Founding Engineer - AI Health Companion

Senegalese startup Tanel acquired by Alan in major African healthtech exit. Tanel, a Dakar-based digital health startup, has been acquired by Alan, marking the French health insurance company's first entry into Africa and providing an exit for Tanel's founders and investors. Founded in 2021 by Mouhamed Ndoye and Makhtar Diop, Tanel operates in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, providing digital tools for businesses to manage employee health coverage and helping users access healthcare. The company serves around 70,000 members across 400+ companies and connects them to more than 1,200 pharmacies and healthcare providers. Alan first invested in Tanel's 2024 seed round. Following the acquisition, Tanel will retain its team and leadership while Alan provides additional technology and resources. The companies aim to reach more than 1 million African members by 2030, expanding into Anglophone West and East Africa.

Kylian mbappé-backed healthtech unicorn Alan makes first African acquisition. Published on September 2, 2026 The French digital health insurer Alan, whose backers include football star Kylian Mbappé and technology investor Prosus, has acquired Senegalese digital health coverage provider Tanel, marking the company's first expansion into Africa and signalling growing interest among European athletes in the continent's technology sector. Geographic Reference The acquisition, announced on Tuesday, comes months after Alan raised €580mn in a funding round that valued the company at €5.5bn. Financial terms of the Tanel transaction were not disclosed. Tanel was valued at $7.5mn in a 2024 fundraising round. Alan, which serves more than 1mn members across France, Spain, Belgium and Canada, provides insurance packages to corporate clients including Volkswagen Spain and France's finance ministry. Tanel operates a similar business model in Senegal and Ivory Coast, covering approximately 70,000 people through clients such as ride-hailing platform Yango and fast-food chain KFC. The deal represents a rare healthcare investment exit in Africa for early backers including Nigeria-based Ventures Platform and Japan's AAIC, a specialist healthcare investor on the continent. Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve, Alan's chief executive, said the two companies had developed a relationship over an 18-month period before deciding to combine. "We looked at different opportunities for expansion and we were lucky to know the Tanel team for one year and a half," Samuelian-Werve said. "The compatibility of our approaches made this a natural fit." The acquisition provides Alan with a foothold in francophone west Africa at a time when the company, despite generating €840mn in annual recurring revenue, continues to operate at a loss. Its backers include Index Ventures, Prosus and Mbappé, the French national team captain who joined as an investor and ambassador. Mouhamed Ndoye, Tanel's Dakar-based chief executive, said the two sides had initially discussed a Series A fundraising before concluding that an acquisition offered greater strategic value. "That was actually our initial plan earlier this year," Ndoye said. "But as we were discussing with Alan, we realised that it was a great opportunity to join forces because Alan has evolved beyond just health insurance." Tanel will be rebranded under the Alan name, with Ndoye and co-founder Makhtar Diop remaining to lead operations and oversee expansion into English-speaking markets in west and east Africa. Geographic Reference The deal underscores a broader trend of European footballers, particularly those of African descent, directing capital towards technology start-ups in francophone Africa. Senegal has emerged as a focal point, with recent investments spanning logistics, mobile marketing and financial technology. Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, Barcelona defender Jules Koundé and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan backed Dakar-based cloud communications platform LAfricaMobile. The same group had previously invested in Senegalese logistics company Paps Logistics. The pattern extends beyond Senegal. Édouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper formerly of Chelsea, invested in Ivory Coast-based payments start-up Julaya, which founder Mathias Léopoldie said had delivered a 4x return for early angel investors. Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has backed Nigerian fantasy sports platform Fanbants, while Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong has invested in Ghanaian remote work company Remoteli. Former France international Blaise Matuidi and former England defender Kieran Gibbs invested in Sudan-based fintech Bloom, now renamed Elevate, during their time at Inter Miami. The Alan-Tanel transaction, while primarily a strategic move by a European company seeking growth beyond saturated markets, provides further evidence that francophone Africa's technology sector is attracting attention from investors who previously focused elsewhere. Alan declined to disclose financial projections for its African operations but said the expansion would continue through organic growth and further acquisitions. Standard Bank's research found that eight out of 10 businesses in the informal sector are unregistered, making access to finance for expansion nearly impossible September 2, 2026 Before business leaders throw out a strategy that is not delivering, they should ask a more uncomfortable question. James Hughes, a business coach at Grow, writes from Cape Town, South Africa. September 2, 2026 Growth-stage businesses spanning healthcare, energy and agriculture to receive tailored support and access to follow-on capital. September 2, 2026 The Jordan-based group is expanding its footprint in the Arab world's most populous education market September 1, 2026 Standard Bank's research found that eight out of 10 businesses in the informal sector are unregistered, making access to finance for expansion nearly impossible September 2, 2026 Before business leaders throw out a strategy that is not delivering, they should ask a more uncomfortable question. James Hughes, a business coach at Grow, writes from Cape Town, South Africa. September 2, 2026 Growth-stage businesses spanning healthcare, energy and agriculture to receive tailored support and access to follow-on capital. September 2, 2026

French healthtech startup Alan has reached a valuation of €5 billion following a €100 million funding round led by Index Ventures. The company, which provides digital health insurance services, has grown from a $4.5 billion valuation in 2024. Founded in 2016, Alan now serves nearly one million users across France, Belgium, Spain, and Canada through its team of 740 employees. The company reported annual recurring revenue of €785 million in 2025, representing 53% growth year-on-year, whilst significantly reducing losses and approaching operational profitability in France. The funding round included participation from Greenoaks, Kaaf, SH, and notable angel investors including Shopify founder Tobi Lütke and footballer Antoine Griezmann. Belgian partner Belfius also renewed its investment. Alan plans to deploy the capital towards technology development and artificial intelligence capabilities. The company targets $1.16 billion in annual recurring revenue by 2026 whilst continuing international expansion.