Kylian Mbappé-Backed Insurer Alan Expands into West Africa via Senegal Deal

Health-insurance start-up Alan, backed by Prosus and soccer star Kylian Mbappé, has acquired Senegalese insurer Tanel Health to gain an immediate foothold in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The deal follows a €480 million (US$550 million) funding round in June that valued Alan at €5.5 billion (US$6.3 billion). Purchase price was not disclosed.

Tanel will be rebranded under Alan, with its CEO and co-founder leading the combined African operations. The acquisition gives Alan 70,000 members, established provider networks, and local regulatory know-how – bypassing the slower process of building from scratch.

Alan, which offers a digital platform for managing insurance, claims, and preventive care, serves over one million members across Europe and Canada. Mbappé, an investor and ambassador since 2026, promotes preventive health through the app but was not involved in negotiating the Tanel purchase.

Prosus supplied most of Alan’s latest capital as part of its broader push beyond Tencent. While Alan’s recurring revenue exceeds €800 million (US$917 million), it remains unprofitable. Its West African expansion faces challenges including low private-insurance penetration, consumer distrust, and fragmented health infrastructure.