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Four years since its foundation, ZEBOX is accelerating its internationalization and continuing its development..
On the occasion of an exceptional round table with Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group; Laurent Solly, Vice President Europe of Meta (formerly Facebook); and Antoine Bordes, Managing Director of Meta IA, the incubator, accelerator and international innovation center for tech startups and large groups, ZEBOX, announces the opening of its new ZEBOX West Africa hub in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The company’s internationalization will accelerate in 2022 with the opening of its 4th hub, ZEBOX WEST AFRICA
ZEBOX has chosen Africa to continue its expansion, announcing the opening of its 4th hub, ZEBOX West Africa, in Ivory Coast.
As the main economic power in West Africa and with one of the largest ports in the continent, Ivory Coast enjoys a strategic location in the region. The country’s entrepreneurial potential and the absence of a structure specializing in logistics make Ivory Coast (and more specifically Abidjan) an ideal destination for the 4th ZEBOX hub.
Yet the influence of this hub will not stop at the borders of Ivory Coast. As its name suggests, ZEBOX WEST AFRICA has a mission to create bridges with all actors in all West African ecosystems, seeking to identify and assist the best entrepreneurs in the region with programs that will enrich their business offer and local devices of accompaniment through the addition of ZEBOX’s two fields of expertise. Future partnerships with schools and universities, investors and other support structures are currently being studied.
Making the power of the ZEBOX network available to entrepreneurs throughout West Africa
Two support programs for entrepreneurs will be offered: incubation and acceleration.
The 12-month incubation period will allow early-stage entrepreneurs to lay the foundations for their development, recruit their first employees, and prepare their first pre-seed/seed fundraising. This will be achieved through a cycle of masterclasses and workshops with business experts, and personalized support from an Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
Acceleration will be aimed at startups that are currently generating revenue but which are seeking to develop their business, particularly internationally. For a period of 9 months, entrepreneurs will benefit from privileged access to ZEBOX’s corporate partners, a network of premium experts and VCs to help them scale their model while preparing for a Series A financing round. An Entrepreneur-in-Residence will also be at their side throughout this acceleration phase.
A workspace with exceptional design and comfort to encourage innovation
With a surface area of nearly 400m2 within the Ivoire Trade Center, the ZEBOX WEST AFRICA offices will offer a high-level work environment to entrepreneurs selected to join one of the two support programs offered to startups.
“ZEBOX is a network of innovation hubs in 4 regions of the world: France, North America, the Caribbean and now Africa. These hubs extend the reach of our support and strengthen our international community, joining innovative entrepreneurs with leading corporations to together transform the standards of our industry and contribute to the development of territories. We are eager to get involved in this ecosystem, where incredible innovations are born through the dedication and passion of entrepreneurs, and to place our community of experts at their disposal”, adds Aurore Pullini, Deputy Director of ZEBOX.
