What is RABIDA?
RABIDA provides a structured pathway and the right instruments for diaspora founders with proven traction to expand, establish operations, and scale in Cabo Verde. It enables high-potential ventures to integrate efficiently into the local ecosystem, leverage strategic incentives, access institutional support, and unlock financing opportunities. By aligning global execution capability with local market opportunity, RABIDA helps transform validated business models into scalable innovation and sustainable development impact in Cabo Verde.
The Rabida Pathway
GET INFORMED
Inova Cabo Verde
APPLY
RABIDA Seed Fund
CONNECT
SIKABADU Summit by RABIDA
BUILD
GROW & IMPACT
Who Can Participate?
Diaspora Startup Founders
Clear eligibility, structured pathways, and reduced risk for meaningful diaspora engagement with Cabo Verde.
LOCAL STARTUPS
Selection-driven access to capital, diaspora expertise, and national platforms for growth and scale.
WOMEN AND YOUTH INNOVATORS
From visibility to impact: mobilising women and youth through merit-based pathways and real opportunities.
ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS
Aligned collaboration across institutions, private sector, and civil society to drive systemic innovation.
Opportunities
RABIDA offers a clear path and the right tools for diaspora talent to come back, integrate, invest and make a difference, creating a cohesive ecosystem that turns global skills into local innovation and lasting development impact.
Upcoming Activities
INOVA CABO VERDE CONFERENCES (Online Events)
Seminar 1
10:00–12:00 CVTA Window on Cabo Verde
Ecosystem understanding & opportunity mapping
Seminar 2
12:00–14:00 CVTBuilding Strong Partnerships
Institutional navigation & engagement
SIKABADU Summit
SIKABADU Summit
Stay Tuned
Workshop 1
Connecting Local Innovation with Global Networks
Stay Tuned
Workshop 2
Venture Readiness & Funding
Stay Tuned
SIKABADU Onboarding by RABIDA
SIKABADU Onboarding Programme, powered by RABIDA – Connecting Diaspora Entrepreneurs to Cabo Verde’s Innovation Ecosystem The SIKABADU Onboarding Programme powered by RABIDA is the official kick-off event designed to connect diaspora entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors with Cabo Verde’s growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Taking place during Cabo Verde Digital Week, this hybrid event will bring together diaspora founders, home-based founders, national institutions, investors, and ecosystem partners to explore opportunities to launch, invest, and scale ventures in Cabo Verde. Through the opening ceremony, strategic seminars, networking sessions, and ecosystem visits, participants will gain valuable insights into Cabo Verde’s economic landscape, institutional pathways, and priority sectors while building connections that can lead to partnerships, investment, and new ventures. With this Onboarding Event participants begin their journey within the RABIDA Pathway, including a series of softlanding support, grants for a few competition winners, preparing for a series of structured opportunities within the national innovation ecosystem.
Inova Cabo Verde reduces uncertainty and entry risk by turning interest into informed readiness. Participants leave with the knowledge, tools, and context needed to make confident decisions.
Core Components
1. High-Level Interactive Seminars
Strategic and institutional foundation. Seminar 1 (A Window on Cabo Verde) & Seminar 2 (Building Strong Partnerships).
2. Thematic & Partnership Workshops
Bridge layer between learning and execution. Translating insights into concrete next steps and partnership building.
RABIDA Seed Fund
Coming soon...
The bridge between Cabo Verde’s and the global capital, and the , and networks of its ,
Execution, Matchmaking, and Ecosystem Integration
MATCHMAKING
High-quality, curated connections between diaspora founders, local startups, investors, and institutions — turning readiness into strategic partnerships.
PITCH ARENA
Structured pitch competitions and innovation marketplaces focused on real, investable opportunities.
VISIBILITY
High production standards and strong policy-level exposure, positioning ventures within national and international agendas.
GRANT ALLOCATION
Transparent, merit-based funding mechanism activated on-site to support selected ventures.
SOFT-LANDING
Operational and institutional support for ventures entering or expanding in Cabo Verde.
FUNDING PLATFORM
Where ventures are selected, partnerships are formalised, grants are allocated through a transparent process, and long-term collaboration pathways are activated.
Diaspora Soft-Landing Pitch Competition
Comming soon...
Frequently Asked Questions
Diaspora Founders & Investors
- Cape Verdean diaspora members (first, second, or third generation)
- Founders/Co-founders of technology-based or innovative startups
- Willingness to establish or scale operations in Cabo Verde
- Strategic alignment with priority economic sectors
Key Benefits
Direct access to seed funding, technical facilitation, and a structured soft-landing pathway.
Local Cabo Verdean Startups
- Legally registered innovative companies in Cabo Verde
- Seeking strategic partners, investors, or global mentorship
- Demonstrated traction or highly scalable business model
- Capacity to integrate diaspora expertise into local operations
Strategic Value
Exposure to global capital, international markets, and highly specialized diaspora knowledge.
She Dreams, She Builds
Is there a specific focus for women?
Yes, RABIDA proactively encourages and prioritizes applications from women-led ventures, both in the diaspora and locally.
What kind of support is provided?
Beyond funding, we provide specialized mentorship and visibility to help bridge the gender gap in the tech ecosystem.
Institutional & Ecosystem Partners
How can institutions join?
We welcome collaboration with incubators, accelerators, and venture capital firms interested in bridging the diaspora-local gap.
What is the commitment?
Partners play key roles in mentorship, validation, and provide technical resources for participating startups.
Ecosystem Voices
Diaspora Voices
Founding partners building the startup ecosystem alongside emerging tech talents and scale-ups.
Builder Stories
From grassroots engineering to launching a recognized tech enterprise while retaining identity.
She Dreams, She Builds
Amplifying real stories of women in Cabo Verde's innovation ecosystem, both locally and across the diaspora.
Your Way Back to Invest
The Diaspora Investor Guide contains essential structural information for those building innovative, digital, and scalable businesses in Cabo Verde. Here you will find:
Legal and tax frameworks for secure startup setup
Step-by-step registration and licensing processes
Incentive schemes and investment benefits
Guide to key public institutions and support structures
Strategic priority sectors for economic transformation
Institutional base to mitigate risk and reduce uncertainty
RABIDA in Numbers
Applications Received
Diaspora Ventures Supported
Women-Led Startups
Seed Funding Deployed
Contact Us
Ready to start your journey back to Cabo Verde? Reach out and let's explore your next step.
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