More than 1000 young project leaders took part in the competition Come Job With The Wavehoping to benefit from financial and technical support. Among them, 14 finalists were selected, after a first selection of 28 candidates, and 3 winners were rewarded. The first prize offered a grant of 2 million F CFA, the second prize 1 million F CFA, and the third prize 500,000 F CFA. This competition aims to support young Senegalese entrepreneurs in their innovative initiatives.
The first prize was won by Cheikh Mbacké Gaye, creator of the ORION projecta revolutionary commercial software. This software helps merchants optimize the management of their activities, simplifying commercial processes and improving their performance. ORION is a tool designed to transform challenges into opportunities for local entrepreneurs, thereby strengthening their competitiveness.
The second prize was awarded to Anta Niang for her Anilaye project, which offers innovative water filters. These filters aim to solve health problems caused by high salt content in water. By providing a local, sustainable and accessible solution, Anilaye contributes to improving public health and offering a better future to thousands of families.
The third prize was awarded to Babacar Ndour for his Alba Élevage Moderne project, specializing in the manufacture of agricultural and livestock machinery. This equipment, designed for poultry farmers, breeders and farmers, helps strengthen local capacities and support agricultural and poultry productivity.
Support for VSEs and SMEs
During the ceremony, Ndeye Fatou Mbodj, General Administrator of the Priority Investment Guarantee Fund (FONGIP), underlined the importance of projects like Kaay Job to build a prosperous Senegal.
“Access to finance is a major challenge, particularly for young people and women. Too often, brilliant projects fail due to lack of guarantees to obtain a loan. This is where FONGIP steps in as a strategic partner, offering accessible financing guarantees,” she said.
A fruitful collaboration to promote entrepreneurship
For Aminata Rassoulou Cissé, head of partnership development at It’s Jobthis first edition marks a turning point in the promotion of Senegalese entrepreneurship. She recalled that Kaay Job is an incubator aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in transforming their ideas into concrete realities, while promoting social and economic development.
The project was carried out in partnership with Wave Senegal, represented by Elhadj Malick Gueye, Managing Director of Wave Digital Finance. The latter insisted on the importance of investing in young people:
“The objective is to give young Senegalese people, on average aged 35, an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, their ingenuity and their ability to meet challenges. Kaay Job is an essential lever to reduce unemployment and stimulate the autonomy of young people. »
This first edition of the Kaay Job Ak Wave competition illustrates the importance of supporting local innovation and strengthening entrepreneurial initiatives for a more dynamic and resilient Senegal.
