Congo is betting big on Africa’s next 500,000 startups—with Italy’s backing 🇨🇩🚀

Cliquez ici pour lire en français

Chosen as the pilot country for a bold new initiative backed by Italy, Congo is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s innovation future. The goal: to support up to 500,000 early-stage startups across the continent, with a strong focus on training, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.

A strategic partnership in a time of economic recovery 🤝

The announcement was made in Brazzaville on July 22, 2025. Italy’s ambassador, Enrico Nunziata, met with Congo’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, to lay the groundwork for a partnership considered strategically vital. Congo will serve as the testbed for one of the flagship projects of Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

The vision is ambitious: enable the emergence of half a million African startups through a comprehensive support framework. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for African economies, still grappling with the aftershocks of the pandemic, geopolitical instability, and rapid tech-driven change. For Italy, the project is also about strengthening economic and technological ties with Africa, while backing youth empowerment, innovation, and sustainable development.

Real investment in real innovation 💡

This isn’t just a diplomatic gesture. The project includes concrete support for startup creation, especially in high-impact sectors like healthcare, logistics, and precision agriculture—areas often underdeveloped in many African countries but rich in economic and social potential.

To go further, the plan includes targeted training programs designed to help young entrepreneurs level up their skills, tap into international networks, and access technology transfer opportunities. The goal is to build inclusive, long-lasting innovation ecosystems. As the pilot country, Congo will act as a sandbox, testing the model before rolling it out across other regions.

Building an inclusive digital ecosystem 🌍

The project aligns with the core priorities of the Mattei Plan, which emphasizes sectors like education, health, agriculture, climate, and governance. But digital transformation is front and center. The idea is to build a resilient digital infrastructure that leverages cutting-edge technology to serve local communities.

For Congo, it’s also a chance to stake its claim as a regional tech hub. Today, the lion’s share of African startup investment goes to four countries—Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. This initiative could help rebalance the map, by spurring innovation in lesser-known markets.

A shot at digital sovereignty and youth employment 🧠

One of the initiative’s most critical aims is tackling youth unemployment, a widespread and urgent challenge across the continent. By creating thousands of skilled jobs, the program could reignite hope for a generation often sidelined by economic exclusion.

At the same time, the project is about building Africa’s digital sovereignty. In a world dominated by global tech giants and uneven access to digital tools, this is a crucial step forward.

Congo’s role as a pilot gives it a first-mover advantage. It could not only strengthen its local startup ecosystem, but also set the tone for other African countries to embrace digital innovation as a cornerstone of future growth.

👉🏾 What do you think—can this initiative really shift the game for Africa’s young entrepreneurs?