I&P Accélération

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

MADE'S GROUP is an industrial unit specializing in the production and marketing of potato chips, infant flour enriched with moringa and peanut, and juices, all based on the sweet potato.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

SOULEYMANE MADE is a young food and quality engineer. After several professional experiences in the field of agro-industry in Niger, Ivory Coast, and Equatorial Guinea, he created with partners the company DJADO INNOVATION to manufacture juices based on sweet potato before renaming it MADE'SGROUP in April 2017 with the financial support of ASUSU SA.

ABOUT SINERGI

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

Niger Chaussures is an artisanal company which has a manufacturing and marketing unit of high-end city shoes produced from tanned leather.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Abdou ALHASSANE began his studies up to high school, which he left to start the craft activity at a very young age. He thus started to produce shoes for men that he exhibited in his workshop located in the artisanal village of Niger. After several trainings, he improved the design of his products and integrated other models including one for women in his product range.

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 2015, Gaicha is a company specialized in the manufacture and marketing of cosmetic products, in particular soaps and cosmetic oils based on natural products. The raw materials it uses in the design of its products are local. 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

An information systems engineer, Mrs. MAIGUIZO TANKARI Saadatou worked for several years at Orange Niger where she held several positions as engineer and marketing project manager. Because of her strong desire to be entrepreneurial, she created the company Gaicha in 2015 and resigned from her position in November 2016.

ABOUT SINERGI

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

The Ferme d'Embouche Bovine (FEB) is a unit specializing in livestock farming, more specifically cattle fattening and butchery. As such, it markets several products (fattened beef, fresh meat, etc.).

THE ENTREPRENEUR

The Ferme d'Embouche Bovine (FEB) is an initiative of Donatien ZONGO. Holder of a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Ouagadougou, he started breeding after several training courses and practical internships in two farms in Ouagadougou and Koudougou.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SINERGI BURKINA 

Within the framework of the partnership with Sinergi Burkina, the objectives are as follows: 

- Implementation of accounting  
- Production equipment 
- Fittings and furniture 
- Computer hardware  
- WCR financing (purchase of cattle + zootechnical inputs) 

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

FasoPro is a company that transforms food products based on edible insects. Since 2014 FasoPro offers a range of products based on shea and locust caterpillars. FasoPro is now one of the most successful and award-winning start-ups in the country, having won the special award for the best social impact in 2018.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

FasoPro is an initiative of Kahitouo HIEN. Holder of a Master's degree in Biochemistry-Microbiology obtained in 2009 at the University of Ouagadougou, and a Master's degree in Water and Environmental Engineering, Environment option from the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) obtained in 2012, his innovative vision for the company has earned him multiple national and international awards.

CONTRIBUTIONS BY SINERGI BURKINA

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

The objectives are as follows:

• Financing of mass communication (production of advertising spots and their broadcast on television).
• Reinforcement of FasoPro's production capacity through the purchase of production equipment (oven, fryer, semi-automatic welding machine, etc.) and the purchase of raw material (shea butter caterpillars)

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

KOOD is a young senegalese company specialized in the production and marketing of ice cream and frozen yoghurt in different flavours (vanilla, chocolate, bouye, etc.) under the brand name MILKY in different regions of Senegal. The company was created in 2016 by Mr Diadji Ka and his wife Ngoné THIAW, and started its production in December 2017.

THE ENTREPRENEURS

Diadji KA holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems from the Polytechnic University of Pomona in California (CAL POLY Pomona). He worked for 10 years in the United States before deciding to come back to Senegal in 2015 and devote himself to his entrepreneurial projects to create the company KOOD where he holds the position of manager and is in charge of the coordination of activities.

Ngoné THIAW holds a master's degree in finance audit. After several experiences in Senegal in accounting firms, she decided to join her husband in the United States, then returned to Senegal with him. She held the position of production manager during the first months of KOOD's activities and is now in charge of new product development.

PARTNERSHIP WITH TERANGA CAPITAL 

Teranga Capital's investment in KOOD aims to :

• Support the reflection on business development 
• Structuring and support for the development of management methods and tools, training, etc.
• Establishing contact with partner companies in Senegal and abroad

KOOD also benefits from financial support and technical assistance within the framework of the I&P Acceleration in the Sahel program, in partnership with the European Union. To cope with the unprecedented situation of covid-19, some fifteen companies benefit from technical and financial support to maintain their activities and overcome the crisis.

EXPECTED IMPACT

• Implementation of an energy and waste management process.
• Formalization of existing jobs, recruitment of qualified managers and manpower, improvement of working conditions.
• Support for the implementation of financial and administrative management tools.

ABOUT TERANGA CAPITAL

Teranga Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Senegalese SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Olivier Furdelle, Teranga Capital is the third African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires under the I&P Développement 2 program. The network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Ivory Coast (Comoé Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). → Find out more about Teranga Capital