Gabon’s Tiny Startup Scene Looks For Anglophone Investment

Gabon is not exactly the first place that comes to mind when thinking about startups in Africa. A tiny Central African country of no more than two million people, it is known for its huge rainforests and oil industry that has been winding down since the late 1990s. It also has a reputation for being tied to France, playing host to various French companies and businesses. But officials in the sleepy capital of Libreville have long expressed a wish to open the country up to a more diverse set of partners and investors.

This aim was achieved last month when Gabon joined the Commonwealth – Britain’s club of mostly anglophone former colonies. While Commonwealth membership doesn’t come with any specific bilateral or multilateral free trade benefits, it elevates Gabon’s image among the club’s 56 members.

The move has bolstered hopes among the company’s tiny startup scene that English and American funds may soon start to take notice of Gabon. “Gabon’s entrepreneurs are very excited,” said Nima Yussuf, senior project manager at ESP, a fund investing in Gabonese entrepreneurs.

“They are looking to expand into countries in the sub-region that are anglophone. With the Commonwealth, it will probably be a little bit easier in terms of trade and making connections”. Most of Gabon’s startups are still in the very early stages - there have been no big ticket raises or serious venture capital investment in the ecosystem so far. Nearly all of the capital being leveraged in the local ecosystem comes from domestic funds.