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The Startup Ecosystem of Cape Verde

Cape Verde has 1 city in the top 1000 and is one of Western Africa’s best countries for setting up a startup.

COUNTRY RANKING

Cape Verde’s startup scene remains stable in 2024 on the 78th position, having kept 1 city in the global top 1000.

Population

0.6
Million

Regional Ranking

2nd
+
1
In Western Africa

Global Ranking

78th
0
Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

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Cape Verde, a stable and successful island nation off the coast of Africa, is home to a population of just over 500,000 people. The country has a strong commitment from the public sector to empower its national startup ecosystem, providing support for early stage startups and digital training for entrepreneurs. A new and energetic community of local entrepreneurs has emerged on the Island, generating high quality innovations with the potential to expand regionally and globally.


NOSI, a public sector organization in Cape Verde, plays a leading role in managing the information society in the country. The Cabo Verde Remote Working Program allows digital nomads to stay for up to 6 months, with an option to extend, while the green card offers a permanent residence permit with tax exemptions for foreigners looking to relocate. These initiatives have attracted foreign entrepreneurs and digital nomads to Cape Verde, drawn in by the great weather and easy connection to Portugal.


Cabo Verde Digital, a key governmental entity, is dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, while initiatives like Cabo Verde Trade Invest and Pró Empresa are promoting competitiveness and entrepreneurship. The African Development Bank has also played a role in supporting startups through funding opportunities.


Despite the challenges of lack of physical infrastructure and an underdeveloped investment climate in Cape Verde, public sector initiatives are working to address these concerns. Additionally, there is a growing entrepreneurship culture in the country, with programs in place to encourage innovation among the younger generation. With its strategic geographic location, Cape Verde is poised to become a key player in linking Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

Startups

Cape Verde Top Startup Industries

Software & Data icon
Software & Data
#59 worldwide

31 startups

Ecommerce & Retail icon
Ecommerce & Retail
9 startups
Marketing & Sales icon
Marketing & Sales
5 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Cape Verde Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Cape Verde has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
IndustryGlobal rankMomentum YoYNumber of Startups
Global7871
Software & Data59131
Ecommerce & Retail00.0000.0000.00
Edtech00.0000.0000.00
Energy & Environment00.0000.0000.00
Fintech00.0000.0000.00
Foodtech00.0000.0000.00
Hardware & IoT00.0000.0000.00

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Cape Verde

Download list
Design Creative startup logo
Marketing & Sales | Digital Marketing
Unranked
AKTO startup logo
Edtech | Education-Other
Unranked
DTrust Consulting startup logo
Software & Data | Software
Unranked
Chuva startup logo
Software & Data | Software and Data-Other
Unranked
LestoPay startup logo
Marketing & Sales | CRM
Unranked
/_next/static/images/no_logo-8d6edbd64d3c596416a8ea98e6861a9e.png Health 360 startup
Healthtech | Health Care
Unranked
NhaBex startup logo
Software & Data | Web Development
Unranked
Faxi startup logo
Fintech | Fintech-Other
Unranked
Nha Kretxeu startup logo
Ecommerce & Retail | Ecommerce
Unranked
/_next/static/images/no_logo-8d6edbd64d3c596416a8ea98e6861a9e.png Sintaxy startup
Software & Data | Software and Data-Other
Unranked
empregos.cv startup logo
Software & Data | Software
Unranked

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Startup Ecosystem Charts

Startup Funding in Cape Verde2017 - 2024

Startup Funding in Cape Verde 2017 - 2024

From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Cape Verde has remained stable%. During this period, the number of deals in Cape Verde has remained stable%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Cape Verde exceeded US$ $17.37M.

Average Funding in 2023

$0.00

Cape Verde
Western Africa
+0.00% YoY

Funding in 2023

$0.00

Cape Verde
Western Africa
+0.00% YoY

Deals in 2023

0

Cape Verde
Western Africa
+0.00% YoY

USD

Amount of Funding (USD)

Number of Deals

20172018201920202021202220232024$0.00$15.00B$30.00B$45.00B$60.00B00.511.52

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Cape Verde

In 2024, Cape Verde register a rise in Software & Data startups. Some of the most notable success stories in this industry are those of , Design Creative.

Global Rank

Cape Verde is ranked within the top 100 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Cape Verde’s startup scene is best represented in Software & Data, Ecommerce & Retail, and in Marketing & Sales.

Top Cities for Startups in Cape Verde - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
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Total Score

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

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Quantity Score
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Quality Score
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Business Score
1st
0
640th
-
50
0.295
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
1289th
new
0.046
00.00
00.00
00.00
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Startups

Notable Startups in Cape Verde
Design Creative startup icon
Design Creative
AKTO startup icon
AKTO
DTrust Consulting startup icon
DTrust Consulting

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