• Sierra Leone launched the Redsalt Angel Investment Network (RAIN) and signed a Framework Agreement with the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) to co-fund and support early-stage startups.

• The partnership aims to unlock capital, improve startup governance, and support scalable local ventures.

• These efforts align with national innovation strategies and are supported by initiatives like the Sierra Leone Innovation Investment Fund (SLIIF).

Sierra Leone is ramping up support for its startup ecosystem with the launch of the Redsalt Angel Investment Network (RAIN) and a new Framework Agreement with the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) to co-fund and support early-stage startups.

Announced on December 1, the partnership aims to unlock capital for emerging companies, enhance governance structures for startups, and foster the growth of scalable Sierra Leonean ventures. RAIN also signed a partnership with the Orange Digital Center, through the Orange Foundation, to provide founders with access to mentorship, investment-readiness support, and early-stage financing.

“Building a strong innovation ecosystem requires aligned partnerships, patient capital, and deliberate investment in our young entrepreneurs,” said Madam Salima Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation. “With supportive government policies and our ongoing digital transformation efforts, Sierra Leone is creating the conditions for innovation to grow, industries to modernize, and entrepreneurs to scale.”

These efforts build on the government’s broader digital transformation agenda. Since 2018, Sierra Leone has established key institutions such as the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and MoCTI, guided by national frameworks like the National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS) and the 2024–2030 Medium-Term National Development Plan, which identifies Technology as one of the country’s “Big Five Game Changers.”

To further accelerate innovation, the government is advancing the Sierra Leone Innovation Investment Fund (SLIIF)—a blended finance vehicle designed to mobilize capital, strengthen infrastructure, develop future-ready talent, and nurture a vibrant startup ecosystem.

The launch of RAIN aligns with this broader strategy, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s commitment to building an inclusive digital economy. However, as highlighted in the June 2025 Tech Startup Scoping Report by Invest Salone, structural challenges remain. These include a limited investment pipeline, regulatory uncertainty, weak coordination among support institutions, and persistent gaps in connectivity, skills, and market access. Addressing these issues will be critical to unlocking the full potential of Sierra Leone’s innovation economy.

Hikmatu Bilali