I&P Accélération

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

BIOPROTECT is a production and marketing unit for organic inputs (biopesticides and organic amendments) based on local natural resources (mushrooms, plants, agricultural and livestock residues).  To date, it markets eight products on the Burkinabe market:

•  2 biostimulants/fungicides (to stimulate the natural defences of plants)
• 4 organic insecticides
• 1 food storage warehouse treatment product
• Compost.

Beyond producing and marketing organic inputs, BIOPROTECT offers other services that complement the input activity which are :

• The processing and/or marketing of raw products (tomato puree, green beans, sesame) from the exploitation of market gardeners and farmers accompanied by the company.
• The provision of services (technical support, training, assistance, advice) to natural and legal persons active or wishing to engage in ecological/biological production

ENTREPRENEURS

Mr. Arsène SAVADOGO, is a graduate of a double master's degree in strategy of agri-food companies and in economic and financial engineering of projects and public policies. Mr. SAVADOGO has been managing BIOPROTECT since its creation in 2011. He is currently coordinating a multi-stakeholder consortium (composed of INERA, IRD, ARFA, BIOPHYTECH and BIOPROTECT) led by BIOPROTECT-B which is working on a research and development programme on quality improvement of organic soil improvers funded by the EU. 

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SINERGI BURKINA

Bioprotect is supported by Sinergi Burkina through private equity.

MAIN IMPACTS

• Consolidation of existing jobs and job creation
• Development of sustainable agriculture
• 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

MAÏA AFRICA SAS is a social company based in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso developing solutions to protect African populations from malaria. The first product designed by the company, MAÏA® is a shea butter-based ointment that protects users from Anopheles mosquitoes more than 5 hours after application. After a successful prototyping and test phase, Maïa has just launched the first long-lasting anti-mosquito ointment for the Burkinabe population and more generally West Africa.

ENTREPRENEURS

Gérard Niyondiko is co-founder and managing director. He leads the research with technical partners. Gérard holds a Master's degree in water and sanitation from the 2iE engineering school (Burkina Faso) and a Master's degree in chemistry from the University of Bujumbura (Burundi). He previously worked as a chemistry teacher and technical director for an industrial company.

Franck Langevin is co-founder and president of the company. He is in charge of strategy, operations, marketing and partnerships. Franck has worked for 15 years in the field of marketing of innovative solutions and in international trade. He holds certificates in management from Stanford University (USA), Dublin University (Ireland) and NEOMA (France).

CONTRIBUTIONS BY SINERGI BURKINA

The objectives of partnerships include

• Organizational capacity building
• Financing of mass communication (posters and advertising spot)
• Acquisition of raw materials from local producers

EXPECTED IMPACTS

• Fight against malaria
• Protection of more than 100,000 lives
• Improvement of the incomes of shea butter producers and resellers

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 start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. Click here to learn more

Idée Féminine is an industrial company specialized in the packaging of raw materials. The company counts today in its customer portfolio almost all the large distribution stores of the capital Niamey.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

The founder, Souradja ABDOU ASSOUMA to enter into entrepreneurship by starting processing and marketing informally. She has been a member of the network of the women's entrepreneurship unit of the Niger Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Handicrafts (CCIAN) since 2014, which has enabled her to follow several training modules.

ABOUT

SINERGI S.A. is a private investment company created in 2006 and supported by I&P with a group of key individual and institutional shareholders in the Nigerien and international SME support landscape. Headed by Ibrahima Djibo, its objective is to contribute to the economic and social development of Niger through the promotion of entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs. SINERGI S.A. provides the means for entrepreneurs in Niger to achieve their growth projects by providing long-term financing and local support.  → Find out more about Sinergi

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. → Click here to find out more

Tech Innov is a nigerien company whose main activity is the promotion and marketing of technological solutions for agriculture and irrigation. Since its creation, it has developed a number of innovative solutions, which are part of the promotion of agricultural development.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Abdou Maman KANE is the founder and managing director of Tech Innov. A computer scientist by training, he has developed the concept of digital farms and tele-irrigation system tools in order to help the development of the agricultural sector in Niger. As a social entrepreneur, Abdou Maman KANE aims to revolutionize rudimentary agricultural practices in Niger, particularly in the areas of irrigation and watering. His goal is to provide farmers with tools to enable them to end manual watering and especially reduce water waste.

To promote its digital farm concept and its innovations, it has participated in many exhibitions and competitions where it has won prizes (1st prize at the Social Entrepreneur Competition in Africa organized by France Telecom, a medal at the Geneva International Inventions Fair in 2012 etc.).

ABOUT

SINERGI S.A. is a private investment company created in 2006 and supported by I&P with a group of key individual and institutional shareholders in the Nigerien and international SME support landscape. Headed by Ibrahima Djibo, its objective is to contribute to the economic and social development of Niger through the promotion of entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs. SINERGI S.A. provides the means for entrepreneurs in Niger to achieve their growth projects by providing long-term financing and local support.  → Find out more about Sinergi

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. → Click here to find out more

Created in 2013, Innovatech is a company dedicated to researching technological innovation, production processes and the adoption of new technologies in agriculture.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Prior to entering the entrepreneurial world, Mr. YAHAYA has mainly dedicated his career to research and dissemination of agricultural technology, with more than 32 years of professional career in sub-regional agricultural research organizations. From 1986 to 1991, he was in charge of experiments at the INRAN station in Lossa (Tillabéry), at the Phytopathology Laboratory, at the Laboratory of Phytopathology, and at the Laboratory of Greenhouse and Field Research on millet, peanut and sorghum diseases. Mr. YAHAYA also held the position of Head of Greenhouses, Seed Laboratory and Phylogenetic Bank Management at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) from 1991 to 2017.

ABOUT

SINERGI S.A. is a private investment company created in 2006 and supported by I&P with a group of key individual and institutional shareholders in the Nigerien and international SME support landscape. Headed by Ibrahima Djibo, its objective is to contribute to the economic and social development of Niger through the promotion of entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs. SINERGI S.A. provides the means for entrepreneurs in Niger to achieve their growth projects by providing long-term financing and local support.  → Find out more about Sinergi

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. → Click here to find out more