VivaTech 2025 : Africa on display, between innovation, inclusion and continental pride
For its 9th edition, Viva Technology once again stands out as the largest tech and startup event in Europe. From June 11 to 14, 2025, more than 165,000 visitors are expected at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. The African continent is also showcasing its startups there.
By Yousra Gouja, in Paris
As soon as one arrives at the Africa space at VivaTech, one thing is immediately apparent: the diversity, vitality, and cultural pride of the continent. Delegations appear in traditional attire, each country proudly displaying its colors. Senegal stands out with a strong presence and an impressive mobilization of its startups. Other countries, such as Tunisia and Morocco, although present, do not have a dedicated space.
The edition welcomes representatives from 160 countries and 50 national pavilions, with Canada as the guest country of honor this year. VivaTech is more than just a trade show: it is a catalyst for real opportunities, a meeting place that leads to partnerships, investments, and impactful innovations. Africa occupies a strategic place, notably through the AfricaTech Awards, now in their 4th edition. The 2025 edition highlights powerful and meaningful entrepreneurial journeys, such as those of the three entrepreneurs we met on site.
Senegal: Digital payments for inclusion
An engineer by training, with 18 years of experience in France and 4 years in Dubai in fintech, Birahim Fall decided to return to Senegal to actively contribute to the digital transformation. As head of Bictorys, he is developing an omnichannel payment solution that allows merchants to receive payments easily, either in-store or via social media. He states: “Our platform is approved by the Central Bank of Senegal. It allows merchants to have immediate access to their money through electronic wallets.”
Our platform allows merchants to have immediate access to their money through electronic wallets
Birahim Fall
Through an intuitive interface, Bictorys connects payment terminals, online cash registers, and mobile money. Payments can be made by QR code, and additional features—loyalty and subscriptions—enhance the service offering.
“Today, 90% of transactions in Africa are done via wallets. We are the only ones in Senegal offering this complete interconnection, including between POS terminals and cash registers.” With a team of 10 people, a recent creation (end of 2023), and big ambitions—especially to become an African unicorn—Bictorys embodies the drive of a continent innovating for itself.
Côte d’Ivoire: Mental health at the heart of performance
A general practitioner, Dr. Parfait Touré founded Yodan to address an often-overlooked need: mental health in the workplace. A particularly urgent issue as more than 70% of workers in Côte d’Ivoire live with chronic stress. He explains: “Between 2022 and 2023, among young people, suicide was the third leading cause of death. It costs the country around 10% of its GDP.”
Yodan advocates for the inclusion of mental health in health coverage, with more than 70% of workers in Côte d’Ivoire living with chronic stress
Yodan offers an app with an assessment questionnaire, connected to a listening center and a network of psychologists and psychiatrists. The goal: screening, support, and destigmatization. He warns: “Most professionals are concentrated in cities. Digital reduces costs and allows wider access. We have integrated 1,500 employees, with nearly 200 calls per week.” The initiative is already being commercialized, with concrete results, and is part of the HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) acceleration program in Kigali. Yodan also advocates for the inclusion of mental health in health insurance coverage.
Nigeria: Preserving African languages through technology
With Dialecta, Nigerian Mojisola Ogunleye is addressing another emergency: the accelerated disappearance of African languages. She explains: “A language disappears every two weeks. I realized my own 4-year-old child doesn’t speak my mother tongue.” Dialecta offers language lessons for children, supported by AI, voice recognition tools, a practice space, and a dedicated video conferencing platform.
Dialecta offers language lessons for children, supported by AI. The project aims to reconnect children with their culture and avoid the exclusion of native speakers, especially women
The project is based on a dual objective: reconnecting children with their culture and avoiding the exclusion of native speakers, especially women. She notes: “We have a waiting list. Many families want to pass on the language but lack time and tools.” The platform, currently being finalized, is scheduled to launch in August, with funding entirely self-provided to date.
Africa in the Spotlight: Pitches, prizes and partnerships
In the AfricaTech pitch space, institutional representatives emphasize the strategic importance of visibility for African startups. “There is African and Senegalese genius. It just needs to be highlighted to shine,” says Ababacar Dieng, technical advisor to Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research. “We want to support research and innovation on the continent,” adds Bécue Mathieu, attaché at the French Embassy in Senegal.
The 2025 edition of the AfricaTech Awards aims to support research and innovation on the continent
The 2025 edition of the AfricaTech Awards reflects this ambition. Out of 492 applications, 45 finalists were selected, half of them led by women. Nigeria once again stands out this year, with 110 applications (+70% compared to 2024), followed by Kenya and, for the first time, Tunisia. The awards recognize three key sectors: GreenTech, HealthTech, and E-commerce/FinTech, with evaluation based on social or environmental impact, innovation quality, and potential for Africa-wide deployment. The awards ceremony will take place on June 12, under the patronage of footballer Édouard Mendy, who is engaged in African tech. VivaTech 2025 thus confirms the emergence of a resilient, ambitious, and creative African ecosystem.
