Press

Birimian unveils the 11 brands selected to join the second cohort of the IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa program

Launched in June 2021, this program benefits emerging brands inspired by an African heritage and operating in the fields of fashion, accessories, jewelry, and cosmetics.

 

During a year, the designers are supported by a group of experts from the international creative scene. During group workshops or individual coaching and mentoring sessions, they are given the essential tools to master their
transition to scale and position themselves in a sustainable way in the international fashion market.

This year, 5 ready-to-wear fashion brands (premium and luxury), 3 footwear brands (premium), 2
accessories brands (premium and art pieces), and 1 cosmetics brand (high-end), are joining the program :

Armando Cabral, Guinée, Italie, Etats-Unis
Azede Jean Pierre, Haïti, Etats-Unis
Chez Nous Tunisie, France
Endelea, Tanzanie, Italie
Lafalaise Dion, Côte d’Ivoire
Pichulik,  Afrique du Sud
Renwa Yassin, Côte d’Ivoire, Liban
Suki Suki Naturals, Afrique du Sud
Wanda Lephoto,, Afrique du Sud
Wibes,, Côte d’Ivoire, France
Zyne,, Maroc

33% of the selected brands operate between the African continent and Europe, 8% of them between the African continent and the Middle East, and 59% have an exclusively African production.

This cohort is therefore marked by diversity, an openness to the world, and an ability to combine an African heritage with international influences:
“The second edition of the program is synonymous with diversity on several levels.

Sectoral diversity with brands that are open to the creative industries in the broadest sense, from fashion to jewelry to beauty and footwear, and geographical diversity with intercontinental brands.

This richness embodies the internationalization and diversification of brands of African heritage, and we are very proud that the program can reflect this,” said Thomas Delattre, Director of the Fashion Entrepreneurship Center at IFM.

The IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa program is a unique opportunity for emerging designers and brands from the continent and the diaspora to benefit from 12 months of strategic and operational support, allowing them to professionalize and institutionalize their activities. It is a program focused on promoting creative entrepreneurship.

“As an investment company, we know that the creative talent of young African designers must be supported by structures that allow them to develop viable and sustainable activities. Our goal is that by the end of the program, these brands are sufficiently structured to take off on the international scene, or receive an investment that allows them to scale up,” concludes Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, CEO of Birimian.

About Birimian

An operational investment company dedicated to luxury and premium brands of African heritage,
Birimian supports the continent’s designers over the long term, in their growth trajectory and for their international development. Birimian’s ambition is to accelerate the emergence of African brands internationally by positioning itself as their partner of reference in four main sectors: fashion, accessories, beauty & cosmetics and gourmet.

Birimian targets brands that carry in their DNA and their identity, the culture, tradition, history of the continent, its cultural heritage, sublimated in its diversity and adapting to modern and contemporary codes

About IFM 

A private higher education institution of general interest recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education, a training center for apprentices and executive education and a center of expertise for, the textile, fashion and luxury industries, Institut Français de la Mode offers 16 training programs at vocational, Bachelor, Master, Executive MBA and doctorate levels, which prepare students for all the professions in the fashion industry in the fields of management, design and craftsmanship Based in the heart of Paris on a new 9,000 m² campus, Institut Français de la Mode welcomes more than 1,000 students of some 50 nationalities – managers, designers, technicians, entrepreneurs – encouraging meetings, collaborations and cultural effervescence.

Institut Français de la Mode is a member of HESAM University, the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles, the Cumulus Association and the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institute (IFFTI). It is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance

Press contact 

Nicolas Teisserenc – Agence Poinciana:
nicolas@poinciana.co
+33 6 18 09 66 90
Jessica Ngon Kemoum – Birimian Ventures
jessica.ngonkemoum@birimianventures.com
+225 05 01 19 00 96

 

Birimian
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Fin Culture – A catalyst for creative and cultural entrepreneurship in Cote d’Ivoire

The Ministry of Culture and Francophonie of Cote d’Ivoire, the Ministry in charge of promoting Youth and Youth Employment, Birimian Ventures and Orange Bank Africa are proud to announce Fin Culture, an initiative built to finance cultural and creative endeavours by young Ivorians.

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Watch the first episode of our « Access to finance » serie

How do we facilitate access to finance for African fashion and creative entrepreneurs? Why is this process crucial for the development of an African creative economy? And how does the Birimian x OBA financing program fit into our global strategy to support brands of African heritage?

Birimian
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Birimian and Orange Bank Africa celebrate the success of their “Access to finance” program.

Birimian and Orange Bank Africa  have strengthened their partnership by signing an extension to the envelope dedicated to their financing program for Ivorian creative and cultural entrepreneurs.

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Laureen Kouassi-Olsson listed as one of the 100 most influential African women

100 Women

Laureen Kouassi-Olsson is the Founder and CEO of Birimian Holding, an operational investment company dedicated to luxury and premium African heritage Brands.

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The African Fashion Hub Punching Above Its Weight

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Côte d’Ivoire is home to fashion businesses focused on international investment and regional trade that one might expect to find in larger countries on the continent.

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IFM and Birimian launch accelerator program dedicated to African emerging brands

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Paris-based fashion school Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) announced a partnership with Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands.

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Birimian annonce le lancement d’un accélérateur avec l’Institut Français de la mode et la signature d’un accord exclusif avec WSN IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa pour les designers africains émergents.

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Birimian et le Institut Français de la Mode soutiennent les créateurs émergents africains à travers un programme d’accélérateur unique pour les jeunes marques créatives basées sur le continent africain ou dans la diaspora.

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Le Monde Afrique vient de consacrer un article (1) à Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, une figure reconnue du capital-investissement et des services financiers en Afrique.

