Agro-food

STM is a Cameroonian company founded in 2016, specialized in the semi-industrial processing of cassava into industrial-grade starch. Based in Cameroon, the company aims to become a leading local producer of starch to meet the needs of agri-food industries and cardboard manufacturers, both nationally and across the CEMAC region. STM currently processes cassava into dry starch and sediment starch and has a strong local footprint, with direct impact on more than one hundred smallholder farmers. 

The Entrepreneurs 

STM was founded in 2016 by three active shareholders: 

• MAPO KAM TCHOUPE Chiara Lucia, Founder and General Manager, holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems Management. Passionate about agriculture since her studies, she developed the STM project during university before receiving technical training in Nigeria. She is recognized for her leadership, active listening skills, and resilience. 
• Alex Pascal Tajo, Head of the Agricultural Department, is an agricultural engineer specialized in rural engineering. He provides technical expertise on the cassava value chain (high-yield varieties, tuber quality testing) and oversees supply management as well as equipment maintenance. 
• Aurélio Tchoupe, Member of the Management Committee, is a trained nurse with international experience. He is responsible for strategic and business development, including market monitoring and defining growth priorities. 

Partnership with I&P 

STM is supported by the I&P Acceleration FARM program. This partnership aims to strengthen the company across several key areas: 

• Quality and productivity improvement: through the acquisition of new equipment (industrial drying systems, borehole for clean water supply) and the implementation of a QHSE quality plan 
• Capacity building: via technical assistance missions in accounting, cash flow management, and production 
• Legal structuring and governance: including plans to transition to a new legal status to facilitate future fundraising 
• Social and environmental impact: by formalizing relationships with smallholder farmers and creating approximately nine new jobs 

SONAGOO is a company specializing in the processing of agricultural products and the sale of small processing equipment. It also provides training for young people who want to discover or start a business in this sector. The company is led by Ngoné DIA, a young entrepreneur passionate about adding value to agricultural products. 

The entrepreneur 

SONAGOO is led by Ngoné DIA, an entrepreneur specialized in agro-food processing. Passionate about adding value to agricultural products from a young age, Ngoné chose agro-processing as a profession, which she learned from her mother. She has strengthened her skills through several technical training programs and obtained, in 2022, a certification in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing techniques from CEFAS in Dakar, as well as a certificate in fruit and vegetable processing from JEUF ZONE. Between 2023 and 2025, she continued to build her capabilities through short training courses conducted in collaboration with producer EIGs (Economic Interest Groups) specializing in agricultural product processing. 

Thanks to her experience, she has developed skills in project management and product innovation, thereby contributing to the promotion of local products, the reduction of post-harvest losses, and the promotion of “Made in Senegal.” 

Partnership with I&P 

SONAGOO is supported by I&P Acceleration FARM. This partnership will enable the company to: 

• Increase its production capacity by strengthening its production equipment; 
• Create direct and indirect jobs locally, contributing to the region’s economic development; 
• Further structure its administrative function and strengthen its financial and commercial management capacities, in order to support the company’s growth and improve the quality of its internal management. 

OVAVITECH is a Senegalese company specialized in the design and local manufacturing of automatic incubators for small-scale poultry farmers. It complements its offering by selling day-old chicks and small poultry equipment, providing an integrated and coherent range that meets all farmers’ needs. 

The entrepreneur 

OVAVITECH is a Senegalese company founded in 2021 by Serigne Abdou Khadre FALL, a young animal production engineer and committed entrepreneur. A graduate of ENSA Thiès, he initiated the Ovavitech project during his master’s degree. He has received several awards, including the 1st Innovation Prize from ENSA Thiès and the 1st EDF Pulse Africa Senegal Prize in 2021. That same year, OVAVITECH joined the Suqali program managed by Teranga Gestion, and later the E4Y program in 2024. Serigne Abdou Khadre FALL’s ambition is to modernize Senegalese poultry farming by making chick production more accessible, more efficient, and more profitable. 

Partnership with I&P 

OVAVITECH is supported by I&P Acceleration FARM. This partnership will enable the company to: 

• Increase its production capacity and industrialize incubator manufacturing by setting up a modern workshop equipped with high-performance tools and machinery; 
• Strengthen its financial and commercial management capabilities; 
• Actively contribute to promoting the poultry sector at the regional level. 

Green Agro Valley is an Ivorian company specialized in irrigation and water access solutions for agriculture. It was founded with the aim of addressing structural constraints in Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural sector, notably dependence on climate variability and high energy costs. Its core expertise lies in solar-powered irrigation systems and solar drilling solutions, which help secure water supply while reducing the carbon footprint of agricultural operations. 

As part of its development, Green Agro Valley joined the CATAL1.5°T program, benefiting from repayable financing intended to strengthen its operational capacity. This support focuses in particular on building strategic inventories, acquiring heavy equipment for drilling activities, and strengthening financial structuring and reporting. In the long term, the company aims to consolidate its position in the Ivorian market for sustainable irrigation solutions and to contribute to the climate resilience of the agricultural sector. 

