I&P Accélération au Sahel

Afrisends is a company specialized in the shipment of products (purchase of goods, logistics, customs, and last mile delivery) from the rest of the world to Mali.

The entrepreneur

Afrisend was created and managed by Zeinabou Sidibé, a French-Malian, who grew up in Bamako in a large entrepreneurial family. With a Master's degree in International Finance from the Ecole Supérieure de Gestion (ESG) in Paris in 2013 and a Master's degree specialized́ in audit and management control from SKEMA Business School in 2014, she worked at Deloitte et Associés as a junior and then senior auditor. In 2018, she joined PPG Industries in Paris as a business analyst and financial controller for West Africa to focus on her business in 2022.

Partnership with I&P and Zira Capital

Afrisends is supported by I&P and Zira Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims to :

• Set up a new office and storage space
• Increase sales to B2B customers through the implementation of an adapted commercial strategy 
• Support the company in structuring its key functions (HR, accounting)
• Improve the platform and support  the company in obtaining the chartering certification

Expected impacts

• Strengthen the accountability and increase sales
• Maintenance of existing jobs and creation of 5 new jobs
• Development of the web platform with integration of new functionalities (order tracking system and security of user data)

Swyft is a young company operating in delivery in Cameroon and constitutes the missing chain in the logistics sector by positioning itself as the only last mile delivery solution. Swyft offers pick-up services from the customer's location for shipment with the support of a call center to manage the communication between the customer and the deliverers.

The entrepreneur

Swyft was founded by Franck BATCHADJI. He started his professional career in 2012 as Operations Manager at Atlantic Coast Cotton, one of the largest apparel distributors on the East Coast of the United States. He held for three years before being recruited as Sales Manager at All Star Executive, a manufacturer of office supplies, where he spent two years. He later became a logistics specialist by joining Eagle Service (a delivery service for Michelin) as a dispatcher for a year before deciding to return to Cameroon permanently. He started then farming and then took over the responsibility of the family orphanage which he managed for one year. During this period, he carried out many shipping and receiving operations for the orphanage and faced difficulties such as: long waiting lines in the agency, the impossibility of having a follow-up of the shipping status of the packages, etc. It is from these negative experiences that he got the idea to create a more accessible, flexible and less stressful parcel delivery service for his users.

Partnership with I&P

Swyft is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership will enable the company to improve in quantity and quality its delivery activity in order to meet the increasing flows of the current demand. 

The funding will allow in particular to : 

• Realize of a communication campaign
• Develop a tracking and dispatching software
• Finance the purchase of material and equipment and the fitting out of the agency
• Recruite personnel

Incas is a medical diagnostics social enterprise based in Ghana, which seeks to save lives through the design and production of low-cost, easy-to-use, point-of-care diagnostic test kits designed specifically for Africa. Since its inception, Incas Diagnostics has been committed to ensuring that all persons enjoy good health and wellbeing, by making available effective, efficient, and easily accessible test kits at affordable prices for various purposes.

The entrepreneur

Incas was founded by Laud Anthony Basing, who has 10 years of experience as a microbiologist and over a decade of experience in molecular-based research. Laud was previously a Laboratory Auditor for the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) in Ethiopia where he audited African laboratories enrolled in the SLIPTA Programme, a framework for improving the quality of public health laboratories in developing countries to achieve the requirements of the ISO 15189 standard. Laud worked as a Lecturer at Kumasi University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he taught Medical Diagnostics and Microbiology before founding Incas.

Partnership with I&P

Incas is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. In Ghana, the monitoring and the implementation of the program is lead by Wangara Green Ventures. 

This partnership aims at :

• Complete formalization of business (accounting and financial support, implementation of administrative, accounting and HR procedures)
• Review and implement waste treatment procedure
• Support Business development and capital raise

Expected impacts

• Increase in innovation in the Ghanaian and African biotech space
• Directly contributing to the increase in good health and well-being of individuals
• Contribute to decent work and economic growth

Coliba is a Ghana-based company specializing in the recovery and resale of plastic waste at home. Since its inception, the company has been committed to providing environmentally friendly business solutions that leverage technology and innovation to address plastic waste challenges in West Africa, including Ghana.

