Dubai-based Yango Group announced on Friday the opening of its first African regional office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant milestone in its seven-year expansion across the continent.
The new office will serve Yango’s continental headquarters, coordinating operations across 16 African countries and accelerating local digital innovation. Already employing 200 people in Abidjan, Yango plans to scale its local workforce substantially in the coming year, underscoring its commitment to the region.
Yango’s CEO, Daniil Shuleyko, described the Abidjan office as a “new chapter” that aligns with the firm’s strategy to leverage global technologies while staying “rooted in local realities.”
Since launching in Côte d’Ivoire in 2018, Yango has grown to offer integrated services via its Super App, ranging from ride-hailing and food delivery to e-commerce and digital payments tailored to African markets.
Yango extends fellowship program across Africa to empower entrepreneurs
Alongside the office launch, Yango is expanding its Yango Fellowship to a pan-African level. This program will equip hundreds of aspiring tech professionals and entrepreneurs with the skills and mentorship needed to thrive in digital industries. This move strengthens Yango’s role in fostering homegrown talent and innovation ecosystems across Africa.
Yango’s broader ecosystem spans ride-hailing, public transport data, adtech, digital maps, and AI voice assistance, with a $20 million venture fund—Yango Ventures—focused on supporting early-stage startups across sectors like fintech, B2B SaaS, and online-to-offline services. The company emphasises investment and strategic partnerships to help startups scale sustainably.
“The new regional office in Abidjan signals our long-term dedication to Africa. We aim to build digital ecosystems that empower countries from within,” Shuleyko said.
“Africa was where our journey started, and today, Abidjan is home to our largest office on the continent and the centre of our Africa strategy”.
By combining international experience and local insights, Yango aims to address key challenges such as urban mobility, financial inclusion, and economic opportunity creation through technology solutions tailored to African realities. This expansion and fellowship extension position Yango as a growing influencer in Africa’s technology development landscape.