French digital health unicorn Alan has launched its expansion into West Africa through the acquisition of Senegalese health insurer Tanel.
With the support of investors such as the football star Kylian Mbappé, the move comes as a result of Alan’s recent €580 million funding round, which raised its valuation to €5.5 billion. While financial terms were not disclosed, the buyout leverages Alan’s capital reserves to broaden its reach beyond its existing footprint in France, Spain, Belgium, and Canada.
The acquisition deepens an existing connection, as Alan previously backed Tanel during its seed round when the African startup was valued at $7.5 million in 2024. Serving roughly 70,000 members across Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, Tanel manages corporate accounts for brands like KFC and Yango. The exit provides a key milestone for early backers, including Nigeria’s Ventures Platform and Japan’s AAIC, in an ecosystem where health tech exits remain relatively rare.
Alan CEO Jean-Charles Samuelian-Werve noted that eighteen months of close operational collaboration confirmed Tanel’s position in Dakar as the right platform for regional growth. Although Alan generates €840 million in annual recurring revenue across more than one million members, the company remains unprofitable and views international growth as crucial to achieving long-term profitability. Integrating Tanel enables the firm to introduce its digital health software to high-growth emerging markets.
According to Tanel CEO Mouhamed Ndoye, the acquisition developed while the startup was preparing its Series A round. Both teams determined that a full integration offered greater strategic value than an independent fundraise, particularly as Alan expands its offerings beyond health insurance into broader digital care. Operating under the Alan brand, Tanel will retain its current leadership team to oversee regional growth and prepare for future expansion into English-speaking West and East Africa.
The deal reflects a broader trend of well-funded European tech companies targeting Africa’s expanding corporate health and insurance sectors. Led by Ndoye and co-founder Makhtar Diop, the local management team will utilize its West African footprint alongside Alan’s technology and capital to scale healthcare access across the continent.
