The government of Cape Verde recently announced the launch of the Morabeza FundThis is an innovative initiative worth 24 million dollars, aimed at fostering the growth of technological start-ups led by young people and women. This fund, approved under the Lusophone Compact and negotiated with the African Development Bank (AfDB), aims to promote the creation, development and commercialisation of innovative technological solutions, both in the Cape Verdean market and on the global stage.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Olavo Correia, the Morabeza Fund will be operationalised through diversified modalities, including non-repayable support, concessional credits and venture capital. This strategic approach aims not only to guarantee financial support for start-ups, but also to strengthen the country's innovation ecosystem, attracting digital nomads and creating solutions applicable to governance and the economy.
In addition, the fund stands out for its emphasis on promoting inclusion and equal opportunities, directing a significant portion of resources to support young people and women entrepreneurs. This measure reflects the government's commitment to strengthening economic sustainability and technological innovation as pillars of national development.
Contents
The Morabeza Fund, with a total amount of 24 million dollars, is designed to support technology start-ups led by young people and women in Cape Verde. This fund will be operationalised through various modalities, including non-repayable support, concessional credits and venture capital, guaranteeing flexibility in financial support for startups. These modalities aim to facilitate access to financing, eliminating traditional barriers such as the need for conventional guarantees and promoting the inclusion of entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. (Ministry of Finance)
The Morabeza Fund prioritises the development, testing and commercialisation of technological solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital health and sustainable technologies. This approach allows startups to use Cape Verde as a test market to validate their solutions before expanding into the African and global markets. The focus on technology reflects the government's vision of transforming the country into a hub for technological innovation, attracting digital nomads and strengthening the innovation ecosystem. (Government of Cape Verde)
A significant part of the fund is targeted exclusively at young people and women entrepreneurs, with the aim of promoting gender equality and social inclusion in the business sector. This support is essential for eliminating structural inequalities and creating opportunities for groups traditionally underrepresented in tech entrepreneurship. The Morabeza Fund complements other government initiatives, such as the Youth and Women's Bank, which supports micro and small entrepreneurs, but with a specific focus on technology-based start-ups.
The Morabeza Fund was approved under the Lusophone Compact, an initiative that promotes economic development in Portuguese-speaking countries. This framework ensures that the fund is aligned with regional strategies for sustainable development and innovation. In addition, collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) strengthens the project's financing capacity and credibility, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and transparently. (Worldnews.com)
The Morabeza Fund is not limited to financial support; it also aims to create a significant economic and social impact. By promoting technological start-ups, the fund contributes to the diversification of the Cape Verdean economy, reducing dependence on traditional sectors such as tourism. Furthermore, by empowering young people and women, the fund fosters the creation of quality jobs and promotes social inclusion, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Island Express)
The Morabeza Fund also plays a crucial role in strengthening Cape Verde's innovation ecosystem. By financing start-ups, the fund encourages the creation of support networks, strategic partnerships and technological infrastructures. This favourable environment attracts international investors and promotes collaboration between the private sector and the government, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation and economic growth.
One of the Morabeza Fund's strategic objectives is to facilitate the expansion of Cape Verdean startups into the African market. This regional focus allows companies to benefit from economies of scale and access new markets, increasing their global competitiveness. Using Cape Verde as a test market is a smart strategy to mitigate risks and ensure that the solutions developed are adaptable to different regional contexts.
The fund is also aligned with the principles of sustainability and resilience, promoting technological solutions that address challenges such as climate change and the energy transition. This commitment to sustainability not only strengthens Cape Verde's position as a regional leader in green innovation, but also ensures that economic development is inclusive and environmentally responsible.
Although there are other initiatives in Cape Verde aimed at entrepreneurial support, such as the Youth and Women's Bank, the Morabeza Fund stands out for its exclusive focus on technological start-ups and its integrated approach to financing and innovation. This differentiation makes the fund a unique instrument in the country's economic development landscape, with the potential to generate lasting impacts.
The Morabeza Fund offers a variety of financing options adapted to the needs of technology start-ups. Among the mechanisms available are non-repayable grants, concessional credits e venture capitalThe aim is to provide flexibility and financial accessibility. These options allow entrepreneurs to access financial resources without traditional barriers, such as the requirement for conventional guarantees. Unlike previous initiatives, such as the Youth and Women's Bank, the Morabeza Fund focuses exclusively on technological start-ups, promoting innovation and competitiveness in the African market. (Ministry of Finance)
One of the pillars of the Morabeza Fund is support for the internationalisation of Cape Verdean startups. This mechanism includes not only funding for the development of technological solutions, but also logistical and strategic support for expansion into regional and global markets. Cape Verde is positioned as a test market, allowing startups to validate their products before commercialising them in wider markets, such as the African continent. This approach differs from other national initiatives by prioritising the integration of startups into international innovation networks.
The Morabeza Fund promotes the creation of public-private partnerships as a strategy to strengthen the innovation ecosystem. These partnerships facilitate access to investment networks and specialised technical resources, which are essential for the sustainable growth of startups. In addition, events such as the Youth Investment and Financing Summit are organised to foster networking between entrepreneurs and international investors, expanding opportunities to raise capital. This focus on collaboration between the public and private sectors sets the Morabeza Fund apart from other initiatives that focus exclusively on direct funding. (Pro Company)
In addition to funding, the Morabeza Fund offers training programmes and technical support for technology start-ups. These programmes include training in business management, product development and marketing strategies. Start-ups also benefit from technical support during the development and implementation phases of their projects, ensuring a greater chance of success. This technical support is complemented by the creation of infrastructures such as incubators and accelerators, which offer a favourable environment for innovation and business growth.
