I&P Accélération

YAM AGRO is a company that operates in the food industry. Created in 2019, it specializes in the production of syrups (bissap, ginger) and mango jam.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

YAM AGRO INDUSTRIE was founded by Steve YAMEOGO. Passionate about the agricultural sector and having grown up in the food processing industry, he holds an engineering degree in electromechanical engineering from the Private Polytechnic Institute of Casablanca (Morocco).

CONTRIBUTION OF SINERGI BURKINA

YAM AGRO is accompanied by SINERGI BURKINA within the framework of the I&P Acceleration program in Sahel.

The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Improve product quality and increase syrup production capacity
• Consolidate its gains in the market (strengthen its positioning and build loyalty among existing customers) and win a larger customer base at the national level
• Restructuring the company and strengthening its management system
• Diversify the company's products through the production of bissap wine

EXPECTED IMPACTS

• Consolidation and formalization of 7 existing jobs and creation of 10 new formal jobs for young people and women
• Contribution to the national economy through the payment of taxes to the tax authorities 
• Contribution to the development of agricultural sectors through the valorization of local products

About Sinergi Burkina

Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap).  → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina​​

La Maison Fenel produces and markets fashion accessories (fitted accessories, ordinary sewing accessories and leather goods accessories) from local fabrics woven in Burkina Faso (Faso Danfani). 

The Entrepreneur

Fenel was founded in 2019 by Angéline TRAORE YOUGBARE, who before creating the company, worked for 10 years as manager and main designer at Nagteedo Création, a company specialized in fashion and pearl jewelry. Passionate about fashion since 2007, it is in 2019 that she started to develop local woven loincloths such as the Faso Dan fani.

Discover our video report on Maison Fenel

Contribution of I&P Acceleration in Sahel and Sinergi Burkina

La Maison Fenel is supported by Sinergi Burkina as part of the I&P Acceleration program in Sahel.

The main objectives of this partnership are to :

• Increase production capacity and product quality
• Diversify the company's products by launching a range of ready-to-wear products made from Faso Danfani
• Set up an internal accounting system kept by a professional
• Strengthen the sales force and the visibility of the company 
• Restructuring the company and strengthening its management system

Expected Impacts

• Consolidation of 7 existing full-time jobs and creation of 6 new formal jobs for young people and full-time women
• Contribution to the national economy through the payment of taxes to the tax authorities
• Increased revenues for Faso Danfani loincloth weavers
• Creation of a strong added value through the valorization of local products
• Reducing imports of fashion accessories and strengthening exports

Read more

Company's website

About Sinergi Burkina

Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap).  → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina​

Salgatech is a company operating in the renewable energy sector. It specialises in the production and installation of multifunctional cold rooms and ice machines that it markets in Burkina Faso.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Salgatech SARL was created in 2018 by Silvère SALGA. Inventor, innovator, writer and trainer, Silvère SALGA is a seasoned expert in entrepreneurship, research and development, and green energy. He is the author of several scientific works and discoveries such as, Tensis system, The Theory of Transforming Humanity and The Theory of the Changing Universe and has received several awards including the Thomas Sankara Medal for Invention and Innovation and the 2nd Prize for the Best Productive Energy Innovation of the Energy Week, and Renewable Energy in Africa (SEERA). 

CONTRIBUTION OF SINERGI BURKINA

Salgatech is supported by SINERGI BURKINA as part of the I&P Acceleration in Sahel programme. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Relaunch and strengthen the production capacities of solar cold rooms 
• To set up a "cold landlord" service or service for renting solar cold room spaces.
• Set up an internal accounting system run by a professional.
• Strengthen the sales force

EXPECTED IMPACTS

• Consolidation and formalisation of 17 existing jobs, 6 of which are full-time and 12 new formal jobs for young people and women.
• Contribution to the economy through the payment of taxes to the tax administration
• Reduction of imports and/or the use of electric cold rooms with harmful consequences for the environment 
• Strengthen the agricultural and food sectors by reducing post-harvest losses.

About Sinergi Burkina

 Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap).  → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina

Épices et Essences de Côte d'Ivoire (E'Sens) specializes in the production of citrus essential oils (bigarade, bergamot). The company sources its essential oils from a network of 80 small-scale producers in Côte d'Ivoire, revitalizing a production that had been abandoned.

Watch our video report on E'Sens

The Entrepreneurs

E'Sens was created in 2016 by two young Ivorian finance professionals who saw the potential of an industry that had been abandoned in the Bas Sassandra region.

• Pierre-Yves N'Goran (Co-founder and Executive Director)

He holds a Master's degree in International Business from Hult International Business School, London, England. Between 2011 and 2014, he participated in several professional finance rotation programmes, notably at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Ace Global Depository. In 2014, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire where he held the position of Credit Analyst at NSIA Banque Côte d'Ivoire for four years. Today, he is co-founder of E'Sens and is in charge of running the business full time as the company's Executive Director.

