médias), Habib Bamba (Orange CI), and Hermann Dano from YUP – Société Générale Group.
Our expertise and involvement in the local ecosystem will enable us to provide the best possible support to entrepreneurs wishing to set up in Côte d'Ivoire.
How will your activities be organized?
French Tech Abidjan will be organized around four areas:
- AKWABA: production of a white paper; membership; member support, identification
- TALENTS: training, education
- EXPERTISE: areas of expertise of tech companies, search for speakers, mentors
- CONNEXION: building bridges with the local ecosystem, partners, and international partners (French Tech network)
- EVENT: logistics, events, sponsorship, public relations, press relations, digital communication
Each of these divisions operates independently and is open to all members.
What will your responsibilities be?
As a member of the board in the Expertise division, my role will be to connect startups and investors. We will therefore nurture and facilitate this community of French and Ivorian startups, as well as investors and institutions, through events in particular. We will also be responsible for producing deliverables to facilitate the establishment of startups in the country, as well as sourcing for players who wish to invest in innovative projects.
Our mission has changed slightly. We now support French startups wishing to set up in Côte d'Ivoire and, to facilitate their establishment, we will assist them in developing partnerships with existing local startups with a view to creating jobs in Côte d'Ivoire and encouraging the sharing of skills.
Our goal is to encourage exchanges and initiatives between French digital players in Côte d'Ivoire, to build a bridge between the French and Ivorian digital ecosystems, and also between the various French Tech communities to open up new markets. To do this, we will promote ideas, projects, startups, talent, entrepreneurs, and more.
Unlike the first version of French Tech Abidjan, we are operating according to a collective strategy dictated by the Paris-based "parent" company, to which we will provide results on our actions as well as performance indicators relating to the startups we support. This new version of FrenchTech will enable us to implement concrete actions, create greater synergies between Côte d'Ivoire and France, and contribute to the development of the local digital ecosystem.
How to become a member?
We have two types of members
- Members
- These are legal entities whose capital is majority-owned by French interests
- … (see Timothée)
- Annual membership is 100,000 CFA francs (€150).
- SEND "MEMBER" via WhatsApp to +225 ….
- FRIENDS
- These are all others … (see Timothée)
- Annual membership is 50,000 CFA francs (€75)
- SEND "FRIEND" via WhatsApp to +225 ….
There are many benefits:
- Workshops, networking, participation in projects, talent scouting or proposals, etc.