Ivory Coast

Gona Maroquinerie is an Ivorian company specializing in leather goods, particularly in the production of office items (conference folders, diaries), handbags or travel bags, pocket items, watch straps, wallets, and other accessories made of leather and imitation leather.

The entrepreneur

The company was founded by Jean Cyrille Ahoua Gona in 2014.

Autodidact, Mr. Ahoua is now a specialist in leather goods and shoe repair and has more than 33 years of experience in this sector. Accountant training, he began his professional career, far from the craft, as a sales manager in a company of Import / Export. Attracted by the idea of learning a trade, he left the company after two years and started working in the shoe industry.

His talent and his commitment to the leather goods sector have enabled him to win several prizes and distinctions at the national and sub-regional level :

• 2nd prize in the National Competition of Young Ivorian craftsmen (1998)
• 3rd Prize of Excellence of the Best Craftsman (2014)
• 1st Prize for Innovation at the National Exhibition of Social and Solidarity Economy in Morocco (2017)
• 3rd Prize for Circular Economy at the Salon Tournant de l'Economie Sociale et Solidaire in Senegal (2019)
• 2nd Prize at the Ivorian Handicraft Market (2021)

Mr. Ahoua is recognized as an approved trainer by the Fund for the Development of Vocational Training (FDFP) in the framework of Technical and Vocational Training in Côte d'Ivoire. He is also the President of the Union of Shoemakers, Bootmakers, Leatherworkers and Tanners of Côte d'Ivoire and the Vice President of the African Confederation of Leather Industries (Coafric)

Partnership with I&P and Comoé Capital

Gona Maroquinerie is supported by I&P Acceleration in Sahel program, which is implemented in Côte d'Ivoire by Comoé Capital sponsored by I&P. The support will essentially allow the company to increase its production capacity. Gona Maroquinerie will also benefit from the support of several consultants who will strengthen the brand's reputation, improve the production process and the quality of the articles, and revitalize the company's accounting and commercial functions.

Gain is a company in Côte d'Ivoire specialized in the development of administrative management software, the sale of access control systems in schools, and the automated control of staff presence and movements on site for companies.

The entrepreneur

The company was founded in 2020 by Guy Kouakou Attaboth Etchielou.

Holding a BTS in communication, he has worked as a freelance salesman in a company marketing poultry products and commercial ADELCI-Daloa. In 2006, he was charge of communication at Ivoire Finance microfinance. Then he ended up becoming head of agency within this structure from 2007 to 2008. He decided to set up his own business. With the help of one of his acquaintances, he developed an SMS messaging service between schools and parents, and later an administrative management and access control software for schools.

Partnership with I&P andComoé Capital

Gain is supported by I&P Acceleration in Sahel program, which is implemented in Côte d'Ivoire by Comoé Capital sponsored by I&P. The support will essentially enable the company to increase its production capacity and develop its brand. Gain will also benefit from the support of several consultants who will strengthen the technical capacities (software), boost the growth of the activity and revitalize the accounting and finance functions of the company.

The Central Chaare-Tsedek University (UCC) is a university offering courses in law, economics, literature and humanities in Daloa, in west-central Côte d'Ivoire. This year, the university welcomed more than 137 students enrolled in 3 university faculties.

The entrepreneur

The university was founded by Franck Emmanuel Bleu in 2020.

With a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Bouaké, this entrepreneur worked as a financial engineer in SMEs in Côte d'Ivoire for 6 years before switching to teaching. He is a teacher-researcher in finance and risk management at private higher education institutions in the country and is also actively involved in several projects to create universities and grandes écoles. He has a solid experience and proven skills in the higher education sector. 

Partnership with I&P

UCC is supported by I&P through the education and employment component of I&P Acceleration in Sahel program.

The funding and support provided to UCC aims at :

• Fitting out and equipping classrooms adapted to e-learning courses
• Acquire equipment for a multimedia room
• Acquire a digital ERP solution Konosys and DOKENT for administrative management and e-learning courses
• Carry out a promotional/marketing campaign and improve its website

Supagro is a school based in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, training in agriculture and management. The school was created to face the difficulties of recruitment in agriculture.

The entrepreneur

Supagro was created by Ange PETE, an entrepreneur in the agricultural field and started its activities in 2021.

