I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs 1
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About IPAE 1
I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs 1 (IPAE 1) is the second fund launched by I&P to support entrepreneurs seeking economic growth and societal impact.
It targets SMEs operating in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean whose financing needs are higher than the companies supported by IPDEV 1 and IPDEV 2, ranging from €300,000 to €1,5 million.
Click here to read more about IPAE's successor fund, IPAE 2
Key takeaways
⇒ 12 different countries, half of which are classified as Least Developed Countries.
⇒ The companies operate in a dozen different sectors (Food, Microfinance, Construction, Transport, Health, Services, IT, Energy...).
⇒ A combination of companies at different stages of growth, with around ¼ investing in start-ups and ¾ investing in companies in expansion phase.
⇒ IPAE1's partner companies are showing strong growth, both in turnover and number of employees.
⇒ The fund has fully exited 2 companies and has completed 8 partial exits or exits in progress.
IPAE 1's portfolio
IPAE 1's governance
IPAE 1 is governed by 3 bodies:
Every month the following professionals from the private equity and the development sectors meet to discuss on ongoing projects and investment decisions.
- Olivier Lafourcade, Consultant, former director at the World Bank
- Luc Rigouzzo, CEO of Améthis Finance, former CEO of Proparco
- Jean-Michel Severino, CEO of I&P and former CEO of AFD (2001-2010)
- François Wohrer, CEO of Compagnie Financière Degroof and former Senior Investment Officer at IFC
- Hervé Schricke, President "Club Afrique", AFIC
- Ann Katrin Dolium, Expert on ESG and CSR issues
- A member of the I&P team
Composed of representative of key investors of the fund, it meets at least twice a year to give another perspective on potential conflicts of interest and on the funds activities.
IPAE's investment team
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Ando Annette
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Anna Traoré
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Ben Kouakou
Ben Kouakou
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Ben Kouakou joined I&P in 2021 and is operating as Investment Director for the funds I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs (IPAE 1 and IPAE 2).
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Fitia Fonenantsoa
Fitia Fonenantsoa
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Fitia joined I&P Madagascar's investment team as a Investment Officer in December 2021 and is in charge of developing new investments and monitoring the investment portfolio of IPAE in...
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Francis Owusu
Francis Owusu
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Francis joined the team in 2018 and operates as Investment Director in the Accra office. He manages the activities of IPAE 1 and IPAE 2 in Ghana and Nigeria.
...![](https://ietp.com/sites/default/files/styles/product_270x270/public/Portrait-Landry.png?itok=1TPZwwae)
Landry Parkouda
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Marguerite Tall
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Mialy Ranaivoson
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Ny Andraina Andriamanantena
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Oty Kévin Aie
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Samuel Monteiro
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Shino Grivel
Latest IPAE 1 News
![]() EVPA success stories: NEST in SenegalEntrepreneurs | 27/10/2017 The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) launched a new website featuring a set of innovative projects supported by foundations and impact funds. The Senegalese company NEST counts among the ‘’success stories’’ selected by EVPA. The stories showcase how these companies... |
![]() New impact study on I&P’s portfolio: ITGStore in CameroonEntrepreneurs | 19/10/2017 Each year I&P conducts an in-depth impact study on one of its portfolio companies. This year’s study focuses on ITGStore, an ITC company based in Cameroon. It was conducted by I&P and FERDI (the Foundation for International Development Study and Research). Download... |
![]() The funds IPAE ends its investment period with 2 new investments in MaliEntrepreneurs | 29/08/2017 The fund I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs (IPAE), launched in 2012, ends its investment period by realizing a second investment in Mali. IPAE now counts two Malian investees in its portfolio: Carrières et Chaux du Mali and the Société Malienne de Blanchisserie. ... |