The entrepreneur 

Koffi Appessika Adanin Laurent is an engineer in Industrial Mechanics and Automation, trained at INP-HB, with a specialization in irrigation and solar pumping acquired in India. He began his career as a Project Manager at Bolloré Transport & Logistics, before contributing to a Lean Manufacturing project at SITAB. In 2018, he founded Green Agro Valley to address water access challenges in agriculture and now devotes himself full time to the company’s development. 

Partnership with I&P and Comoé Capital 

I&P has committed alongside Green Agro Valley under the CATAL1.5°T program, implemented in Côte d’Ivoire by Comoé Capital, through: 

• Repayable financing of FCFA 98,240,175, disbursed in three tranches subject to performance KPIs; 
• The provision of technical assistance in financial and organizational management; 
• Strengthening of reporting and financial structuring; 
• Strategic support to facilitate the company’s scale-up. 

Key impacts 

• Climate: deployment of solar irrigation solutions potentially contributing to a reduction of −1,256 tCO2e in 2026; 
• Social: creation and formalization of 16 jobs; 
• Agriculture: sustainable improvement in productivity and resilience of agricultural operations in the face of climate change. 

JOHINA CENTER is a Cameroonian company specialized in the processing and marketing of aromatic plants, spices, and natural seasonings. Officially established in 2021 (but active since 2018), the company offers a wide range of products (pepper, ginger, turmeric, dried herbs, etc.) in powder form or as ready-to-use blends. It stands out for its “natural” approach, with no chemical additives, and for its strong presence in modern distribution networks and local trade fairs. 

The entrepreneur 

JOHINA CENTER was created in 2021 by: 

• Akuah Ndefuh : Founder and Managing Director. She has a strong academic background (Master’s in Environmental and Natural Resource Management). Before becoming an entrepreneur, she gained significant professional experience in project management and community development. She is described as a passionate leader who successfully grew JOHINA from a small-scale artisanal activity into a recognized semi-industrial business in Cameroon. 

Partnership with I&P 

This partnership aims to: 

• Improve production capacity: through the acquisition of higher-performance equipment (industrial grinders, dryers, packaging machines) to meet growing demand; 
• Optimize the supply chain: by strengthening relationships with local smallholder producers of aromatic plants to ensure consistent raw material quality; 
• Strengthen internal management: through technical assistance to improve accounting and financial management and deploy a more ambitious marketing strategy; 
• Social impact and compliance: support the company in job creation (especially for women) and in improving working and hygiene conditions (QHSE standards). 

CHOCOLATERIE NOHI is a Cameroonian company specialized in the artisanal production of chocolate and related products. It promotes local cocoa by offering natural and healthy products, ranging from chocolate bars to confectionery, spreads, and semi-finished products. Following a logic of local development and value creation, the company contributes to supporting rural communities and aims to become a key player in the chocolate sector in Cameroon and Central Africa.

Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2017, CHOCOLATERIE NOHI was created by two young Cameroonians, Nozawo Tchoffo Hippolyte and Boyoguino Yambena Pierre. Hippolyte, an engineer in industrial chemistry and environmental engineering, worked for several years in the industry before dedicating himself to his company while training small producers in good post-harvest practices and organic cocoa cultivation. Pierre, an engineer in the same field, managed his family’s plantations before joining the company as Operations Director. He oversees the company’s plantations and also contributes to training more than fifty small cocoa farmers grouped within a cooperative.

Partenariat avec I&P et Fako Capital

Chocolaterie Nohi is supported by I&P FARM, a €40 million program aimed at financing and supporting 28 start-ups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on the Francophone countries of West, Central, and East Africa, in the agricultural sector, supported by PROPARCO. In Cameroon, the implementation of this program is managed by Fako Capital. This partnership will enable the SME to:

• Purchase raw materials: acquisition of cocoa beans and other local ingredients to support increased production volumes;
• Enter the market through commercial actions to be deployed: recruitment of a sales team and implementation of a targeted campaign to strengthen brand awareness and sales.

BARKA is an agro-industrial company based in Kankan, Upper Guinea, specializing in the production and processing of paddy rice into parboiled rice. The company operates a modern rice mill that transforms raw paddy rice, as harvested from the fields, into parboiled rice ready for consumption. 

The entrepreneurs 

BARKA was founded in 2021 by the KABA brothers with the ambition of transforming their family rice-farming activity into a modern industrial enterprise. 

• Mohamed KABA, the Managing Director, holds a Master’s degree in Risk Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the City University of New York. He initiated the project in 2020 and currently leads the company’s development strategies and partnerships. His expertise in management and finance plays a key role in BARKA’s growth. 
• Kabinet KABA earned a degree in Mathematics from the City University of New York in 2021. After gaining experience as a financial analyst, he joined BARKA in 2022. He currently serves as Acting Operations Director, responsible for process optimization and team coordination. 
• Abdoulaye KABA is the Logistics and Sales Director. He holds a degree in Logistics Economics from the City University of New York (2018) and previously worked as a logistics assistant before joining BARKA in 2021. He leverages his expertise in supply chain management and distribution to actively contribute to the company’s expansion. 

