Burkina Faso

SOLAFRIQUE is a Burkina Faso company founded in 2014, specializing in access to water and electricity through solar solutions tailored to rural and peri-urban areas. The company designs and installs agricultural irrigation systems, solar mini-grids and solar kits for households, based on flexible payment models such as Pay-As-You-Go. The company is also developing renewable energy training courses to strengthen local skills. Its aim: to make clean energy accessible to all, while improving the living conditions and economic autonomy of rural populations.

The entrepreneur

Ernest ASSO, a 37-year-old engineer from Burkina Faso specializing in solar pumping systems, is the founder of SOLAFRIQUE. With over 10 years' experience in renewable energies, he combines technical expertise, social commitment and entrepreneurial vision to democratize access to energy and water in rural areas.

Partnership with I&P and Néré Capital

Solafrique 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 Burkina Faso, this program is implemented by Néré Capital.

This 196 million F CFA financing will enable SOLAFRIQUE to :

• Expand its infrastructure by increasing the capacity of the Wapassi mini-grid and installing a new solar power plant in Namogo, in order to electrify 750 new beneficiaries in rural areas;
• Develop shared solar irrigation solutions, by setting up mutualized systems to improve farmers' access to water and strengthen local food security;
• Create jobs and strengthen its impact, consolidating over 30 existing positions, generating some 20 new jobs, and reaching over 10,000 beneficiaries with clean, affordable energy. 

TC Solutions is a key energy player in Burkina Faso, specialised in solar and electrical solutions installation and distribution. Drawing on its expertise in renewable energies, it develops customised equipment, such as the Solar Box, a hybrid cabinet guaranteeing a reliable and sustainable power supply.

With an ambition for regional growth, TC Solutions is committed to offering high-performance, economical and ecological solutions to meet local energy challenges and accelerate the transition to more accessible and sustainable energy.

The entrepreneur

Assane Kafando is an electrical engineering and business management expert with over 25 years' experience in the energy sector. After a career with TIERI and ENGIE Africa, he founded TC Solutions to bring innovative and sustainable energy solutions to Burkina Faso. Visionary and committed, he is focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energies to transform access to electricity in the region.

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi Burkina

TC Solutions is supported by CATAL1.5°T program through Sinergi Burkina. Through its expertise and financial support, Sinergi Burkina is helping TC Solutions to strengthen its position in the renewable energy market and accelerate its development. This strategic partnership aims to promote the solutions developed by the company to meet local energy challenges and foster responsible and sustainable growth.

This partnership will enable TC Solutions to:  

• Accelerate the deployment of the Solar Box by setting up a hybrid cabinet assembly workshop and strengthening TC Solutions' sales strategy to position itself as a key supplier of this product in France. 
• Develop the solar energy business by developing partnerships with solar component manufacturers, raising customer awareness of solar solutions and facilitating access to renewable energy. 
• Strengthen the company's structure and organisation, by better formalising internal procedures and building team skills to improve operational efficiency

Agro-Emballage specializes in the production and commercialization of woven polypropylene bags. Agro-Emballage aims to support the agri-food industry by making their products more competitive through the provision of packaging that is adapted and attractive in terms of design and quality. It also installs and maintains machinery.

The entrepreneur

Agro-Emballage was founded in 2018 by Célestin KANAZOE, an engineer specializing in mechanics and renewable energies from Mohamed 1er University in Oujda (Morocco) who has several years’ experience in entrepreneurship. With the support of his wife Estelle DJIGUIMDE, he began his entrepreneurial adventure by repackaging food products in attractive packagings. That’s how he began importing packaging for commercial purposes. Building on this success, he now plans to become the national leader in the production of polypropylene woven bags.

Partnership with Sinergi Burkina

Agro-Emballage is supported by Sinergi Burkina through an equity investment that aims at : 

• Structure and improve governance
• Finance working capital and optimize inventory
• Help set up the unit
• Increase the company’s intervention capacity
• Formalize jobs

AK Services, also known as Restaurant Chez Fitini, is a Burkinabè agri-food SME specializing in food service (specifically local meals) and event catering (weddings, birthdays, christenings, etc.). The company's target clientele consists mainly of individuals, companies, NGOs and local authorities. In just a few years, the company has built up a solid reputation, and enjoys the trust of a large portfolio of private and professional customers in Burkina Faso.

