We Inspire
We light a fire in young people… by training them to see opportunities that others miss, giving them the confidence to view themselves as entrepreneurs not employees and job creators instead of job seekers. We do it by delivering a best-in-class leadership and entrepreneurship program.
We Invest
We go all in … by providing a full life-cycle of support to the most promising entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. We do it through tailored coaching, skills building, expert mentorship, seed funding, and facilitating connections within and across industries.
We Transform
We go big … by positioning young entrepreneurs to tackle tough problems in key sectors and channeling their talent into innovative, private sector-led solutions. We do this through the Kosmos Innovation Center’s distinctive focus on commercial solutions and local knowledge.
Ghana
Established in 2016, Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana is helping to breathe new life into agriculture, transforming it into an engine of growth and job creation.
Mauritania
Launched in 2018, the Kosmos Innovation Center Mauritania is helping young, entrepreneurial Mauritanians develop the skills to turn ideas into reality.
Senegal
Kosmos Innovation Center Senegal is helping young business leaders in Senegal develop the technical skills needed to grow successful and sustainable businesses.
Kosmos Innovation Center
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow.
When you start a business, you have to graft. Just ask Dieynaba Fall who founded fashion brand Zeyna Najeeb.
Dieynaba didn't have the materials to make a sample of each bag she wanted to sell, so instead she made one, photographed it then took it apart and made a different one. That meant she could get several publicity photos from the same set of beads and materials.
“Many young people wait to have enough money, enough equipment, or perfect conditions before launching. However, it is often by taking the first step with few resources that you actually begin to make progress.”
Check out her story exclusively here: kosmosinnovationcenter.com/zeyna-najeeb/
FAQ Friday: Why does location matter in business?
Every business - whether it’s a small store or a big company - eventually faces the strategic choice of where to plant its flag.
For modern entrepreneurs, choosing a physical or digital site signifies aligning your enterprise with the right ecosystem. Location serves as both a geographic and economic anchor. It is more than just a physical address, it says a number of things about your approach to business and choosing the wrong location can be the downfall of a start-up.
Why? Location ensures access to vital talent and resources. It places your business within proximity of skilled labor pools, supply chain hubs, and industry clusters, guaranteeing that your team can operate efficiently and scale seamlessly.
Moreover, it carries a huge weight in everyday customer reach. It makes products and services physically and logistically accessible, making it all the more important especially in retail and service sectors, where convenience builds rapport and quality relationships with local patrons.
In business, choosing the right spot is also a strategy. After all, a business can become successful from being rooted in the place where its resources are accessible and where its patrons live, work, and thrive. And frankly, we're all still a bit snobby about the location of a business - whether it's hard to park, or just in an area we don't feel safe in - thinking through where you set up shop is not something to take lightly.
In many rural areas of Senegal, farmers face a persistent challenge. They have fertile land, access to water, and hardworking teams, yet without reliable energy, their potential remains limited. Abdallah Ndiaye, 23, saw this gap firsthand and decided to turn it into an opportunity. Today, as Founder and Technical Director of Acces Energie Solaire, he is providing intelligent solar-powered water pumping systems that help farmers irrigate their land autonomously, reduce costs, and adopt more sustainable practices.
kosmosinnovationcenter.com/acces-energie-solaire/