I&P Digital Energy

SOLAFRIQUE is a Burkina Faso company founded in 2014, specializing in access to water and electricity through solar solutions tailored to rural and peri-urban areas. The company designs and installs agricultural irrigation systems, solar mini-grids and solar kits for households, based on flexible payment models such as Pay-As-You-Go. The company is also developing renewable energy training courses to strengthen local skills. Its aim: to make clean energy accessible to all, while improving the living conditions and economic autonomy of rural populations.

The entrepreneur

Ernest ASSO, a 37-year-old engineer from Burkina Faso specializing in solar pumping systems, is the founder of SOLAFRIQUE. With over 10 years' experience in renewable energies, he combines technical expertise, social commitment and entrepreneurial vision to democratize access to energy and water in rural areas.

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital

Solafrique is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a 4.8 million euro program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Burkina Faso, this program is implemented by Néré Capital.

This 196 million F CFA financing will enable SOLAFRIQUE to :

• Expand its infrastructure by increasing the capacity of the Wapassi mini-grid and installing a new solar power plant in Namogo, in order to electrify 750 new beneficiaries in rural areas;
• Develop shared solar irrigation solutions, by setting up mutualized systems to improve farmers' access to water and strengthen local food security;
• Create jobs and strengthen its impact, consolidating over 30 existing positions, generating some 20 new jobs, and reaching over 10,000 beneficiaries with clean, affordable energy. 

Karaa Solutions Limited is a homegrown technology company that is committed to providing affordable and sustainable energy and transportation solutions to entrepreneurs, businesses and communities in Africa and beyond. Karaa Solutions has a vision to become the leading provider of energy solutions in Africa, empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs and businesses to pursue their dreams and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

The entrepreneur

Karaa Solutions was created in 2023 by Godfrey Mutabazi a young Ugandan entrepreneur.

Geofrey Mutabazi is the Co-founder and CEO of Karaa. He is an emerging leader passionate about unlocking Africa’s economic potential through entrepreneurship. Geofrey started his first business selling software and video games at 14 and has since launched and run various businesses. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in December 2019 and has 7 years of experience in enterprise and government ICT solution sales. He was the 2018-19 Campus Director of the Hult Prize at ISBAT University, an organization launching the next wave of social entrepreneurs across the world and formerly the 2019-2020 Hult Prize community builder for Uganda, recruiting supporting local universities and change-makers to organize On-Campus initiatives. He is a Global Shaper with the Kampala Hub of Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum and the 2020-2021 Vice Curator of the Global Shapers Kampala Hub.

Partnership with I&P et Inua Capital

Karaa Solutions is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program aimed at financing and supporting 12 startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa that offer digital solutions for access to affordable energy. The program is backed by the AFD (French Development Agency) and the EU. In Uganda, the implementation of this program is managed by Inua Capital.

This partnership will enable the startup to:

• Finance the purchase of conversion kits to expand its local presence and tap into B2B market segments
• Incorporate its battery management system in existing products and pilot the lease to own model
• Support business formalization efforts

EV.Tech is an Ivorian company specializing in the electric mobility sector, more specifically in the supply of recharging solutions for electric vehicles. The company offers complete solutions for electric vehicle recharging, including installation and maintenance of recharging stations, and offers the Neo Charging mobile application, which enables drivers to easily locate recharging stations in the NEO multi-operator network, consult their status in real time (availability, rates, etc.) and track their vehicle's state of charge.

The entrepreneurs

EV.Tech was founded in 2023 by Esther DAGRI and Florent THOMAS, two experienced entrepreneurs with nearly 30 years' experience in Côte d'Ivoire. Aware that charging infrastructure for electric vehicles was lagging behind, they launched NEO, the first national network of charging stations, to meet a crucial challenge: accelerating the energy transition and making electromobility accessible, reliable and connected.

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact

EV.Tech is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a 4.8 million euro program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Côte d'Ivoire, this program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the start-up to:

• Finance the purchase of terminals to enable maximum expansion with strategic partners;
• Strengthen its team, mainly in sales;
• Approve the Mobile charging solution concept.

NeedEnergy is a Zimbabwean company that positions itself as a virtual power plant operator. To achieve this, NeedEnergy is deploying smart meters connected to its Memeza.ai platform. The platform monitors production, demand and prices for each decentralised energy source in real time, while anticipating market fluctuations.  