The entrepreneur

The company was founded in 2019 by Ms Assétou KOUANDA, who has over 10 years' experience in preparing African and European dishes.With a BAC G2 in accounting, her passion for cooking goes back to her childhood spent alongside her aunt who owned a restaurant in Ouagadougou's Paagla Yiri neighborhood. Over the years, she has acquired solid experience in the kitchen and consolidated her passion for entrepreneurship through trips to countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, France, Turkey and China, where she had the opportunity to take part in various training courses on the culinary arts.

Partnership with Sinergi Burkina

AK Services is supported by I&P and Sinergi Burkina through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The main aims of this partnership are to :

• Increase the company's production capacity and improve the quality of its products and services 
• Expand its customer base and strengthen its brand image 
• Support the company in its management (implementation of an appropriate formal management system, including accounting, financial and tax management, production management and human resources management)

Pharm’Xpert is a company based in Burkina Faso specialized in the assistance and management of pharmacies: the company provides services such as feasibility studies for the opening of health structures, assistance in the management and recovery of pharmacies, training of pharmacy assistants and pharmacists, etc.

The entrepreneur

Pharm’Xpert was founded by Dr. Malick Ba in 2014, who started in 2002 in the Burkinabe civil service, looking for solutions to facilitate the accessibility of health products and care to the population. Convinced that a healthy population is an important lever of development for any nation, he created his own company in order to overcome the mismanagement and poor coordination of the activities of pharmaceutical structures with a view to providing quality health services to populations.

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi Burkina

Pharm’Xpert is supported by Sinergi Burkina through capital-investment. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Finance the working capital and optimize inventory management 
• Support the company in its internationalization process
• To increase the capacity's intervention 
• Structure and improve the company's governance

 Massaka is a media and communication consulting company in Burkina Faso offering communication to national and international institutions, NGOs and associations. It also offers a service of media coverage and advertorial, online training via its web platform named “Agribusiness TV” whose vocation is to promote agricultural innovations and youth entrepreneurship.

The entrepreneurs

Massaka was created by 2 young entrepreneurs passionate about rural development issues:

• Inoussa MAIGA : President of the company, and in charge of the coordination of the communication for development branch of activities. He holds a master’s degree in information and communication technology, option communication for development from the Joseph KI-ZERBO University and an international master’s degree in media management from the Ecole Supérieur de Journalisme de Lille. He has more than 10 years of experience in the field of information and communication.
• Nawsheen Bibi HOSENALLY : Co-manager and in charge of the coordination of the activity branch Agribusiness TV. She holds an MSc in Management and Information Systems (Change and Development) from the University of Manchester, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mauritius in Agriculture, option Vulgarisation Agricole. She has over 10 years of experience in communication and media management.

Partnership with Sinergi Burkina and I&P

Massaka is supported by I&P and Sinergi Burkina through I&P Accelération in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

• Strengthen the organization and structuring of the Agribusiness TV platform (access to a premium space, online training, instructional manuals, networking, etc.)
• Develop editorial projects to increase the audience of Agribusiness TV and build loyalty
• Acquire production and reporting equipment (journalist kits)
• Strengthen the company’s structure and management system

Expected impacts

• Consolidation of 13 existing jobs and creation of 8 new permanent full-time jobs
• Contribution to the promotion of agriculture and youth entrepreneurship
• Improve the structuration and organization of the company
• Contribution to the national economy through the payment of taxes to the tax authorities

Jo'Fé Digital is a Burkinabe start-up offering consulting, advice and assistance in digital marketing. 

