The verdict in three sentences
A seed investor does not fund a marketplace idea, they fund a traction curve and unit economics that hold up. In 2026, the deck that closes in Lagos fits in 10 slides, shows a 10-20 % take rate and an LTV/CAC ratio above 3. Vision gets one slide; the other nine talk numbers, cohorts and execution.
The 10 slides that structure a seed deck
The rule is brutal: a fund spends on average 3 to 4 minutes on a first deck. Each slide must answer one question and only one. Here is the structure that converts in 2026 on the West African market.
| # | Slide | Question it answers | Key metric to show |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Problem | What pain, for whom? | Addressable market size |
| 2 | Solution | Why now? | Product demo in 1 visual |
| 3 | Market | How big is it? | TAM/SAM/SOM in FCFA |
| 4 | Traction | Does it already work? | GMV, MoM growth 15-25 % |
| 5 | Business model | How do you earn? | Take rate 10-20 % |
| 6 | Unit economics | Profitable per transaction? | LTV/CAC > 3, margin |
| 7 | Go-to-market | How do you acquire? | CAC per channel |
| 8 | Competition | Why you? | Positioning matrix |
| 9 | Team | Who executes? | Founder track record |
| 10 | Ask | How much, for what? | 30-150 M FCFA, dilution 10-20 % |
Slide 4 (traction) and slide 6 (unit economics) decide the next meeting. Everything else exists to make them credible.
The metrics expected in 2026
A West African seed fund applies thresholds increasingly close to international standards. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude that reassure an investment committee.
| Metric | Weak threshold | Expected target | Strong signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take rate (commission) | 8 % | 12-15 % | 18-20 % |
| Monthly GMV growth | 10 % | 15-25 % | > 30 % |
| LTV/CAC ratio | 2 | 3 | > 4 |
| Buyer retention at 3 months | 20 % | 35-45 % | > 50 % |
| Monthly burn vs runway | 6 months | 12-18 months | > 24 months |
| Seed ticket | 30 M FCFA | 60-100 M FCFA | 150 M FCFA |
| Dilution accepted | 10 % | 15 % | 20 % |
| Average time to close | 3 months | 4-6 months | < 3 months |
A take rate shown without proof of seller retention is worthless: show that your sellers stay, not just that they sign up.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
A deck that closes is built around a product that exists. Kolonell develops multi-vendor marketplaces with Wave and Orange Money payment splitting, and rewards the referral network that brings these projects. The 2026 scale is clear and stacks across pillars.
| Pillar referred | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace | 10 % of contract | — |
| Showcase site | 15 % | + 5 % recurring |
| E-commerce | 12 % | + 5 % recurring |
| Institutional | 8 % | — |
On a marketplace project billed at 5,000,000 FCFA, a referral partner earns 500,000 FCFA. Bring the project owner, we build the platform and handle the technical closing.
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Mini case study
Eric, a strategy consultant in Lagos, knows an entrepreneur who wants to launch an agricultural products marketplace. He introduces them to Kolonell. The project is signed at Growth tier for 6,000,000 FCFA. Eric collects 10 %, i.e. 600,000 FCFA, without writing a line of code or handling the technical pitch. Two introductions per quarter build him a serious side income.
FAQ
How many slides for a seed deck in 2026?
Ten slides are enough for a first contact. A 20-slide deck dilutes the message; keep the annexes (cohort detail, financial model) in a separate document sent on request.
What take rate do investors want on a West African marketplace?
Between 10 and 20 % depending on the vertical. Below 8 %, unit economics become hard to defend; above 20 %, they suspect sellers leaking off-platform.
What ticket should I target at seed?
Between 30 and 150 M FCFA in 2026, for 10-20 % dilution. Raise what covers 12-18 months of runway, no more: too much cash too early destroys discipline.
How long does a close take?
Count 3 to 6 months between the first meeting and the wire. Closing under 3 months is a strong traction signal; beyond 9 months, the deal often loses steam.
Do I need a working product before raising?
In 2026, yes. An MVP with a few dozen real transactions beats a thousand slides of projection. That is precisely what Kolonell delivers even before the raise.
Let's talk about your project. Carrying a marketplace idea or know a project owner? Become a partner or let's launch the MVP. 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.
