Côte d’Ivoire: Stanislas Zézé plans investment fund to support African SMEs

Ivorian financial executive Stanislas Zézé has announced plans to create an investment fund aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa, as he seeks to expand access to capital for businesses at different stages of their development.

Zézé, founder and chief executive of Bloomfield Investment Corporation, announced the project on September 1 during the first edition of Private Talk, an event held in Abidjan bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors.

The planned fund would provide financing to African SMEs from the early stages of their development through to expansion, according to Zézé. The initiative is intended not only to provide capital but also to help companies strengthen their structures and build the capacity needed to sustain long-term growth.

The announcement comes as access to financing remains a major challenge for African SMEs. Many businesses across the continent face difficulties obtaining long-term capital, limiting their ability to invest, expand operations, create jobs and compete in regional and international markets.

Zézé said the proposed fund would seek to address part of this financing gap by supporting businesses with growth potential and helping them move from early-stage operations to more established companies.

No financial target or size for the proposed fund has been announced, and details regarding its investment strategy, launch date and fundraising structure have yet to be disclosed.

The initiative reflects a broader debate across Africa about the need to develop deeper local capital markets and increase private investment in businesses that often remain too small or insufficiently structured to access traditional financing.

In addition to the investment fund, Zézé announced plans to establish a private foundation focused on philanthropy and mentorship for young African entrepreneurs.

The foundation is expected to provide a platform for supporting the next generation of business leaders, while the proposed investment fund would focus on providing financial backing to companies with potential for growth.

Zézé also discussed the long-term succession of Bloomfield Investment Corporation, saying he was preparing his daughters to eventually contribute to the continuity of the group.

Founded in Côte d’Ivoire, Bloomfield Investment Corporation has developed into a regional financial services company specialising in credit ratings and financial analysis.

For African SMEs, the creation of new investment vehicles could provide an alternative to traditional bank lending, particularly for companies seeking equity or growth capital.

The success of Zézé’s proposed fund will ultimately depend on its ability to mobilise sufficient capital, identify viable businesses and provide them with the financial and managerial support required to scale.

For now, the announcement marks an intention to build a new financing mechanism for African entrepreneurs at a time when access to growth capital remains one of the continent’s key private-sector challenges.