I&P Digital Energy

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 

Founded in 2016, Solarly is a Cameroonian company supplying off-grid solar energy solutions (not connected to the traditional electricity grid): it offers its solutions in rural and urban areas with a focus on energy needs for productive use (health centers, schools, small industries) but also for basic household electrical needs.

Its leading products are :

-The SolarlyBox, a stand-alone off-grid solar system that supplies continuous energy by connecting solar panels, batteries and various equipment (fridge, television, telephone charging cable). The SolarlyBox is a connected object (Internet of Things), enabling :

• Performance monitoring, to anticipate and solve problems
• Data collection on usage
• Remote control and activation based on user payments

-AC Kits, combinations of components, integrated and marketed in a standardized way to meet the most frequent needs, such as :

• Powering the most popular basic appliances: lamps, cell phones, radios and TVs
• Powering a water pump for irrigation and/or a water tower
• Powering a fridge or freezer for food preservation
• Power an incubator for chick rearing

Today, it is estimated that more than 20,000 people are impacted by the Solarly product, either directly (households) or indirectly (hotels, health centers and schools).

The entrepreneur

Julien Riat is 31 years old and originally from Belgium. After graduating in Economics and Business Administration from the Université Catholique de Louvain (2012) and in International Business from EPHEC (2014) in Belgium, he joined an association that assists disabled children. He then joined Travis and Lloyd as a Business Developer. At a very young age, he embarked on the Solarly adventure with two of his friends. The three of them formed the basis of the project, later joined by other partners.

Partnership with I&P

Solarly is supported by I&P through I&P Digital Energy. The aim of the funding is to :

• Support the implementation of the company's new commercial and operational strategy to accelerate growth 
• Roll out the new research and development phase 
• Contribute to the opening and development of new hubs
• Strengthen WCR

Expected impacts

• Access to energy for vulnerable populations
• Improving the provision of health and education services through the electrification of health centers and schools that have benefited from Solarly's solar installations.
• Improving the agricultural and craft production capacities of small rural and informal production units 
• Improving the quality of service for small and medium-sized businesses in urban areas, thanks to a continuous supply of energy.