• Karl Akueson-Gannyi (Co-Founder)

After graduating in chemical engineering with a Master's degree in Finance in England, he worked for several years at BMO Capital Markets, London (investment bank specialising in mining and oil operations - finance and M&A department). In 2014, he decided to return to Côte d'Ivoire and set up his own business by creating the financial group La Financière de l'Eléphant (LAFINELE), which advises, designs and creates companies to carry out several projects, particularly in mining, agriculture and technological innovation. Karl co-founded the company E'Sens in 2016.

I&P support

E'Sens benefits from the seed funding of the I&P Acceleration in Sahel programme which is implemented in Ivory Coast by Comoé Capital sponsored by I&P. The objectives are :

• increase the company's efficiency and optimisation of logistics
• increasing the area of E'Sen plantations
• support and evaluation of environmental and agronomic issues

Expected Impacts

• Creation of new jobs
• Support for the network of small producers with whom E'Sens works

About I&P Acceleration in the Sahel

The I&P Accélération au Sahel program, supported by the European Union, is aimed at start-ups and small businesses in the Sahel region, with one main objective: to give them access to the financing and skills they need to enable their development and thus promote job creation. Find out more →

About Comoé Capital

Comoé Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting Ivorian SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Issa Sidibé, Comoé Capital is the fifth African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). Comoé Capital website → 

Created in 2005, Tropic 105 is a clothing company under the brand name Ciss St Moïse. For 30 years, the promoter has been promoting African fashion and has established itself as a key player in the clothing sector. The company has 4 shops open in 3 boroughs of Abidjan.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Holder of a degree in history and geography, M. Moussa Cissé began his career as a history and geography teacher. In 1989, he launched his custom-made clothing business. In addition to being the manager of the haute couture house Ciss St Moïse where he makes ready-to-wear and made-to-measure clothes, he is also the promoter of the N'ZASSA MODE festival organised in Ivory Coast since 2014.

ABOUT COMOE CAPITAL

Comoé Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Ivorian SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Issa Sidibé, Comoé Capital is the fifth African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). →Site of Comoé Capital​

Jiro-Ve is a pioneering company in rural electrification in Madagascar, launched in 2014.

Jiro-Ve has come up with an innovative, inclusive micro franchise model to provide affordable and healthy lighting for marginalized communities. Its business model allows the company to rent out a rechargeable LED light for a price that is cheaper than candles or kerosene. For 250 Ariary per day (≈ 0,06 €) people get a fully charged light delivered to their doorstep, both incities and remote rural areas of Madagascar.

Jiro-Ve hires local entrepreneurs and uses existing networks, supporting and developing entrepreneurship.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Jiro Ve is managed by Rik Stamhuis, an entrepreneur of Dutch origin located in Madagascar since 2012.  He holds 48% of the company's capital.

Rik is a driven and energetic leader with years of experience working for social enterprises. Before founding Jiro-Ve, Rik worked in Kenya trying to find innovative ways of distributing renewable energy.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Thanks to funding from the program I&P Acceleration Technologies, Jiro-Ve plans to expand its activity, initially in Madagascar by distributing the new kits in larger quantities and targeting more regions.

The company aims to extend its offer to other regions of Africa later on.

EXPECTED IMPACTS

⇒ Jiro-Ve aims to eliminate poverty by helping local entrepreneurs to have a better income.

⇒ Jiro-Ve's model allows the most disadvantaged consumers to access a source of energy that is less polluting, less dangerous and less expensive than petroleum lamps.

⇒ According to the studies carried out by the company, each lamp used would avoid the emission of 0.37 tons of CO2 per year.

⇒ This energy source also has a positive impact on the health and well-being of users, by reducing the toxic fumes emitted by the candles and kerosene lamps that most target customers currently use.

About I&P Acceleration Technologies

Launched in 2019 with the support of the French Development Agency through its iniative Digital Africa, I&P Acceleration Technologies is a €2.5 million program that aims to finance and support some fifteen digital startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Western Africa, Central Africa and Madagascar. Click here to read more →

About Miarakap

Miarakap is the first impact fund dedicated to the financing and support SMEs and start-ups in Madagascar. Managed by Emmanuel Cotsoyannis, Miarakap is the fourth African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of its program I&P Development 2. The network currently includes impact funds specialized in SME-financing in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), in Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital). Click here to visit Miarakap's website →

SmartPredict is a SaaS platform using artificial intelligence for predictive analytics that helps companies in the deployment of their projects. There are multiple uses in all sectors: consumer forecasts (industry), product recommendations (marketing), default predictions (banking and insurance), etc. With their latest tool, RetailForecastor, the company enables retail companies to predict their sales and optimize their activities by avoiding over- or underproduction.

SmartPredict has been developed since 2018 by Malagasy developers and data scientists and has required one million lines of code to date.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

SmartPredict is led by Ranto ANDRIAMBOLOLONA, a Malagasy entrepreneur in his 40s with a passion for artificial intelligence since his studies.

Graduated from ISPM (Institut Supérieur Polytechnique de Madagascar) and the University of Marne La Vallée, he has more than 10 years of experience in the ICT sector in Paris (Axway, PriceMinister, etc.). He came back to Madagascar to launch HaiRun and SmartPredict, driven by the conviction that Malagasy developers and datascientists have the skills to match those of European companies.

