Saviu Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in Francophone Africa, has successfully executed another major exit by selling its majority stake in the Ivorian digital logistics platform Kamtar to the pan-African logistics powerhouse, Logidoo.
The deal, formally recently announced, marks Saviu’s second significant portfolio exit this year, solidifying a pattern of successful returns for the firm. This follows the complete sale of its stake in the eyewear company Lapaire to the global investment firm Creadev in January. These consecutive sales underscore the maturation of Saviu’s portfolio as the firm simultaneously deploys capital from its recently closed second fund.
Kamtar: A Proven Digital Logistics Success
Founded in 2018 in Côte d’Ivoire, Kamtar built a successful digital platform that efficiently connects industrial companies with a robust network of independent truck drivers, significantly optimizing freight transport operations. Over its operational period, the startup has served over 40 corporate clients and generated a cumulative turnover exceeding €17 million.
For the acquiring company, Logidoo, the purchase of Kamtar is a crucial move aimed at consolidating strategic trade corridors.
Tamsir Ousmane Traoré, Founder and CEO of Logidoo, commented on the acquisition:
Integrating Kamtar allows us to consolidate strategic trade corridors from Morocco to Abidjan and offer our clients reliable, competitive, and efficient road transport solutions.
The addition of Kamtar strengthens Logidoo’s existing ecosystem, which includes international freight, last-mile delivery, and B2B marketplace services across eight African countries.
Benoît Delestre, Managing Partner at Saviu Ventures, noted Kamtar’s technological impact:
Kamtar is a prime example of how African entrepreneurs are addressing complex logistics challenges through technology. We are pleased to see Kamtar enter a new phase of growth alongside Logidoo.
A Year of Strong Returns: The Lapaire Exit
The Kamtar sale comes just nine months after Saviu’s successful exit from Lapaire, a pan-African eyewear company it initially backed in 2018. Saviu, which held a 22% stake, reported achieving a return of “several times” its initial investment.
Under Saviu’s guidance, Lapaire experienced explosive growth, expanding from only three branches in Kenya to nearly 90 across six countries. Notably, Francophone West Africa emerged as the company’s primary source of revenue. The company has performed over 500,000 eye tests and now employs more than 400 people. The acquisition by Creadev, the investment arm of the family behind the retail giant Auchan, is intended to fuel the next phase of Lapaire’s expansion.
Fueling Fund II and Future Investment Strategy
These back-to-back successful exits provide significant momentum for Saviu as it deploys capital from its second vehicle, Saviu II. The firm announced the fund’s second close in February at €25 million, backed by notable institutional investors, including the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Proparco, and AXIAN Investment.
Saviu II is targeting a final close between €30 million and €50 million. It will continue the firm’s core strategy: investing €500,000 to €3 million in early-stage (Seed to Series A) tech and tech-enabled companies across the region.
The fund has already initiated investments in several high-growth startups:
- Julaya (Ivory Coast): A B2B neobank for businesses.
- Waspito (Cameroon): A digital health platform.
- Rubyx (Senegal): A lending-as-a-service fintech platform.
- Workpay (Kenya): An HR and payroll SaaS platform.
Significance for the African Tech Ecosystem
While the African tech landscape often celebrates massive fundraising rounds, successful exits like Saviu’s are a far more crucial indicator of a healthy and maturing ecosystem. Exits provide liquidity for early investors and founders, validate the market for global acquirers, and generate returns that can be recycled into new ventures.
Saviu’s ability to secure two strategic exits in a single year demonstrates a clear, proven path from investment to return in Francophone Africa. This region has historically attracted less venture capital than Anglophone hubs like Nigeria and Kenya. This track record is vital for attracting greater institutional capital to the continent and affirming the long-term viability of its tech startups.