The entrepreneur

NeedEnergy was founded in 2019 by Leroy Nyangani, a young Zimbabwean entrepreneur with entrepreneurial experience in the delivery/restaurant sector.

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact

NeedEnergy is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by the Agence Française de Développement and the European Union. In Zimbabwe, this programme is being implemented by Gaia Impact.

This partnership will enable the start-up to :

• Finance the purchase of smart meters to develop its operations, meet strong customer demand, and provide essential data to drive its Memeza.ai intelligent platform
• Improving its software to refine its assumptions, particularly on electricity trading and demand forecasts 
• Strengthen its team, mainly on the digital dimension of its solution, but also on the commercial side.

Read more about I&P Digital Energy

Based in Senegal, Senfrais is a refrigeration company specialized in the production of solar-powered refrigeration units that can be adapted to various types of vehicle (lorries, tricycles). This young company has added a digital dimension to its model, making it possible to track the temperature of refrigerated boxes in real time, in addition to vehicle tracking.

The entrepreneur

Senfrais was founded in 2023 by Seydina SECK, a Senegalese entrepreneur with experience in creating transport and preservation solutions for products in the cold chain.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Senfrais is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a €4.8 million program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the European Union. In Senegal, this program is implemented by Teranga Capital.

This partnership will enable this start-up to:

• Boost production in line with the development of its customer portfolio and the production unit by building up a stock of refrigerated tricycles, which will also enable it to meet the needs of individual and informal players under the cash-on-delivery model
• Boost the sales function by creating a dedicated unit whose mission will be to implement targeted strategies tailored to the profiles of the various prospects in order to achieve good sales traction
• Strengthen its digital component by adding additional functionalities such as remote control/adjustment of the temperature in the refrigerated cases, in order to ultimately achieve a product that is easy to use and adapted to the needs of local customers, and to strengthen its competitive advantage
• Strengthen its differentiation from traditional refrigerated vehicles (trucks) by adapting its offer based on the needs expressed by customers
• Identify the conditions needed to move the product from a niche market to a mainstream market.

Solarbox is a small Senegalese company that began operations in 2022. The company operates in the electric mobility sector, more specifically in the production of 2- and 3-wheel electric vehicles for transporting goods or people. Solarbox's electric vehicles feature a digital component for tracking and data collection. The offer is easily accessible thanks to a monthly leasing model.

The entrepreneur

Tijan WATT, co-founder and Managing Partner of Wuri Ventures since 2017, is the CEO of Solarbox. A dual Senegalese and American national, he graduated from the prestigious Harvard Business School in 2007 with an MBA. He has more than 15 years of professional/entrepreneurial experience to his credit, as well as solid fund-raising skills.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Solarbox is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a 4.8 million euro program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU.

 In Senegal, this program is implemented by Teranga Capital.

The objectives for this start-up are to :

• Support the company in strengthening its production of electric vehicles to effectively meet the needs of its market 
• Help the company to develop its B2B portfolio as a priority, by boosting the sales function. 
• Support the company in strengthening its R&D in order to develop its offer. 
• Help the company move its product from a niche market to the mass market

Founded in 2020, IBRIZ is a company operating in the renewable energy sector and more specifically in the AgriTech sub-sector with a focus on the productive use of solar energy in agriculture. Its aim is to support small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging technology with an innovative business model. IBRIZ uses proven technologies to build an ecosystem that will impact the lives of small-scale farmers by enabling access to solar water irrigation systems.

Entrepreneurs

The company's vision is driven by two entrepreneurs, Bou Diarra and Serigne Sam Ndao, co-founders of IBRIZ. They have over 15 years of professional entrepreneurial experience to their credit.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

IBRIZ is supported by I&P Digital Energy, a 4.8 million euro program to finance and support a dozen start-ups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa offering digital solutions for access to affordable energy, backed by AFD and the EU. In Senegal, this program is implemented by Teranga Capital.

The objectives of this SME are

• Optimizing the supply of materials (to improve profitability and operational efficiency)
• Improving distribution (to reduce costs associated with damage to equipment and ensure safe delivery) 
• Developing the digital component
• Strengthening its offering