The verdict in three sentences
A B2B matching platform MVP for West African SMEs costs EUR 15,000 to 40,000 in 2026 when built by an agency in London or Paris, and FCFA 2.5M to 7M (EUR 3,810 to 10,670) on the Kolonell custom application grid, built in Dakar close to the target users. The realistic timeline is 8 to 12 weeks, plus FCFA 30,000 to 90,000 (EUR 50 to 140) of hosting per month. Before raising money, the founder mainly has to prove three metrics: matches that turn into contracts, clients who come back, and revenue per transaction that covers acquisition.
What an MVP must include, and what can wait
The most expensive mistake is trying to launch a full platform. An MVP exists to check that an SME in Dakar or Abidjan will find a provider online and pay for that service. Everything else can wait for version 2.
| Feature | In the MVP? | Kolonell tier | Timeline impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| SME and provider sign-up, manually verified profiles | Yes | Simple | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Search by category, city and budget | Yes | Simple | 1 week |
| Quote requests and email or WhatsApp notifications | Yes | Simple | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Moderation and request tracking back office | Yes | Simple | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Wave and Orange Money payment with commission | Depends on the model | Medium | 2 to 3 weeks |
| In-app messaging between parties | Depends on the model | Medium | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Provider reviews and ratings | Useful | Medium | 1 week |
| Native mobile app, automated KYC, recommendation engine | No, version 2 | Complex (FCFA 7M to 15M and above) | 6 weeks and more |
The simple tier, FCFA 2.5M to 4M (EUR 3,810 to 6,100), is enough if you collect the commission outside the platform during the test phase. The medium tier, FCFA 4M to 7M (EUR 6,100 to 10,670), becomes necessary as soon as online payment is part of the promise, for example to secure the client's deposit.
Build options compared
| Option | MVP budget | Timeline | Mobile money expertise | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency in London | EUR 25,000 to 40,000 | 10 to 14 weeks | Rare | Strong process, little local context |
| Agency in Paris | EUR 15,000 to 35,000 | 10 to 12 weeks | Variable | French-speaking, higher day rates |
| Freelancer in Europe | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 | 8 to 16 weeks | Rare | Risk if the freelancer leaves |
| Kolonell, simple tier | FCFA 2.5M to 4M (EUR 3,810 to 6,100) | 8 to 10 weeks | Native Wave and Orange Money | Team in Dakar |
| Kolonell, medium tier | FCFA 4M to 7M (EUR 6,100 to 10,670) | 10 to 12 weeks | Native Wave and Orange Money | Payment and messaging included |
| No-code tools | EUR 2,000 to 8,000 plus subscriptions | 4 to 8 weeks | Limited | Fast, hard to scale |
European agency figures are 2026 market estimates. Running costs after launch are similar whichever option you pick: hosting FCFA 30,000 to 90,000 a month, mobile money fees of around 1 to 3% depending on operator and contract, and Kolonell maintenance at FCFA 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 a month (about EUR 50, 110 or 180). For organic search, Kolonell SEO plans start at FCFA 100,000 a month (EUR 150) with the Essential plan, see the SEO page.
The three metrics to prove before going further
| Metric | Definition | Encouraging threshold over 3 months |
|---|---|---|
| Match completion rate | Requests that end in a signed assignment | 20 to 30% |
| Repeat rate | SMEs posting a second request within 90 days | 30% or more |
| Revenue per transaction versus acquisition cost | Average commission divided by the cost of one active SME | Above 1.5 |
These three numbers carry more weight with an investor than sign-up counts. The MVP should therefore include a dashboard computing them from day one, which takes 2 to 4 days of development.
Mini case study
Aminata, a diaspora founder based in London launching a platform connecting SMEs and IT providers in Dakar (illustrative profile), picks the medium tier with Wave payment and messaging, quoted at FCFA 5.5M (EUR 8,380) and delivered in 11 weeks.
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- 10% commission on average assignments of FCFA 300,000, or FCFA 30,000 per assignment.
- Six-month target: 40 assignments a month, or FCFA 1,200,000 monthly revenue.
- Costs: hosting FCFA 60,000, Standard maintenance FCFA 75,000, acquisition FCFA 300,000, total FCFA 435,000 a month.
Monthly margin: FCFA 765,000. The MVP pays back in just over 7 months once the target is reached, and Aminata meets investors with real figures instead of a mockup. The same build from a London agency at EUR 30,000 would need around 26 months of that margin.
FAQ
Can an MVP launch in under 8 weeks?
Yes for a very lean version without payment, around 6 weeks and FCFA 2.5M. Going lower usually sacrifices testing and the back office, which costs more at the first incident.
Should Wave and Orange Money be in the MVP?
Only if payment is part of the value, for example to secure a deposit. The integration adds 2 to 3 weeks and moves the project into the FCFA 4M to 7M tier.
Who owns the code?
The founder, once the balance is paid: insist on it in writing in the quote. Without that clause, a funding round can stall during technical due diligence.
What does version 2 cost after fundraising?
A platform with a mobile app, KYC and recommendations falls in the complex tier, FCFA 7M to 15M and above (EUR 10,670 to 22,870 and above). A well-structured MVP lets you reuse 60 to 80% of the code.
What budget should we plan for the first three months?
Count the build, then FCFA 300,000 to 750,000 a month for hosting, maintenance and acquisition. Keep a 10 to 15% reserve for adjustments after the first user feedback.
Let's scope your project. Describe your two user types, your revenue model and your launch date: we will quote the MVP scope, an indicative budget and a week-by-week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
