In a bold effort to strengthen Senegal’s entrepreneurial fabric, the second cohort of the Sunu Seonbae mentorship program concluded this Wednesday in Dakar, celebrating the achievements of 22 newly trained Senegalese entrepreneur-mentors.
This cross-cultural initiative—born from a partnership between Senegal and South Korea—aims to bridge cultures and strengthen support systems for startups navigating the often treacherous early phases of business development.
The term “Sunu Seonbae” combines the Wolof word Sunu (meaning “our”) and the Korean word Seonbae (meaning “respected elder” or “mentor”), encapsulating the program’s vision of shared growth and cross-border solidarity.
Led by the KPC Consortium in collaboration with Orbus Digital Services (ODS), the initiative is backed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI).
The program attracted over 100 applicants, with 22 mentors selected for an intensive training journey that included orientation bootcamps, individual mentoring sessions, sectoral seminars, hands-on workshops in leadership and finance, and over 20 hours of e-learning content.
“This initiative is part of a broader ambition to create structure and coherence within our entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Daniel Sarr, Director General of Orbus Digital Services.
He announced a strategic partnership with Teranga Capital to provide not only financial support but also human capital through mentorship during startups’ growth phases.
Sarr also emphasized the challenge of the “valley of death”—a critical early phase during which many startups collapse due to lack of adequate guidance.
“We need to harmonize our support mechanisms to make this crucial passage less daunting for young entrepreneurs,” he said.
The program’s collaborative spirit was highlighted by Pape Waly Diouf, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Public Service, Olivier Boucal.
“This personalized support system is a powerful lever for entrepreneurial development. It also reflects an exemplary model of collaboration between the private sector, public institutions, and international cooperation,” he stated.
The ceremony welcomed previous cohort members, now actively involved in mentoring new entrepreneurs, underlining the program’s commitment to building a sustainable, engaged, and dynamic entrepreneurial community.
The Sunu Seonbae initiative aligns closely with Senegal’s national strategy for innovation and employability, while also promoting environmentally and socially sustainable entrepreneurship through Korean expertise and funding.
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