Startup funding headlines tend to centre on software, but one of Senegal’s latest growth stories is built around machines that already exist. SORAM Afrique refurbishes professional printing equipment and redeploys it to businesses, schools and public institutions that need reliable machines without buying new.

The Dakar-founded company raised $1.36 million in October 2026 from Saviu Ventures through its Saviu II fund, with the management team also participating, according to Tech in Africa. Saviu described the investment as its first climate-tech deal, reflecting the resource-saving case for repairing and reusing equipment rather than replacing it.

A service business around reuse

SORAM’s model goes beyond selling a refurbished printer. The company audits a client’s needs, recommends equipment, installs it, trains users and provides ongoing optimisation. That service-led approach matters because businesses buying used equipment still need confidence that the machines will work and that maintenance will be available.

The company operates alongside IRIS Afrique and SIS within the OLU 360 group. Tech in Africa reported that the wider group has served more than 1,000 customers and placed about 4,000 machines across three countries. Together, the businesses employ 60 people and generate revenue from the equipment and support ecosystem around printing.

Growth beyond Senegal

The new capital is intended to support OLU 360’s next stage of growth. The group already operates in The Gambia and Guinea, with Côte d’Ivoire identified as a potential next market. Expansion will depend on maintaining access to spare parts, building service coverage and proving that refurbished equipment can meet institutional requirements at scale.

The story offers a useful reminder that African startups can build growth businesses in industrial services, not only consumer apps. Extending the useful life of equipment can lower costs for customers and reduce waste, but the commercial case rests on dependable repairs, warranties and after-sales support. SORAM’s regional expansion will test how repeatable that model is across West African markets.

Source: Tech in Africa’s report on the investment.