Partnership with I&P and Gola Capital 

BARKA benefits from the support of the I&P Acceleration FARM program. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen the company’s technical and organizational capacities through several key initiatives: 

• Acquisition of a paddy rice cleaning machine to increase the mill’s productivity; 
• Establishment of a strategic stock of 200 tons of paddy rice; 
• Strengthening of financial and commercial management skills; 
• Active contribution to the promotion of the national rice value chain and to the reinforcement of food security. 

ASSAHORE & KO is a honey production and marketing company positioned in the premium segment. The company, best known under its brand name Colonie, was established in 2023. Its clientele includes individuals, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and gourmet shops. Processing and packaging activities are carried out at its production site located in Bingerville, a city within the Abidjan metropolitan area. 

The entrepreneur

ASSAHORE & KO was founded by young Ivorian entrepreneur Alex Assahoré. He holds a Master’s degree in International Marketing from Hult International Business School (2021), a Bachelor’s in Business Economics from Georgia State University in Atlanta (2018), and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the International University of Grand-Bassam in Côte d’Ivoire (2016). Between 2018 and 2021, he completed an internship in the public administration, specifically within the Department of Strategic Studies, Development and Projects of the General Directorate of Economy of Côte d’Ivoire. During that period, he also launched a food kiosk and delivery service, and experimented with selling bracelets and hibiscus leaves. These diverse experiences strengthened his entrepreneurial mindset and ability to innovate. After a two-year preparation phase, which included an in-depth market study on honey and the installation of beehives, Alex Assahoré founded ASSAHORE & KO in 2023. 

Partnership with I&P and Comoe Capital

ASSAHORE & KO benefits from the support of I&P Acceleration FARM, a €4 million program backed by Proparco and designed to finance around twenty SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa operating across the agricultural value chain (product processing, primary agriculture, livestock, fish farming, distribution, sale of equipment and inputs, agritech, etc.). In Côte d’Ivoire, the program is implemented by Comoé Capital. 

This partnership will enable the SME to finance: 

• The purchase of raw materials; 
• The purchase of packaging; 
• Marketing and communication activities; 
• The establishment of working capital. 

APA Original Kisubi Tea Limited is a Ugandan beverage company that manufactures a variety of flavoured teas. The origins of this company date back to 2007, when the founder conducted a research trip with smallholder farmers in Mpigi District and was enthused with the idea of flavouring locally available beverages. This led to the birth of APA Tea in 2011 its flagship product, Kisubi Tea, a lemongrass-infused loose-leaf black tea. From humble beginnings with one product offering, the business, today, has a production facility located in Kampala and has expanded its product offerings to 29 SKUs. 

The entrepreneur

Anthea Ibembe is the COO of APA Tea and its de facto chief executive. She has over 10 years of experience in tea spicing and manufacturing, having joined the company while completing her undergraduate studies. Today, at 28, she has earned the company’s leadership, and as Chief Operating Officer continues to guide the company to greater heights. Anthea holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University and a postgraduate degree in Marketing from Edinburgh Business School and is a 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow. 

Partnership with I&P and Inua Capital 

APA Tea is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya. 

This partnership will enable the startup to: 

• Finance the purchase of a single-use laminate tea bagging machine to open new markets within the hospitality sector 
• Provide a working capital buffer to service new markets 
• Support business formalisation efforts 

Africa Spices Limited is a Ugandan agro-processing company that manufactures, markets and distributes spices and seasoning mixes. The company processes herbs and vegetables into ready-to-use mixes for your everyday seasoning needs in the kitchen offering a wide array of selections to match all your cooking and flavouring requirements. Today, Africa Spices has distribution routes covering each major region in Uganda: Central, Northern and Eastern and has grown to ~29 SKUs packaged in 50 g and 100g containers. 

The entrepreneur

Africa Spices was co-founded by Johnpaul Ssengendo, a small-scale farmer and passionate entrepreneur with strong ambitions. While working as an insurance agent with UAP, he visited Zanzibar (Tanzania) and was impressed by the depth and vibrancy of its spice market. Inspired by this visit, he started Africa Spices with Michael Kibuuka – a former classmate in high school and a food scientist working in spice production – using his farm as the source and leveraging output from neighbouring farms. He holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Makerere University.  

Partnershup with I&P and Inua Capital

Africa Spices is supported by I&P FARM, a €4 million program aimed at financing and supporting startups and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa within the agricultural value chain. The program is backed by Proparco and is implemented and managed by Inua Capital in Uganda and Kenya. 

This partnership will enable the startup to: 

• Finance the purchase of a mixer and grinder machine to improve efficiencies in production 
• Provide sufficient working capital to pursue new markets 
• Support business formalization efforts