Cameroon serves as a gateway to the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) region, attracting businesses and investors from around the globe. While most investors focus on oil, mining, and agriculture, smart money is quietly moving into something bigger: Cameroon’s rapidly growing tech and digital services sector.
This isn’t just another emerging market story. The technology scene is emerging, with mobile technology and fintech startups leading the way Statista. With the government’s Digital Cameroon 2020 strategy continuing to drive technological adoption, the infrastructure for tech growth is expanding. The question isn’t whether to invest in Cameroonian tech. It’s how to do it right.
Overview of the Tech Ecosystem: Where the Opportunities Are
Cameroon’s tech ecosystem isn’t theoretical. It’s real, growing, and producing companies that solve actual problems for millions of people across Central Africa and beyond.
Silicon Mountain: Africa’s Hidden Tech Hub. Silicon Mountain is a nickname coined to represent the technology ecosystem in the Mountain area of Cameroon, with its epicenter in Buea. It was on Silicon Mountain that Cameroon’s tech community began to take shape, producing startups such as health app Healthlane (formerly GiftedMom) and job-matching mobile app Njorku. This isn’t hype. Buea hosts over 25 tech hubs, incubators and co-working spaces, including Cameroon’s leading tech hub ActivSpaces.
Major Tech Hubs Across Three Cities. Douala, a crossroads for the Anglophone and Francophone regions, is home to more than 40% of Cameroon’s tech startups. Yaoundé, the country’s capital, is home to nearly 30% of the country’s startups. Buea ranks third, accounting for 20% of all startup activity. The Yaoundé Innovation City is a technology park that brings together innovative companies in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnologies
Fintech Dominates Investment. Fintech represents the most important area of technological innovation in the country, accounting for about 35% of tech startups in Cameroon and drawing the greatest investments, especially since 2019. With millions of Cameroonians using mobile money daily (Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money), fintech solutions that improve payments, lending, and financial services for underbanked populations have massive market potential.
Web Development and Digital Services. Beyond fintech, there’s substantial demand for professional web development, digital marketing, cloud services, and IT solutions. Most Cameroonian businesses still don’t have proper online presence. Companies that bridge this gap, like Biro Integrated Tech, are positioned to capture a market where every SME eventually needs web development, digital marketing, and IT solutions.
AI and Emerging Technologies. Nexbyt Technology’s VigilantBot is an AI-powered virtual security officer designed to safeguard businesses from cyber threats in real time, built with the MERN stack. Local entrepreneurs are building AI solutions, healthtech platforms, logistics software, and educational technology that serve African markets. These aren’t copycats of Western products. They’re solutions designed specifically for African challenges like inconsistent internet, mobile-first usage, and cash-based economies.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Investment. Despite numerous economic challenges, Cameroon continues to attract FDI, particularly in sectors such as energy, tech, mining and agriculture. In the tech sector, notable developments include the arrival of Yango in Cameroon, an app owned by the Yandex group used to link transporters and passengers. The telecommunications sector provides infrastructure that enables the entire digital economy.
The ecosystem is real, diverse, and growing. The businesses being built here aren’t garage projects. They’re solving real problems for real customers with real revenue.
Why Foreign Investors Should Consider Cameroonian Tech Now
Cameroon offers advantages that make it compelling for tech investment, especially compared to oversaturated markets like Nigeria or Kenya where valuations have become expensive.
Young, Skilled, Bilingual Workforce. Since Njaka started in 2011, they’ve held events in five of Cameroon’s regions and impacted over 5,000 kids with coding skills. The number of remote developers in Buea and Bamenda is increasing by the day, with developers working for companies in California and New York from the comfort of their homes. These aren’t just coders. They’re bilingual professionals who understand both Anglophone and Francophone African markets, speak English and French fluently, and can navigate different business cultures across the continent.
The University of Buea, Catholic University Institute of Buea, Polytech Institutes, and other institutions produce hundreds of tech graduates annually. Many have international experience through remote work but want to build companies in Cameroon. That combination of global skills and local market knowledge is rare and valuable.