The Morabeza Fund also stands out for its commitment to sustainability and social inclusion. A significant part of the resources is directed towards startups led by young people and women, promoting gender equality and the participation of under-represented groups in the technology sector. This focus is complemented by incentives for projects that integrate sustainable practices, such as the use of renewable energies and green technologies, contributing to economic diversification and reducing dependence on traditional sectors.
By prioritising technological start-ups led by young people and women, the Morabeza Fund is expected to have a significant impact on training the Cape Verdean workforce. This fund not only finances innovative projects, but also promotes training and the development of technical and entrepreneurial skills that are essential for the sustainable growth of the innovation ecosystem. Through initiatives such as hackathons, workshops and mentoring programmes, entrepreneurs are expected to acquire practical and strategic knowledge to compete in regional and global markets. This focus on training sets it apart from other national initiatives, such as Banco Joven and Mulher, which focus more on direct funding for micro and small businesses.
In addition, the fund creates opportunities to integrate young people into acceleration and incubation programmes, strengthening the technological talent base in the country. This effort is complemented by initiatives such as Startup Challenge and Startup Schoolwhich have already proved successful in promoting emerging talent in Cape Verde (CaboWork).
The Morabeza Fund positions Cape Verde as an attractive destination for international investors interested in technological innovation. The creation of a robust ecosystem, supported by infrastructure such as the Technology Park and the EllaLink submarine cable, facilitates global connectivity and improves the competitiveness of local startups. This favourable environment attracts not only financial capital, but also technical expertise and strategic partnerships, which are essential for the growth of early-stage companies.
Unlike previous initiatives, the Morabeza Fund actively promotes the organisation of international events, such as investment summits, to connect Cape Verdean entrepreneurs with global networks of investors and experts. This effort is key to overcoming the barriers to accessing capital often faced by startups in emerging markets (Pro Company).
The Morabeza Fund's impact on the innovation ecosystem is also reflected in the diversification of the Cape Verdean economy. By encouraging the development of technological solutions in sectors such as fintech, digital health and renewable energy, the fund reduces the country's dependence on traditional industries such as tourism. This focus on technology and innovation creates new job opportunities and fosters the growth of emerging sectors, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, the fund promotes the creation of start-ups that use Cape Verde as a test market to validate products and services before expanding into African and global markets. This strategic approach not only strengthens the local economy, but also positions the country as an innovation hub in West Africa.
One of the pillars of the Morabeza Fund is to encourage the development of sustainable technological solutions. Startups supported by the fund are encouraged to address global challenges, such as climate change and the energy transition, through innovations that promote energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions. This commitment to sustainability not only strengthens Cape Verde's position as a regional leader in green innovation, but also ensures that economic development is inclusive and environmentally responsible.
While previous initiatives have approached sustainability more broadly, the Morabeza Fund differentiates itself by directly integrating this principle into the criteria for selecting and financing startups. This strategic approach ensures that the projects supported not only generate economic impact, but also contribute to the country's environmental resilience.
The Morabeza Fund plays a central role in facilitating strategic partnerships between the government, the private sector and international organisations. These collaborations are essential for strengthening the innovation ecosystem, providing startups with access to technical resources, investment networks and global markets. Through public-private partnerships, the fund promotes the creation of technological infrastructures and the implementation of policies that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
Unlike previous programmes, which focused mainly on direct funding, the Morabeza Fund adopts a more integrated approach, promoting cooperation between different players in the ecosystem. This strategy not only expands opportunities for startups, but also contributes to creating a more favourable environment for sustainable economic growth.
Although the Morabeza Fund shares similarities with other initiatives in Cape Verde, such as Banco Jovem and Mulher, it stands out for its exclusive focus on tech startups and its integrated approach to financing, training and strategic partnerships. This fund represents a significant step towards transforming Cape Verde into a technological innovation hub, with a lasting impact on the country's innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurship.
The Morabeza Fund, with a budget of 24 million dollars, represents a strategic initiative by the Cape Verdean government to boost technological start-ups led by young people and women, promoting social inclusion and gender equality in the business sector. Through diversified financing modalities, such as non-repayable grants, concessional loans and venture capital, the fund removes traditional barriers to accessing finance, creating a favourable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. This approach is complemented by training programmes, technical support and public-private partnerships, which strengthen the innovation ecosystem and position Cape Verde as a test market for technological solutions with the potential to expand into the African and global markets.
As well as fostering economic diversification by reducing dependence on traditional sectors such as tourism, the fund stands out for its commitment to sustainability and green innovation. By prioritising projects that address global challenges such as climate change and the energy transition, the Morabeza Fund reinforces Cape Verde's position as a regional leader in sustainable technological solutions. Integration with the Lusophone Compact and collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) guarantee alignment with regional development strategies and ensure transparency and efficiency in the use of resources.
With a differentiated and integrated approach, the Morabeza Fund not only promotes the growth of technological start-ups, but also strengthens the innovation ecosystem in Cape Verde, attracting international investment and creating qualified employment opportunities. This project positions the country as a hub for technological innovation in West Africa, with the potential to generate lasting economic and social impacts, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The continuity and expansion of this initiative will be crucial to consolidating the progress made and ensuring the success of startups in the global market.
English (UK) 
Português (AO90) 
Français