Tech Ecosystem · Cameroon

Scale 32

32 startups, one year, and Cameroon's next tech wave

This figure alone speaks volumes about the state of tech entrepreneurship in Cameroon today: the talent is there, and so is the ambition. What was missing was the infrastructure, mentorship, and access to capital needed to transform a promising idea into a truly investable company. That is exactly the gap that Scale 32 has come to fill—and its next cohort is now accepting applications.

What is Scale 32?

Scale 32 is a joint initiative of Enovation Factory and UNDP Cameroon, designed to identify, select, and support 32 high-potential Cameroonian tech startups over the course of a year, divided into two phases lasting four to six months each. The program brings together Enovation Factory’s two flagship tracks under one roof:

• Newbie (Incubation) — for founders in the early stages who are still laying the groundwork: business model, customer discovery, and MVP validation.
• Cracker (Acceleration) — for startups that are already growing and ready to scale: growth hacking, automation, data-driven management, and preparation for investment.

The idea behind this partnership is simple, yet incredibly effective: to bring together a local accelerator—highly operational and deeply rooted in the ecosystem—with a global development partner. The UNDP provides co-financing, institutional clout, visibility, and access to opportunities—including international ones. Enovation Factory, for its part, brings to the table a specific, tried-and-true support program that has proven its worth with dozens of Cameroonian founders.

Evidence from the first cohort

Phase 1— Cohort S1 2026, from January to June 2026—was anything but a simple trial. The results speak for themselves:

• A national call for applications (November 11–December 18, 2025) attracted 1,090 applications, of which 16 startups were selected.
• 91,000,000 CFA francs in external funding raised by the startups in the cohort.
• 23 qualified investors were connected with the founders — well above the initial goal of 15.
• Each graduating startup walked away with an investment-ready pitch deck aligned with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Behind these numbers are real companies. Take Assiste Moi, an EdTech platform serving students in underserved or crisis-affected areas. In just a few months, its user base grew from 6,000 to more than 26,000; the startup raised 8 million FCFA from existing investors, signed five partnerships with regional education authorities, and launched its own scholarship program.

It was among the “Startups to Watch” presented to investors.

The program’s impact extended beyond Cameroon’s borders: the UNDP recommended one of the startups in the cohort for an international program in Switzerland. This is concrete proof that this partnership opens real doors.

Why It's Important for the Ecosystem

Since September 2024, across three cohorts, Enovation Factory has mentored and graduated 38 startups:

In total, this portfolio has raised more than 131.5 million CFA francs, spread across six cities and supported by more than eight institutional partners.

The obstacle most frequently cited by founders isn't a lack of skills—it's a lack of financial resources. In other words: it’s a structural problem within the ecosystem, not a talent problem. Scale 32 tackles this issue head-on by transforming raw talent into structured, registered, and profitable companies connected to mentors and investors capable of helping them grow.

The good news: Applications are now being accepted

Scale 32 is recruiting its next cohort to reach its goal of supporting 32 startups.

Contributor: Vasitha Yong