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WSN, organisateur de Who’s Next, Première Classe, Impact, Traffic, Bijorhca les salons dédiés aux marques créatives émergentes et indépendantes, a signé un partenariat avec Birminian, première société d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain et l’Institut Français de la Mode, dans le but de soutenir la créativité africaine.

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IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa Launches To Support African Fashion Startups

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“IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa,” an unique acceleration program for developing African heritage companies in the fashion, accessories, and jewelry industries, has been launched by Birimian and the Institut Français de la Mode.

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Birimian conclut deux partenariats au profit des créateurs africains

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Birimian, plateforme d’investissement et d’accompagnement des marques africaines, lance avec l’Institut français de la mode (IFM) «IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa», un programme d’accélération pour les marques émergentes d’héritage africain dans le secteur.

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Accelerator to Nurture Emerging African Fashion Brands

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Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands, has announced two key strategic and exclusive partnerships. Birimian and the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) have launched IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa.

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Birimian annonce le lancement d’un accélérateur avec l’Institut Français de la mode et la signature d’un accord exclusif avec WSN

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Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), première société d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée exclusivement aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain, annonce la signature de deux partenariats avec (1) l’Institut Français de la Mode, l’une des écoles de mode de référence au niveau mondial, basée à Paris, et (2) WSN (Who’s Next, Première Classe, Impact, Traffic, Bijorhca).

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Birimian announces the launch of an accelerator with Institut Français de la Mode and the signing of an exclusive agreement with WSN

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The first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands, announces two key strategic and exclusive partnerships.

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WSN et l’IFM parient sur la jeune création africaine

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Birimian, la première plateforme d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain, annonce la signature de deux partenariats de poids avec l’Institut Français de la Mode et WSN.

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« Je veux permettre à la France et à l’Afrique de se reconnecter autrement à travers la mode »

Le Monde
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson a fondé Birimian, une société consacrée à l’investissement et à l’accompagnement stratégique des marques de luxe africaines.

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The Culture List: Celebrating Individuals and Brands Championing the Growth of Africa’s Creative Fashion Economy

Ebony
For Africa, where clothing and textile are the major facets of the creative economy, recent efforts towards amplifying the growth of this sector have made tremendous headway. Joining the new community of individuals and companies championing this cause is Birimian Holdings, an African luxury brand investment company.

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Birimian Au service du luxe africain

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Formée dans le gratin mondial des banques d’investissement, l’Ivoirienne Laureen Kouassi-Olsson lance Birimian pour financer les créateurs du continent.

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Seasoned investor sees opportunities in African luxury and premium brands

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Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, an experienced financial services and private equity executive, recently announced a new investment firm, Birimian, which seeks to back African fashion and luxury brands. She talks to James Torvaney about her plans.

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Birimian Holdings Invests in African Industry

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Worth an estimated $31B Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel, textile, and footwear market and its fashions are often an inspiration for international designers.

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Africa’s fashion industry has its first dedicated investment company

Quartz
Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel, textile, and footwear market is estimated to be worth $31 billion, and its fashions are often an inspiration for international designers. But many of its entrepreneurs operate in the informal sector. A lack of wide access to capital, low production capacities, and small distribution networks limit the industry’s growth potential.

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« L’Afrique est l’un des derniers terrains à explorer pour l’industrie textile, y compris haut de gamme »

Le Monde
A la tête d’un fonds dédié aux marques de la mode et du luxe issues du continent, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson appelle à ne pas laisser s’installer un phénomène de « fuite créative ».

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Birimian corre a sostegno del fashion africano

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La neo società di investimenti guidata da Laureen Kouassi-Olsson ha l’obiettivo di supportare e mettere in relazione le realtà luxury del Paese con lo scenario moda internazionale.

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New Investment Company Launched to Support African Luxury Brands

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The just-launched operational investment company, Birimian, says it aims to help African luxury and premium heritage brands grow their businesses regionally and internationally.

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The new investment fund scaling African luxury brands

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African fashion doesn’t yet have an answer to Chanel or Dior. Newly launched investment fund Birimian seeks to change that as the first operational investment company dedicated to scaling African fashion brands into global luxury houses.

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Birimian is Africa’s First Investment Company Dedicated to Luxury Brands

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Birimian, the first operational investment firm dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has launched to accelerate the international emergence of African creators and designers brands.

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Operational investment company Birimian launches to support African luxury and premium brands

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Today marks the launch of Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), the first operational investment company dedicated exclusively to African luxury and premium heritage brands.

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Operational investment company Birimian launches to support African luxury and premium brands

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Today marks the launch of Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), the first operational investment company dedicated exclusively to African luxury and premium heritage brands.

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Birimian débutera ses activités d’investissement et d’accélération ce 26 avril

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Après une brillante carrière dans les plus hautes sphères de la finance mondiale, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson a décidé de fonder Birimian.

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Laureen Kouassi-Olsson lance Birimian, une société d’investissement dédiée aux marques premium et de luxe africaine

Afriveille
Birimian, c’est le nom de la première société d’investissement opérationnelle spécialisée dans les marques de luxe et premium d’héritage african. Elle a été fondée par Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, professionnelle expérimentée dans les secteurs des services financiers et du capital-investissement en Afrique.

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First investment company dedicated to African luxury brands launches 

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Birimian, the first operational investment firm dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has launched to accelerate the international emergence of African creators and designers brands.

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Laureen Kouassi-Olsson lance Birimian, une société d’investissement au service du luxe made in Africa

La tribune Afrique
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson annoncera lundi 26 avril, le lancement de Birimian, une société d’investissement opérationnelle, qui réunit créateurs africains et acteurs stratégiques européens. Retour sur un parcours peu ordinaire d’une ex golden-girl de Lehman Brothers qui a choisi la finance responsable pour faire rayonner la créativité africaine à l’international.

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