The entrepreneur

Prince Agbata is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Coliba. Prince created Ghana's first plastic community buyback scheme and built one of Ghana's leading plastic recovery and recycling start-ups. Prince was previously a Circular Economy Consultant for Norfund where he rendered advisory and consulting services for the client on Ghana's plastic waste value chain. He led the creation of a Plastic Recycling app termed the “Uber for plastic recycling.” The promoter previously served as a Project Lead for the Digital Movement for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in basic schools. He also served as Project Manager at IDEA Africa for 2 years managing a team of 17 people in Ghana & Liberia.

Partnership with I&P

Coliba is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. In Ghana, the monitoring and the implementation of the program is lead by Wangara Green Ventures. 

This partnership aims at :

• Improving warehouse and logistics management
• Integrating management of financial data, customer data from sales, and all auditing tasks.
• Automating supply chain assistance solutions to improve efficiencies and streamline processes within supply chain operations
• Strengthening the corporate governance practices by the company

Expected impacts

• ​Increase jobs from 98 to 200
• Directly contributing to the increase in good health and well-being of individuals 
• Contribute to decent work and economic growth
• Contribute to clean water and sanitation
• Contribute to climate action

Hi-Tech Solutions is a start-up that operates in the solar energy sector (distribution of solar panels, photovoltaic system components, modules, inverters, mounting systems and accessories), in rural and peri-urban communities in Niger. 

The entrepreneur

Hi-Tech Solutions was created in 2013 by Edmond Doudou Amadou Moctar. Working in the fields of energy and finance in Niger for more than 9 years, he started his professional career in 2005, where he worked in several structures such as BOA Niger, Care International as a Financier and Accountant. He has been several times leader and member of the Nigerian delegation of business leaders for the trade mission and business opportunities at the level of exhibitions dedicated to solar and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the United States, United Arab Emirates, Burkina Faso, Turkey, England, Tunisia and France.

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi

Hi-Tech Solutions is supported by Sinergi and I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at strengthening the supply chain of solar kits and providing its existing customer base with solar equipment. 

Liberty Pressing is a company specialized in dry cleaning, ironing and laundry services in Niger. The company currently employs 11 people with a processing capacity of 44 kg/wash or 704 kg per day. It has a head office where all the linen treatment activities take place and which also serves as a linen collection point, and two annexes opened in the city of Niamey.

The entrepreneur

Liberty Pressing was created and is managed by Abdoul-Razak GARANKE SEYNI. Holder of a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance (LSTCF) and a Master 1 option Accounting-Control-Audit (CCA) of the ESCAE of Niamey, he started in the laundry sector in 2013 in TOP NET PRESSING, which became TOP NETTOYAGE today, as a general manager. In 2018, he created his own company for which he brings his personal touch and experience. Mr. Seyni has an excellent knowledge of the operational aspects as well as the different elements that go into the quality satisfaction of his customers and takes care of the quality control, the packaging of the items and the grouped delivery of the treated items.

Partnership with I&P and SINERGI

Liberty Pressing is supported by I&P and SINERGI through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to develop the company's activities, which today are mainly oriented towards individual customers, into a company capable of meeting the needs of hotel structures, hospitals/clinics, the private sector in B2B and the proposal of a new service on the market, which is self-service laundry and dry cleaning.

The seed funding will specifically allow to conduct a market study to refine Liberty Pressing's positioning

• strengthen the production capacity
• acquire additional "intelligent" machines that consume less product and water
• strengthen the company's structure

Expected impacts

• Improve the structure and organization of the company 
• Establishment of good governance 
• Creation of new permanent jobs
• Preservation of the environment

Luxcosmetiks is a company which evolves in the production and marketing of perfumes and body care under the brand Star in Guinea.

