Good Day,

Here's a quick preview of today’s newsletter: Francophone West Africa’s economy booms, Saviu Ventures closes new fund, Egypt’s inflation slows, and CAR’s president bets on a meme-coin.

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The promising market developments in Africa brings us to a question many investors are asking:

Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now?

With Africa’s markets gaining momentum, smart investors are turning to high-potential stocks on exchanges like the BRVM. 

Not sure where to put your money? Daba Pro Stock Picks has a proven track record of identifying winning stocks.

In 2024, we highlighted six stocks that surged over 16%, with the top two climbing beyond 30%. And in 2025, one of our BUY recommendations has already hit its target within the first month of the year, gaining over 14%!

📩 Want to know our latest stock picks? Click here or the below to fill out a brief interest form.

Markets Snapshot

Daba indexes track curated stock collections while the Daba Pro Index reflects the average gains of our BUY stock recommendations—all available to invest in directly on the app.

Data as of 02/14/2025 market close

Four Things You Need to Know

Regional growth: GDP in the French-speaking West African region is expected to grow 6.3% in 2025 amid fiscal discipline and a booming stock market. Last year, the BRVM surged 28.89%, led by Orange Côte d'Ivoire (+60.55%) and SAPH CI (+76.17%). Despite the region’s momentum, Côte d'Ivoire’s upcoming election may trigger volatility.

VC close: Saviu Ventures raised $26 million for its second fund, targeting fintech, healthtech, and e-commerce in Francophone Africa. Backed by DGGF, Proparco, and AXIAN, the firm has already invested in startups like Julaya and Waspito, strengthening Africa’s digital economy.

Easing inflation: Egypt’s consumer prices slowed to 24% in January, down from its 38% peak in 2023, though food and transport costs remain high. The Egyptian pound’s depreciation and money supply expansion continue to pressure prices, keeping household purchasing power under strain.

Crypto gamble: The Central African Republic launched CAR Meme, a Solana-based meme-coin, to attract investment after its Bitcoin and Sango Coin efforts faltered. Despite government backing, the token rose to $900 million market-cap within hours before losing 90% of its value, raising doubts about its long-term viability.

Event Spotlight: Africa Gate To Growth Forum 2025 🚀

Africa’s investment and innovation landscape takes center stage at Africa Gate to Growth Forum 2025, happening on February 21 at UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business. 

This high-impact event will convene industry leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to explore how finance and technology drive growth in West Africa. If you're passionate about Africa’s economic future, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Click here or the button below to secure your spot now.

Headline Roundup

Markets & Finance

• BRVM Stock Market Gains as Orange CI Leads Rebound

• Rwanda’s Iterambere Fund to List on Local Stock Exchange

• South Africa's JSE Ventures Facilitates First Carbon Credit Trades

Economy & Macro

• South Africa Factory Activity Contracts on Mozambique Disruptions

• Zambia Hikes Interest Rate Again to Curb Inflation, Support Currency

• Mali Introduces Mobile Taxes to Fund Security Amid Rising Insurgency

Corporate & M&A

• Beltone Capital Acquires Baobab Stake from Apis Partners

• Nigerian Banks See Capital-Raising Progress to Meet New Bases

• Startbutton Enters Francophone Africa to Power Cross-Border Expansion

VC, Startups & Tech

• Egypt’s Khazna Eyes Digital Banking, Saudi Expansion After $16M-Raise

• Raenest Bags $11M to Expand Cross-Border Payments for Africans

• Ghana’s Affinity Africa Raises $8M to Expand Digital Banking

What Else We’re Reading

• Africa in 2025: The Fastest-Growing Economies

• The Best BRVM Stocks and African Stock Markets of 2024

• M&A Surge: How Consolidation is Reshaping African Tech

• African Tech in 2024: Major Themes That Shaped the Year

• Top 15 Largest African Startup Funding Rounds in 2024

Chart of the Week

Africa’s gaming market is booming! New data from Carry1st and Newzoo highlights the explosive growth of gaming in Africa. The industry expanded 6X faster than the global average in 2024, driven by mobile adoption.

Here are key insights from the report:

• 349M gamers in Africa in 2024 (up 32M from 2023, a 10% YoY increase)

• $1.8B revenues in 2024, growing 12.4% YoY (vs. 2.1% global growth)

• Mobile dominates: 304M gamers (87% of total), driving $1.6B in revenue

• Top revenue markets: Egypt ($368M), Nigeria ($300M), South Africa ($278M)

• Fastest-growing countries: Eritrea & Niger

Why it matters: Africa’s gaming industry is leapfrogging traditional platforms, fueled by mobile adoption, internet access, and innovative payment solutions.

As global gaming slows, Africa remains a rare growth frontier.

That’s it for today.

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Catch you next week!