He quickly demonstrated his ability to lead young, ambitious and growing companies. His first company HaiRun grew from 6 to 100 employees in the space of two years and raised €250,000 through its partnership with the impact investing fund Miarakap.

Partnership with I&P and Miarakap

Miarakap has committed itself alongside the promoter in the structuring of the young company, the launch of SmartPredict and the future fundraising efforts it aims to achieve.

Thanks to the partnership between the French Development Agency (AFD), Investisseurs et Partenaires (I&P), and Miarakap within the framework of the program I&P Accélération Technologies, SmartPredict benefits from a funding notably dedicated to Research & Development, as well as commercialization.

Expected Impacts

⇒ Promoting a Malagasy company that performs in the technological and innovative sector of artificial intelligence

⇒ Creation of qualified and well-paid jobs for Malagasy developers and "data scientists", whose retention in Madagascar is a challenge.

About I&P Acceleration Technologies

Launched in 2019 with the support of the French Development Agency through its iniative Digital Africa, I&P Acceleration Technologies is a €2.5 million program that aims to finance and support some fifteen digital startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Western Africa, Central Africa and Madagascar. Cick here to read more →

About Miarakap

Miarakap is the first impact fund dedicated to the financing and support SMEs and start-ups in Madagascar. Managed by Emmanuel Cotsoyannis, Miarakap is the fourth African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of its program I&P Development 2. The network currently includes impact funds specialized in SME-financing in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), in Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital). Click here to visit Miarakap's website →

Teliman is the very first on-demand motorcycle-taxi service in Bamako, Mali. Teliman is co-directed by Hawa Traoré and Abdoulaye Maiga, two young and talented professionals from the Malian diaspora. The company's vision is to revolutionize intra-urban transport in West Africa.

Teliman offers city dwellers a faster, cheaper, safer and door-to-door mode of transport. It provides drivers with attractive working conditions (access to motorcycle ownership via leasing, income above the minimum wage, social security).

Teliman has succeeded in creating and introducing a Motorcycle Taxi offer that was previously non-existent in Bamako.

Partnership with I&P 

The consortium of investors include Yamaha, Mercy Corps and I&P through the program I&P Acceleration Technologies. This financing will mainly allow the acquisition of new motorcycles and the investment in IT and marketing.

 The expansion plan should cover 15 countries with a fleet of more than 20,000 motorcycles.

Expected Impacts

⇒ Improving the drivers' living standards: job creation, remuneration above the minimum wage, social insurance, financial education, etc.

⇒ Improving mobility in large cities: time savings, cost savings, better accessibility

⇒ Tax revenues for cities

About &P Accélération Technologies

Launched in 2019 with the support of the French Development Agency through its iniative Digital Africa, I&P Acceleration Technologies is a €2.5 million program that aims to finance and support some fifteen digital startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Western Africa, Central Africa and Madagascar. Cick here to read more →

La Coccinelle is a private kindergarten and early childhood care centre offering a childcare service for young children in the interval between daycare (06 to 24 months) and kindergarten (24 to 60 months) as well as a bilingual recreation centre service during school holidays in Côte d'Ivoire. La Coccinelle plans to deploy a network of mini-crèches in different communes of Abidjan and to create a training centre for early childhood educators. 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

La Coccinelle was created by Mrs. Sara Adico. After a Professional Degree in Finance and Management, Ms. Sara ADICO joined UNACOOPEC-CI microfinance in 2002, as a credit analyst until 2006. She then managed the Raggi Anne Marie Institution, an international public school (IRMA) for 6 years. This experience led her to create her own school, which she has been managing since 2011. In 2016, she obtained a certification of competence in NGO management awarded by the UNESCO CHAIR for the Culture of Peace in Côte d'Ivoire.

Nouvelle Vision Scolaire (NVS) is a school created in 2013, located in the heart of the capital, Ouagadougou. With great success, the school quickly invested in a class for primary school and today has 4 classes and 3 classes for kindergarten with 255 pupils. This school has the particularity of introducing its pupils to English and computer science, agriculture and animal husbandry, music as well as swimming and karate.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

The New School Vision School is an initiative of Joel ZOMA, who has more than 17 years of experience in mass distribution, acquired in the management of Convergence Ramon Wende (CORAM), a distribution company with large surfaces in the big cities of Burkina Faso. He is also the initiator of the general trading company Grâce Business Services and of TGD Voyage, specialising in public transport.

CONTRIBUTION OF SINERGI BURKINA

NVS has been supported since 2019 by Sinergi Burkina as part of the Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) programme in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The purpose of the partnership concerns : 

• Increasing reception capacity
• Financing of the closure
• Setting up of the accounting system
• Increase in the transport capacity of pupils by adding a second bus
• Installation of an emergency generator in the event of a power outage

ABOUT SINERGI BURKINA

Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina 

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for young companies located in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership will support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still underdeveloped.

Click here to find out more