Aged 40 and of Ivorian nationality, Ange PETE has more than 15 years of experience in France and in Ivory Coast both in banking (Deputy Financial Director of Groupama Bank in France) and in the startup environment (Country Head of Jumia Market and Commercial Director of Jumia Ivory Coast). He holds a Master of Science in Management (Entrepreneurship option) from HEC Paris and a DEA in Remote Sensing from the University of Cocody.

Partnership with I&P :

Supagro is supported by I&P through the education and employment component of  I&P Acceleration in Sahel.

The funding and support provided to Supagro aims at :

•  Fitting out and equipping dormitories, 3 classrooms and a computer room

Ivoire Beauty Academy (IBA) is a training center for the professions of cosmetics and well-being in Côte d'Ivoire.

Ivoire Beauty Academy delivers certificates of professional qualification (CQP) and certificates of professional aptitude (CAP) after an academic course of 9 months combining theory and practical courses. In two years, the school has trained fifty young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 who have dropped out of the school system or are looking for professional integration and/or retraining.

The entrepreneurs

IBA was founded in 2020 by two young Ivorian entrepreneurs who were convinced of the need to professionalize the training market for the cosmetics and wellness professions, a sector in which the majority of training is done through "on-the-job learning": 

• Abdoul Razak Ouattara: with a master's degree in Audit and Management Control and a BTS in Finance and Business Management, he had a career as an accountant in various accounting firms in Abidjan and in a training school 
• Carmen Lavri: this young woman has had various professional experiences in institutes in Accra and Abidjan.

Partnership with I&P

IBA is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel program dedicated to education and employment (IP2E).

The funding and support provided to IBA aims at :

•  Develop and equip the present site to reach a capacity of 60 learners
• Develop and equip a beauty institute  
• Open a second training site
• Support the company in the realization of a marketing campaign

MG Lab is a technical training center based in Côte d'Ivoire specialized in learning and capacity building in telecommunications and advanced technologies (fiber optics). The school provides short-term training (5 days to 6 months) targeting young graduates and professionals.

The entrepreneur

MG Lab was created in 2013 by Guy Monney, CEO of MG TELECOM & SERVICES, a company operating in the field of telecommunications since 2011 and represented in 8 African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Guinea, Togo, Benin). After having noticed a need for training for individuals and companies, he decided to create MG Lab.

Partnership with I&P

MG Lab is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel program dedicated to education and employment (IP2E).

The funding and support MG Lab receives aims at : 

• The expansion of the company through the establishment of an annex in the town of Yopougon SIPOREX in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). MGLab's ambition is to settle in Yopougon at the request of prospects and customers who find the current location of the center out of place in relation to their place of residence and/or workplace.
• The reinforcement of the car park by the acquisition of a 9-seater vehicle for the outings on site of the students (Ivory Coast) and of 2 vehicles of prospecting (Ivory Coast and Congo).

Created in 2012, Go Africa Online (GAO) aims to support African professionals in their digitalization, their communication and the development of their clientele, thanks to a range of digital tools allowing a better visibility on the internet. GAO offers an online business book, referencing packages offering increased visibility on the internet through their promotion on the GAO website, as well as a range of digital marketing tools. Go Africa Online operates in Togo, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Benin.  

THE ENTREPRENEURS

David Encel is the founder and CEO of GAO. He was notably Sales Director and Director of Development for the 2H group (publisher of the paper phone book present in 14 African countries). He also has experience in advertising sales in France.  

Michael Bettach is a digital entrepreneur who has founded and/or co-founded 4 digital companies since 2006. He is an expert in search engine optimization. 

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

I&P has committed to work with Go Africa Online to: 

• Develop and improve existing technological tools and create a new digital platform to strengthen interactions between companies  
• Support the company in its geographical expansion 
• Strengthen the Finance function, the structuring and the governance of the group 

EXPECTED IMPACTS

I&P and Go Africa Online have a common vision on the development of entrepreneurship in Africa. This will include :   

⇒ Raising awareness among African companies and professionals on the challenges of digitalization 
⇒ Supporting African companies in their digitalization process with the appropriate tools   
⇒ Create qualified jobs in the digital sector 

 La Fontaine bleue is an Ivorian company specialized in the production and distribution of purified water in large formats. Known under the name Océane, the company offers ultra pure water in reusable 18.9 liter carboys, but also the sale and maintenance of water fountains.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

La Fontaine bleue was created in 2017 by M. Ehui Alain Serge Protay, graduated from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (EDHEC) with a degree in business management and a diploma in business engineering.  After his studies, Mr. Ehui joins in 2007 the Comium group as Sales Manager for companies for 3 years and then Key Account Manager until 2013. In 2014, he was recruited by a local company in the same industry as La Fontaine Bleue as Corporate Sales Manager for 2 years. From 2016 to 2017, he joined the pharmaceutical industrial group Propharmed International, where he worked as Sales Manager. With 11 years of experience in B2B sales and strong interpersonal skills, Mr. Ehui was able to gain the trust of several large organizations such as the African Bank of Development, Orange Ci, Lafarge Holcim, etc.

