At EYElliance, we champion businesses that make clear vision accessible to all. That’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate Lapaire’s latest milestone—as Saviu Ventures, a pioneering venture capital firm in Francophone Africa, successfully exits its investment, paving the way for Creadev to take Lapaire’s mission even further.
Lapaire, a pan-African eyewear company, has transformed vision care across Africa since its founding in 2018. By offering free eye tests and affordable glasses, the company has reached hundreds of thousands of first-time wearers—many in low- and middle-income communities. With nearly 90 branches in six countries, Lapaire has proven that accessible vision care is both a necessity and a scalable business model.
Saviu Ventures played a pivotal role in this growth, particularly in expanding Lapaire’s footprint in Francophone West Africa and supporting the company through multiple funding rounds. Now, with Creadev as a strategic investor, Lapaire is poised for even greater impact, bringing vision care to even more underserved communities.
Looking Ahead
At EYElliance, we know that inclusive optical is an investable industry, and this milestone reaffirms the potential for optical businesses to scale while delivering essential services.
Jérôme Lapaire, CEO and Co-Founder of Lapaire, reflects on this journey:
“We are deeply grateful for Saviu Ventures’ unwavering support and strategic guidance throughout every stage of our journey, from product-market fit to scaling. This partnership has been instrumental not only in establishing our presence in Francophone West Africa, connecting us with potential investors and advising us on key aspects of strategy and governance and helping us during the hard times. As we welcome Creadev as our new partner, we are excited to intensify our efforts and move closer to our objective of improving one million lives by 2026.”
Benoît Delestre, Managing Partner at Saviu Ventures, shares his perspective:
“Our journey with Lapaire over the past six years has been exceptional. Supporting the company’s growth from a small Kenya-based startup to a pan-African leader in eye care with strong roots in Francophone Africa has been incredibly rewarding. With Creadev’s expertise, we are confident that Lapaire will reach even greater heights. This exit underscores our commitment to fostering impactful, scalable businesses in Africa.”
EYElliance supports the growth of inclusive optical businesses like Lapaire to expand access to affordable eyeglasses. Through strategic business support services, backed by proven models, we provide strategies for scaling, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. Lapaire’s success proves that affordable, accessible eye care is a public health necessity, an accelerator of global development, and an investable industry. By helping more optical businesses in low- and middle-income countries scale, we aim to ensure millions more people gain access to the life-changing benefits of clear vision.
We look forward to seeing Lapaire’s continued success as it expands into new markets and serves even more people in need of clear vision.
🔗 Read the full press release here: Saviu Ventures Announces the Sale of its Entire Ownership Stake in Lapaire to Creadev
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