Affordable Labor Compared to Western Markets. Foreign investors can own 100% of businesses in most sectors, though certain strategic sectors may require local partnerships. Labor arbitrage isn’t exploitation; it’s opportunity for both investors and local talent.
Strategic Position for Regional Expansion. Cameroon sits at the center of Central Africa. Companies that succeed here can easily expand to Gabon, Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, and the broader CEMAC region. Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, serves as the country’s commercial hub and is home to the largest port in Central Africa, playing a crucial role in trade. This geographic advantage makes Cameroon an ideal base for serving Central and West African markets.
Government Support and Incentives. Qualifying investments can receive tax holidays ranging from 5-10 years, reduced corporate tax rates, and exemptions from certain import duties, with specific incentives depending on investment size, sector, and location. The government understands that tech is essential for economic diversification beyond oil and agriculture. While bureaucracy exists (we’ll address challenges shortly), genuine government interest in growing the tech sector creates opportunities for well-structured investments.
Undervalued Market with Room to Grow. Since 2019, tech startups in Cameroon and Central Africa have only raised about $82 million (2019-2022), representing less than 0.8% of total funding raised by startups on the continent. This isn’t a weakness. It’s an opportunity. Valuations are reasonable. Competition for deals is lower. Good companies are still accessible to investors at entry points that would be impossible in Lagos or Nairobi where similar startups command 5x-10x higher valuations.
Growing Digital Economy. The tech space in Cameroon is growing rapidly Business in Cameroon. More Cameroonians are coming online. Mobile money adoption is accelerating. E-commerce is expanding. Businesses are digitizing. This isn’t future potential. It’s happening right now, creating real opportunities for tech companies serving this growing market.
The fundamentals are strong. The timing is right. Early investors who enter now, before the market heats up and valuations become expensive, position themselves for significant returns.
Challenges Foreign Investors Face and How to Overcome Them
Let’s be honest about the obstacles, because understanding them is how you successfully navigate them.
Infrastructure Limitations, Especially Internet Connectivity. In 2017, civil unrest resulted in an internet outage across the Anglophone regions. The e-commerce platform Jumia reported an 18 percent drop in orders during the period, and MNO Orange saw a 20 percent drop in revenue, with estimates that the shutdown cost the country $4.5 million in economic activity. Internet outages, while less frequent now, still happen. Power supply can be inconsistent outside major cities.
How to overcome this: Partner with tech companies that build for these realities. Our web hosting services at Biro Integrated Tech are specifically optimized for Cameroonian connectivity challenges. Work with local partners who understand how to build reliable systems despite infrastructure limitations. Invest in backup power and multiple internet connections. These are solvable problems, not deal-breakers.
Internet and Data Costs. Mobile data in Cameroon costs more than in many Western countries, despite lower income levels. This affects product adoption and usage patterns.
How to overcome this: Build products optimized for low-bandwidth usage. Focus on mobile-first, lightweight applications. According to a GSMA report, Cameroon’s tech ecosystem has a micro early-stage ($1,000 to $20,000) investment gap, creating a market opportunity for donors and development finance institutions to fund early-stage startups. Understanding these constraints helps you build products people will actually use rather than Western-style data-heavy apps that fail in African markets.
Bureaucracy and Regulatory Complexity. Infrastructure deficits and bureaucratic hurdles can pose difficulties for businesses. Red tape can slow down business operations and deter potential investors. The 2024 Finance Law for the 2025 financial year introduced a number of fees for applications made by foreign investors to obtain authorizations to carry out commercial activities in Cameroon as a foreigner and to approve employment contracts for foreign employees and consultants.
How to overcome this: Work with local partners who understand the system. Don’t try to navigate Cameroonian business regulations from London or New York. Legal teams provide comprehensive support including legal due diligence, business registration, regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, and ongoing legal advisory services, with bilingual teams ensuring smooth communication throughout the investment process. At Biro Integrated Tech, our tech contract services help foreign investors structure proper legal frameworks for their investments and operations.
