The Salone Angel Network (SAN) has launched in Freetown to connect promising Sierra Leonean businesses with domestic, diaspora and international investors, alongside mentoring and business support.
The launch took place on 9 September 2026 before an audience of investors, businesses and the public sector. Christopher Greene, SAN’s Interim Manager, delivered the opening remarks and declared the network open for business. Hon. Salima Monorma Bah, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, gave the keynote address.
“We’ve built the Salone Angel Network to help us accelerate the pace of startup creation and innovation in Sierra Leone,” said Greene.
SAN aims to address the shortage of early-stage finance available to promising businesses. It will offer seed investments of US$10,000 to US$50,000 per company, usually in exchange for equity, although debt may also be considered. Investee businesses can also receive founder mentoring, business advice and technical assistance where appropriate.
Invest Salone, a UK-funded private-sector development programme, helped set up SAN by commissioning a study on establishing an angel network in Sierra Leone. It also provided technical assistance to support the development of SAN’s governance, membership arrangements, investment processes, policy engagement and plans for a sustainable Secretariat.
Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Invest Salone’s Team Leader, said: “The Salone Angel Network has the potential to help address a longstanding gap in early-stage finance in Sierra Leone. Invest Salone is proud to have supported its launch. The next step for SAN is to build its membership and pipeline so that promising businesses can connect with investors and get the support they need.”
The launch included a panel discussion on early-stage venture finance, moderated by Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie. Panellists were David Manley of Fɛlei Tech City, a proposed technology and innovation hub in Bo, Sierra Leone; Sorieba Daffae of Monime, a financial platform; and Emily Fanday of The Community, a peer-to-peer lending platform.
In his opening remarks, Greene said SAN was open to individual and corporate members and ready to consider investments in start-up companies. The network also plans to hold monthly pitch sessions and founder Q&As. The event concluded with a networking session.
SAN was established with support from Invest Salone, Innovation SL, Syberlex Consulting and the African Business Angel Network.
The network’s next steps include recruiting and onboarding investors, developing a pipeline of start-ups, and taking investment opportunities through screening, due diligence and investment decisions. It will also continue investor education and engagement with ministries, departments and agencies on the conditions needed to support early-stage investment.