The entrepreneurs

Luxcosmetiks was created in 2019 by two entrepreneurs:

• Thierno Boubacar Diallo: Holder of a professional degree in Financial Engineering obtained at the Ecole Supérieure de Direction et de Gestion (ESDG-Rabat) in 2013, he has several years of experience in the cosmetics and perfumery sector in particular.
• Abdoul Hamidou Diallo: He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration and another in Accountability from Kennesaw State University (in Georgia).

Partnership with I&P and MBM Capital

Luxcosmetiks is supported by MBM Capital through I&P Acceleration program in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Improve the performance and productivity of the production unit
• Support the company in strengthening the technical skills of human capital
• Structure the organization and cost management through the implementation of internal procedures
• Rearrange the facilities

Demal Expertises is a Guinean company that specializes in the transformation of cocoa into chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter and roasted beans under the brand Zeïna Cacao. It was created to boost the cocoa sector from production to consumption.

The entrepreneure

Demal Expertises was created in 2020 by Djénabou Diallo, an agronomist and specialist in the coffee-cocoa sector. This young entrepreneur is recognized for her commitment to the cocoa sector and to female entrepreneurship. She has a strong knowledge of production techniques and masters the cocoa value chain in Guinea.

Partnership with I&P and MBM Capital

Demal Expertises is supported by MBM Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Upgrade the production line
• Setting up the company's new premises
• Support the company in strengthening the technical skills of its human capital
• Assure the supply of raw materials by establishing a network of suppliers

Lika Cosmétique is a company specialized in the creation and sale of perfumes and scented care products in Côte d'Ivoire. It offers its customers a wide range of quality products including perfumes, incenses, scrubs, soaps and night creams. 

The entrepreneur

Lika Cosmétique was founded by Ms. Barro Zalika, a young woman entrepreneur with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and genetics from the University of Fatih in Turkey and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from HEC Abidjan. Zalika Barro has several experiences in various sectors (cosmetics, communication) and has received several awards including Entrepreneur of the Year from the BJKD Foundation. She is also part of the TOP 15 young Ivorian entrepreneurs who are changing the Ivory Coast according to the magazine “Journal d’Abidjan”.

Partnership with Comoé Capital and I&P

Lika Cosmétique is supported by I&P and Comoé Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The funding will allow the company to develop a new market segment, especially in local stores and popular markets (mass market) through the production of mini fomats of its flagship products, which are spices and barbecue sauces. This funding will be supported by technical assistance to improve the company's structuring, its quality processes and its marketing and sales actions.

La cuisine de Nounou is a Cameroonian company specialized in food industry by producing cooking preparations such as spices, barbecue sauces, etc. Today, thanks to its know-how and the quality of its products, the company has included a variety of 100% natural products allowing it to position itself at several levels of the meal preparation chain with products such as chilli sauce, ketchup, mustard, etc.

The entrepreneur

La cuisine de Nounou was created in late 2018 by Manuela Njankouo with the objective for the "working mum" to save time in preparing different dishes to cook for her family.

Manuela Njankouo holds a degree in software engineering from the African Institute of Informatics (IAI) obtained in 2010. She worked for 2 years as a support executive in the information systems division at Crédit Foncier du Cameroun, before starting her own business. With the aim of perfecting her skills and improving the various products her brand, Manuela took a training course in entrepreneurship at the KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux in 2019 but also a training course in the production of vegetable preserves, cooking sauces and pasta at the Conserverie Alain Martin in Bordeaux, the leader in organic preserves in Aquitaine, France.

As her business develops and thanks to the dynamism of this young woman entrepreneur, who will be awarded the second prize in 2021 by the Pierre Castel Foundation in Cameroon, the company will gain visibility and expand its customer portfolio, which is mainly made up of large and medium-sized stores, in order to reach its main target, which until now has been middle-income households.

Partnership with I&P

La cuisine de Nounou is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The funding will allow the company to develop a new market segment, especially in local stores and popular markets (mass market) through the production of mini fomats of its flagship products, which are spices and barbecue sauces. This funding will be supported by technical assistance to improve the company's structuring, its quality processes and its marketing and sales actions.