PARTNERSHIP WITH COMOÉ CAPITAL

La Fontaine bleue is supported by the I&P Acceleration in Sahel program, set up by Comoé Capital in Côte d'Ivoire, which will enable to increase its fleet of delivery vehicles. La Fontaine bleue will also benefit from the support of several consultants who will reinforce the Océane brand and revitalize the company's accounting and finance.

About Comoé Capital

Comoé Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Ivorian SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Issa Sidibé, Comoé Capital is the fifth African 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), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). → Site of Comoé Capital.

Since its creation in 2016, the online platform Afrikrea has been promoting African-inspired fashion and crafts (clothing, accessories, decoration, etc.)  

Afrikrea offers customers the chance to buy African creations online under the best conditions. However the originality and added value of its approach lies above all in the support and the provision of sales management tools to designers.    

Since 2020, this service offer is accessible on a second platform, ANKA, and works on a subscription basis. ANKA is an all-in-one solution that allows any African seller (and not only fashion designers) to sell and ship their products worldwide and get paid quickly through international and local payment systems. 

Currently, Afrikrea federates a community of 7,400 sellers present in 47 African countries and offers a wide range of products with more than 120,000 available references to more than 200,000 users and 60,000 buyers in over 150 countries. 

The entrepreneurs

Afrikrea is led by a team of 4 promoters: Moulaye Tabouré (CEO), Kadry Diallo (CMO), Luc Perussault Diallo (CTO) and Guillaume Darnaudet (CFO), all with complementary profiles in auditing, IT, project management and finance.  

Having grown up in Bamako (Mali) before moving to France for their studies, co-founders Moulaye Tabouré and Kadry Diallo realized that African handmade products were as rare as highly prized and valuable.  

As for Luc Perussault Diallo, the company's CTO, he has over 20 years of experience in marketplaces and e-commerce. Guillaume Darnaudet joined the Afrikrea adventure in 2018 as CFO and shareholder, after a position as financial manager in a construction company in Ivory Coast. 

Partnership with I&P

I&P is committed to working with Afrikrea to support the company in: 

• Strengthening its technological and marketing team in order to ensure a better offer of tools and services and to offer the best possible support to sellers  

• Expanding its geographical scope

Expected Impacts

• Creation of economic opportunities for African creators by reducing barriers to accessing large markets 

• Job creation: over 50% job growth during the investment period 

• Strong impact on gender equality: 80% of the marketplace's sellers are women 

Medivas is a company specialized in medical evacuations (air and road), on-site medical assistance, emergency medical coverage during events and medical training in Côte d'Ivoire. It is the first company in this sector that is managed by Ivorians.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Medivas (Medical Vehicle Aircraft Assistance Services) was created in 2014 by Mr. Herbert Kouamé Bi, a dynamic promoter, who has more than 20 years of experience in emergency medical assistance.Holder of an MBA in Management and Marketing and a National First Aid Certificate - National First Aid Training from the Red Cross Ivory Coast, Mr. Herbert Kouamé Bi has accumulated his professional experiences mainly as Manager and Coordinator of operations of international and local companies in the same sector, before creating the company.

PURPOSE OF THE FUNDING

Medivas benefits from I&P Acceleration in Sahel program, which is implemented in Côte d'Ivoire by Comoé Capital sponsored by I&P. The support will allow the company to acquire a new ambulance for medical evacuations by land. Medivas will also benefit from the support of several consultants who will improve the governance of the company, revitalize the accounting and finance function and put in place a complete procedure manual for the management of operational risks including the aspects of patient safety, ambulance drivers and risk prevention.

About Comoé Capital

Comoé Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Ivorian SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Issa Sidibé, Comoé Capital is the fifth African 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), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). Site of Comoé Capital →