Grace Ashiru
The African Development Bank Group has approved a €6.5 million investment in Saviu II, a venture capital fund managed by Saviu Partners, according to a February 27, 2026 board decision in Abidjan.
The commitment comprises €4.5 million in equity and €2 million structured as a first-loss tranche deployed on behalf of the European Commission under the Boost Africa programme, according to AfDB documentation.
Saviu II is the successor to Saviu I, a €10 million fund launched in 2018 that backed 12 startups, 72% of which operate in Francophone markets, according to fund information.
Saviu II reached a first close of €12 million in late 2023, supported by private entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. A second close at €25 million followed in early 2025, bringing in Proparco, Triple Jump, and AXIAN, according to fund documentation. The fund is targeting a final size between €30 million and €50 million.
Saviu II will deploy tickets ranging from €500,000 to €3 million into approximately 20 B2B startups at the seed to first institutional round stage, according to fund documentation. Target sectors include fintech, agritech, healthtech, edtech, logistics, and cleantech.
At least 60% of commitments will go to Francophone countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali, according to fund terms.
The Boost Africa programme is co-run by AfDB and the European Investment Bank. The programme has previously supported funds including Partech Africa and TLcom Capital using first-loss structures, according to programme documentation.
