Russian technology projects might seem far removed from the everyday concerns of people across the African continent. But SOLARGROUP’s statistics tell a different story: in recent years, a substantial core of investors and partners from French-speaking African countries has formed around the platform’s projects. Let’s look at what has captured their attention — and what lies behind these numbers.
Francophone Africa in SOLARGROUP’s Geographic Footprint
SOLARGROUP has been operating since 2017 and brings together participants from more than 100 countries. French-speaking African countries occupy a notable place within that network.
Aggregated, up-to-date data for the region as a whole isn’t published in publicly available documents, so the scale of this trend has to be assessed through separate snapshots in time.
In 2020, there were roughly 1,300 investors in the “Duyunov Motors” project across Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, and Togo, with total investments amounting to several hundred thousand dollars.
By 2021, France, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso together counted nearly 11,000 registered participants and more than 3,700 investors.
According to 2022 data, Côte d’Ivoire alone recorded more than 4,200 users, nearly 1,800 investors, and over 1,400 SOLARGROUP partners. The country accounted for approximately 1.7% of total effective investment in the “Duyunov Motors” project.
Interest from participants in the region later expanded to the platform’s second project, “Next-Generation Airships.” As of September 2024, there were reportedly 80 investors in Côte d’Ivoire, 70 in Benin, 54 in Togo, 40 in Burkina Faso, and 33 in Cameroon.
These figures relate to different time periods and different projects, so they shouldn’t be combined into a single statistic. Still, they point to a sustained SOLARGROUP presence across several countries in the region.
Why the Partner Network Matters Here
The partnership model plays a specific role in the platform’s growth in French-speaking Africa.
SOLARGROUP partners are compensated for bringing in new participants and spreading information about the projects. As an example, Côte d’Ivoire had more than 1,400 partners in 2022.
In markets where personal recommendations, local communities, and trust in familiar sources of information carry more weight, this model can be especially effective. Participants learn about the projects not only through the platform’s official channels but also through local partners, who speak their language and better understand regional nuances.
What Participants Are Actually Funding
SOLARGROUP’s platform features two technology projects.
The first is the “Duyunov Motors” project, tied to the creation of the “Sovelmash” engineering center in Zelenograd.
Construction of the facility was completed in December 2024. In July 2026, the company received authorization to bring the engineering center into operation. Ownership of the completed structures is registered under Sovelmash LLC.
The project has thus moved from the infrastructure-construction phase into the next stage of the company’s development.
The second is the “Next-Generation Airships” project, which is at an earlier stage of implementation and focuses on designing modern airships for transport and logistics missions.
As of mid-2026, the project was still raising funds. Production space has been leased in Kiryath for assembling the new NOVA-2 airship; the aircraft has been fully designed, and a significant portion of the envelope components has already been manufactured.
Why This Case Is Interesting
The story of SOLARGROUP in French-speaking Africa is notable not just for the volume of investment or the number of participants.
It shows that individual investors in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and other countries are willing to consider technology projects being carried out far beyond their own markets.
It’s also an example of how a digital investment platform combined with a network of local partners can connect developers of technology projects with private participants from different countries.
It’s still too early to talk about final outcomes for either project. But it’s already clear that an international community has formed around them, a significant portion of which is based in French-speaking Africa.
Interest from private African investors in technology has become widespread. This reflects genuine demand that keeps growing each year as new participants join.
What does this mean for investors? Platforms of this kind rest on a readable market capacity and real financial flows, making them worth considering for investment.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Times Tabloid, nor is it intended for legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
