OVO Senegal Diaspora & Investors Event: Meet, exchange and participate

Come and be inspired by sustainable and promising African entrepreneurs! 

For several years, the Belgian non-profit organization Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs (OVO) has been supporting selected African entrepreneurs with social loans and business know-how for good governance and efficient management of their local entities.
 
OVO's team is composed of Belgian entrepreneurs and experienced business angels who selflessly devote their time and energy to improve the situation of African entrepreneurs by assisting them to develop their local businesses.
 
We are therefore pleased to introduce you to some of our recently selected entrepreneurs for SusTech4Africa in Senegal. They will present their projects at this event.
 
This meeting will be an enriching experience for all participants: on the one hand, the work of OVO in Africa will be highlighted and on the other hand, you will have the opportunity to meet these entrepreneurs in person.
 
 The African entrepreneurs participating in the conference are:

• Feewy (Production and marketing of cosmetic products, mainly hair products)
• Leukelé (Supply of solar equipment in rural and peri-urban areas.  Establishing a solar equipment store for easy access to households)

Program : 

• 18h15          Networking
• 19h00          Evening program:
  • Introduction
  • Testimony from Senegalese entrepreneurs
  • Presentation of Senegalese projects & testimonials
  • Speech on the importance of the development of the private sector in Africa and the link to be made with the diaspora in Belgium by Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation
• 20h45          Networking
• 22h00          End

SusTech4Africa 
There is a general shortage of small and medium-sized African entrepreneurs, due to limited access to expertise and technology from small capital. It is in this context that OVO has designed a process to identify and support these projects and strengthen their growth ambitions.

Each quarter, OVO organises its business accelerator program SusTech4Africa in one of the focus countries, being Benin, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda. This program always starts with a 3-day BoostCamp on site, followed by a 'remote cooperation' with coaches and experts of the OVO network. On average, it takes six months to complete the coaching process and to make a decision on the investability. Should an investment be necessary, dedicated OVO experts will follow and guide the growth of the company until the loan has been fully repaid. Together we create success stories!

Investment opportunities 
All stakeholders, such as Belgian companies, entrepreneurs and social investors, can  support African SMEs of their choice by financing a social loan. For its part, OVO will facilitate this collaboration in the following ways: 

• drawing up of a contract proposal ;
• advising on the relevant financial conditions (e.g. interest rate, repayment terms, grace period) ;
• follow-up advice to the beneficiary company on the terms of the loan ;
• providing expertise to achieve the planned growth.

Both parties will benefit from their respective involvement. The Belgian investor will see a cost-effective method of managing projects that result in significant social change. The beneficiary will benefit from the know-how and expertise of the Belgian investor(s).

Target group 
OVO focuses mainly on small African enterprises (SMEs) with a strong social dimension. Therefore, the maximum funding is set at €50,000. Ideally, the business project should involve the use of sustainable technologies or contribute to a more sustainable society through the use of technology. 

OVO Business Clubs  
OVO promotes local peer-to-peer learning and co-creation by facilitating OVO Business Clubs in the target countries. Here, alumni of the SusTech4Africa accelerator program and partners can share their knowledge.

Practical Information 
March 16, 2022 from 6:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ICHEC – Site du Manoir d’Anjou in Brussels
(Rue au Bois, 365A, 1150 Woluwé-Saint-Pierre – Aula A200)