We Inspire
We light a fire in young people… by training them to see opportunities that others miss, giving them the confidence to view themselves as entrepreneurs not employees and job creators instead of job seekers. We do it by delivering a best-in-class leadership and entrepreneurship program.
We Invest
We go all in … by providing a full life-cycle of support to the most promising entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. We do it through tailored coaching, skills building, expert mentorship, seed funding, and facilitating connections within and across industries.
We Transform
We go big … by positioning young entrepreneurs to tackle tough problems in key sectors and channeling their talent into innovative, private sector-led solutions. We do this through the Kosmos Innovation Center’s distinctive focus on commercial solutions and local knowledge.
Ghana
Established in 2016, Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana is helping to breathe new life into agriculture, transforming it into an engine of growth and job creation.
Mauritania
Launched in 2018, the Kosmos Innovation Center Mauritania is helping young, entrepreneurial Mauritanians develop the skills to turn ideas into reality.
Senegal
Kosmos Innovation Center Senegal is helping young business leaders in Senegal develop the technical skills needed to grow successful and sustainable businesses.
Kosmos Innovation Center
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow.
FAQ Friday: Thinking about starting a business in 2026?
If you’ve ever thought, “This is the year I finally start my business,” you’re not alone. We hear this a lot at Kosmos Innovation Center! So, here are some of the most common questions we get, along with simple actions you can take before the end of January to move from idea to reality.
Do I need the perfect idea to begin?
No! Start with a problem you care about. Speak to people who experience it. Listen. By the end of January, aim to write a short problem statement that clearly explains the need you want to solve.
Do I need money straight away?
Not necessarily. What you really need first is clarity. Create a basic budget, list your essential costs and think about what you already have access to. By the end of the month you could have a simple one page plan.
Where do I find support and training?
Do not build alone. Mentors, programmes and peer communities make a huge difference. Visit the Kosmos Innovation Center website and see whether there are programmes starting soon that could support your journey. Even submitting an application is progress.
What is one concrete step I can take now?
Talk to five potential customers. Ask what matters to them. This feedback is more valuable than any theory. Building a business is a journey that starts with small, deliberate steps. Use January to start learning, exploring and connecting. The most important part is not getting everything right. It is simply beginning.
Happy Friday, and here’s to bold ideas taking shape.
On #InternationalProgrammersDay, we’re celebrating the young innovators across Africa who are using code and digital tools to solve real problems and unlock new opportunities.
Across the Kosmos Innovation Center programmes, we meet founders who are using technology not for its own sake, but as a powerful tool for social and economic change.
For Learniverse, programming and virtual reality are helping reimagine what a science classroom can be. Founder Lalla Baba Hnini explains that the mission is to “empower schools to provide virtual science labs and interactive learning experiences for their students,” after seeing first-hand how many schools lacked access to real laboratories. For her, VR was “the perfect tool to bridge this gap,” allowing every learner to experiment, explore and build confidence in STEM subjects.
For Raddo Technologies, the focus is on ensuring young people can participate fully in the digital economy. Co-founder Fatou M’bodj says the team is deliberately building capacity in areas such as cybersecurity, AI and cloud computing so that learners can develop skills that match real-world demand. Their goal is to “reduce the digital divide in West Africa by making these skills accessible and adapted to local realities,” ensuring technology becomes an engine of inclusion rather than exclusion.
And with Sting App, technology is transforming how medicines move through the supply chain. Founder Abdullahi Khatri saw how pharmaceutical companies relied on manual, paper-based ordering systems, and realised that “digitising the industry would be a turning point.” Today, Sting App connects suppliers and pharmacies on a single digital platform so that orders can be placed more quickly, accurately and efficiently, helping improve service delivery and business performance.
These young programmers remind us that coding is not only about writing software. It is also about building solutions that respond to local needs and strengthening communities.
On this #internationalprogrammersday we are proud to support the innovators who are shaping Africa’s digital future.
At just 32, Mauricia Wangué Diouf is redefining what professional cleaning services look like in Senegal. As the founder of Ciacia Services in Saint-Louis, she is building a sustainable, community-focused business that creates opportunities for young people and women while raising standards across the sector.
After completing the SAMA programme with Kosmos Innovation Center, Mauricia transformed her idea into a structured, customer-centred company offering high quality garment care, including home pickup and delivery. It has not been an easy journey. Access to finance was a major early challenge, but Mauricia persisted, applying what she learned through the programme to adapt, refine her model, and grow steadily.
Today, Ciacia Services is expanding its team, building loyal customers and planning a second location. Mauricia’s ambition is clear: to professionalise the industry and show how young, female #entrepreneurs can drive meaningful local impact.
Read the full profile on our website to discover her journey.
kosmosinnovationcenter.com/ciacia/