 Introducing Jo'fé Digital on video

The entrepreneurs

Jo'Fé Digital was created by 3 young Burkinabe entrepreneurs with complementary profiles and sharing a common vision:

• Mr. Moïse OUEDRAOGO: Holder of a Bachelor's degree in Commercial Management and Marketing and an MBA in Transport and Logistics, he has a professional experience of about 8 years in different positions of responsibility in the field of purchasing and IT.
• Thimotée Junior OUEDRAOGO : Holder of a professional degree and a Master 1 in quality, health, safety and environment, he has a professional experience of about 9 years in the field of computer science and technology.   
• Salim TRAORE : Holder of a Master 2 in Management Science with a marketing option, he has more than 8 years of professional experience in the commercial and marketing field.

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi Burkina

Jo'Fé Digital is supported by I&P and Sinergi Burkina through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

• Strengthening the technical and operational capacities of the company (training of technical teams, fitting out of its premises and acquisition of working equipment and financing of working capital needs)
• Preparing the effective launch of the J'Pay payment aggregator by conducting the necessary security tests to guarantee the security of customer transactions and conducting an in-depth market study
• Strengthening the company's structure and management system

Expected impacts

• Establishment of good governance within the company
• Consolidation of 16 existing jobs and creation of 4 new permanent full-time jobs
• Contribution to the digitalization of Burkina Faso
• Better structuring and organization of the company 

Pâtisserie Les Douceurs is a company specialized in cooking, baking and pastry making in Burkina Faso. It offers a wide range of products and services (breads and pastries, cakes, canapés, school meals and snacks, sandwiches, fast food and catering).

The entrepreneur

Pâtisserie Les Douceurs was created by Mrs. Safiatou OUEDRAOGO-YABRE, a trained cook-pastry chef with more than 27 years of experience with the SERVAIR group and in the hotel industry.

Partnership with Sinergi Burkina and I&P

Pâtisserie Les Douceurs is supported by I&P and Sinergi Burkina through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Increase the company's production capacity and improve product quality 
• Diversify the products offered 
• Support the company in its management (implementation of an adequate formal management system, including accounting, financial and fiscal management, production and human resources).

Expected impacts

• Consolidation of 20 existing jobs and creation of 5 new permanent full-time jobs
• Contribution to the employability of vulnerable populations (women and unqualified youth)
• Better structuring and organization of the company
• Establishment of good governance

Zoé Industry is a company specialized in the transformation of local plant leaves, mainly moringa oleifera, into infusion tea in Burkina Faso. 4 flavors of tea mixed with moringa are currently on sale: moringa-hibiscus (bissap), moringa-kinkeliba, moringa-ginger and moringa-citronella.

The entrepreneurs

Zoe Industry was founded by Jacob and and Claudia Ouedraogo in 2016. 

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi Burkina

Zoé Industry is supported by Sinergi Burkina through the I&P Acceleration in Sahel.

The support provided to the company will allow it to :

• Strengthen its production capacity
• Improve the quality of its tea
• Improve its reputation
• Strengthen its structuring

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​

Based in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), Riaskyne owns an attraction park (Andréa Magicland) with several playgrounds (carousel, gyroscope, giant slide, giant trampoline, bouncy castle, bumper cars, mini golf course, train circuit, green spaces for relaxation, etc.),a restaurant "Akadi Foods & drinks", a day care center and a souvenir store.

The entrepreneurs

Riaskyne is the initiative of a couple of doctors, specialists in public health, Hugues and Youl Traoré. Hugues Traoré is a former senior international official of the United Nations and has significant experience in health and development, in management, monitoring and evaluation of health projects.

Ms. Youl Traoré also has more than 10 years of professional experience in management positions at the Ministry of Health. In addition to her basic training as a physician, she has been trained in several areas (business communication, sales techniques, e-procurement and leadership)

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi Burkina

Riaskyne is supported by Sinergi Burkina through I&P Acceleration program in Sahel. The main objective of this partnership is to :

• Strengthen the quality of the company's service through capacity building actions for technical staff (animators, playground manager, etc.)
• Strengthen the capacity of the daycare center through the rental and development of a new and larger space
• Implement "Akadi Foods and Drinks" restaurant model in a gas station
• Strengthen the structure and management system

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​