Limited Early-Stage Funding Ecosystem. While this is an opportunity (lower valuations), it also means less developed infrastructure for due diligence, legal frameworks, and exit options compared to mature markets.
How to overcome this: Be patient. Structure deals carefully. Build relationships before writing checks. The investors succeeding in Cameroon are those who take time to understand the market, build genuine partnerships, and think long-term rather than expecting quick exits.
Security Concerns in Certain Regions. Internal security issues persist, particularly due to the Anglophone crises in the Northwest and Southwest regions of the country and the Boko Haram issue in the northern part of the country, creating risks for investments in these regions.
How to overcome this: Focus investments in stable areas like Douala and Yaoundé where most economic activity happens anyway. Stay informed through local partners about regional dynamics. Most of Cameroon operates normally despite localized challenges in specific regions.
Political Uncertainty. Cameroon is under political uncertainty regarding succession and governance reforms that might follow the upcoming presidential elections in October 2025.
How to overcome this: Diversify investments across multiple companies and sectors. Build businesses with genuine value that will survive regardless of political changes. Focus on serving real customer needs rather than businesses dependent on specific government contracts or political connections.
These challenges are real but manageable. The investors who succeed are those who understand these realities upfront, plan accordingly, and partner with people who know how to navigate them.
How Biro Integrated Tech Can Help Foreign Investors Succeed
We’re not just a web development agency. We’re your bridge to successfully operating in Cameroon’s digital economy.
Local Partnership with International Standards. We’re Cameroonian, based in Douala, with deep roots in the local business community. But we work to international standards because many of our clients are foreign investors, diaspora entrepreneurs, and multinational companies entering the market. We understand both worlds. That’s valuable because most foreign investors either work with purely local companies that lack international experience, or international firms that don’t truly understand Cameroon. We bridge that gap.
Full-Service Web Development for Your Cameroonian Operations. Setting up a tech business in Cameroon? You need websites, web applications, e-commerce platforms, custom software built for local conditions. We build mobile-first, fast-loading sites optimized for Cameroonian internet speeds. We integrate Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, and local payment systems. We create bilingual interfaces (English/French) that serve both markets. We host on infrastructure designed for African connectivity challenges.
Digital Marketing That Reaches Cameroonian Customers. You can’t market to Cameroonians the same way you market in Europe or America. WhatsApp, Facebook, and mobile-first strategies dominate here. We help foreign investors build brands and acquire customers using platforms and tactics that actually work in this market. From social media management to local SEO to influencer partnerships, we know what converts here.
Reliable IT Solutions and Infrastructure Support. Need local IT support for your team? Cloud infrastructure management? Systems integration? Ongoing technical maintenance? We provide the IT backbone that keeps your operations running smoothly despite infrastructure challenges. This includes backup power solutions, redundant internet connections, cloud services optimized for African latency, and 24/7 support when things go wrong.
Tech Contract Services and Project Execution. From legal frameworks to vendor management to project delivery, we handle the technical execution of your Cameroon operations. Need to hire local developers? We can help. Need to structure contracts that protect your IP while complying with local law? We work with legal partners who specialize in tech. Need someone to manage your software development project with a local team? That’s exactly what we do.
Market Intelligence and Due Diligence. Considering investing in a Cameroonian tech startup? Thinking about acquiring a local digital business? Evaluating partnership opportunities? We provide technical due diligence, market analysis, and honest assessment of opportunities and risks. We’re not transaction brokers looking for commissions. We’re operators who understand what actually works here and can help you make informed decisions.
Ongoing Support and Problem-Solving. Challenges will arise. Internet will go down at inconvenient times. Regulations will change. Team members will need training. Payment processors will have issues. We’re here to solve these problems so you can focus on growing your business rather than fighting daily operational fires.
Whether you’re a diaspora entrepreneur looking to build tech solutions for Cameroon, a foreign VC evaluating investment opportunities, or an international company establishing local operations, we’re your reliable local partner who delivers international-quality work. Learn more about investing in Cameroon’s tech sector and how we support foreign investors.