Senegal

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 

Sammanté is a Senegalese company that offers its customers digital health coupons. A sammanté health coupon is a digital coupon that allows each beneficiary to pay for their medical expenses in public hospitals and pharmacies. The health coupons are available at a fixed monthly rate and provide financial cover for a range of health services, including consultations, medical check-ups, medicines and surgery. 

The entrepreneur

Sammanté was founded in 2023 by Haskè Ventures and Pauline Barra. Haskè Ventures is a venture studio that supports start-ups with seed capital, strategy development, talent sourcing and operational support. Pauline Barra is a young Senegalese woman with experience in auditing and finance, and in entrepreneurship.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Sammanté is supported by I&P Accélération Technologies, a €2.5 million programme to finance and support around 15 start-ups in sub-Saharan Africa, backed by AFD through  Digital Africa. In Senegal, this programme is implemented by Teranga Capital.

This partnership will enable the start-up to

• Improve its product by enhancing existing functionalities
• Strengthen the technological dimension
• Refine its positioning and develop a brand image
• Strengthen its sales and technical teams
• Expand to other countries in the sub-region

The creation of ASAFIN-IFPT Group stems from the desire of its founding members to support  vocational training   territorialization, while at the same time exporting the know-how of the ASAFIN model for the benefit of all young Senegalese.​​

This center has a strong social vocation and welcomes each year about 1000 young people from all over Senegal with 5 centers, in Dakar the capital, Keur Massar- Rufisque ( a  capital’s suburb), and in 3 regions : Kaolack, Mbour and Maleme Hodar

THE ENTREPRENEUR : 

ASAFIN was founded in Dakar in 1981 by Mr Alioune Badara Kane, who has several years of proven experience in vocational and technical training.​
In 2020, the center was restructured by a group and is now led by Mr. Ngouda Fall Kane, the founder's son. ​
Mr. Kane, has a degree in economics and a BTS in management accounting. He held several positions within the group before becoming the Manager and Director of the ASAFIN-IFPT Group Center in 2020

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P :

The ASAFIN Group is supported by I&P as part of the Mastercard Foundation's Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Program (CRRP).

EXPECTED IMPACTS

•   Safeguarding: Rehabilitation of buildings, fire safety, installation of infirmary and individual safety equipment for learners​

• Digitization: Installation of a computer room​

•  Employability: TA to improve career services, strengthen soft skills and a seed fund for self-entrepreneurship

IASS MDB is a private vocational training school specializing in the field of health, which awards state diplomas enabling students to work in both private and public facilities. Its aim is to fill the gap in the number of health professionals in Senegal.

 In 2023, the school has more than 500 students on its 3 campuses (Dakar, Louga, Touba)

The Entrepeneur 

NdèyeSokhna DIENG, the eldest daughter of the founder has taken over the management of the school as the CEO.

Graduated in Business Administration, she has made her entire professional career within the school by occupying successively from 2001 to 2021 the position of secretary, cashier, accounting assistant, accountant, administrative and financial direct

Partnership with WITH I&P

IASS MDB is supported by I&P through the Mastercard Foundation Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Program (CRRP).

Expected impacts

• Improve the quality of education with the rehabilitation of the Dakar annex campus, the installation of Dakar’s library, and the upgrading of practical room equipment 
• Upgrade the digitalization through the Installation of an ERP platform at Louga and Touba campus and the upgrading of connectivity in Louga and Touba Campus
• Provide technical Assistance for upgrading  carrier service
• Install Infirmary at Louga and Touba / upgrade of Dakar campus infirmary, and improve student health and safety 
• Provide Scholarship program for 15 young Mame Diarra students at the Touba Campus

WIN Industries is a Senegalese company founded in 2012, specializing in the production and marketing of mineral water in several bottle formats through the "O' Royal" brand. From the outset, WIN's mission has been to provide access to spring water for all. One of the company's innovations was the launch of a 30cl format, at the symbolic price of 100 FCFA (€0.15), at a time when bottled water was still reserved for the more affluent. 

Today, Win has expanded its offer to include more eco-friendly formats, including a reusable 19L bottle.

WIN Industries is planning a partial migration to medium and large bottle sizes to minimize the plastic/liter of water ratio while still offering affordable prices, and will implement a plastic bottle recycling scheme in neighborhoods.

The entrepreneur

The project is led by a dynamic and experienced entrepreneur, Khady Cissé DIOP.  

Khady Cissé Diop has 15 years' experience in the telecoms sector, notably with Ericsson and TIGO (operator now Free) as account manager and then sales and distribution director. She co-founded Baraka in 2013, the 1st distributor of telecom products for TIGO in Senegal, which she managed for 3 years. She became CEO of Win Industries in 2016. Khady has strong commercial skills and is well versed in distribution thanks to her experience at Baraka. 

Partnership with I&P

I&P, through the I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs 2 (IPAE 2) fund, has chosen to invest in WIN INDUSTRIES in order to support the company's consolidation and growth ambitions, while lending a helping hand on operational, governance and expansion issues. As an impact fund, IPAE 2 is also committed to supporting the growth of an eco-responsible industrial company that is equally aware of the economic, social and environmental issues involved.

"In this new stage of its development, we needed a partner with definite added value. I&P's solid reputation, experience and expertise in similar sectors in Africa were the reasons for choosing Win Industries. With I&P, and thanks to better governance of the Company, Win Industries hopes to ensure the long-term future of its brand and conquer the national and sub-regional market." Khady Cissé DIOP 

Expected impact

• Improving access to drinking water (SDG 6) 
• Support for women's entrepreneurship 
• Job creation 
• Improving CSR practicesa

Based in Senegal, Fruitales is an SME specialized in the transformation and commercialization of fruit and vegetables, mainly fresh chillies.

The entrepreneur

Fruitales was founded by Ms. TALL, a Senegalese entrepreneur. She holds an MBA and has 21 years' experience in entrepreneurship, following a 14-year career in teaching Philosophy and Modern Literature. She is also deeply involved in the agri-processing industry ecosystem, where she is or has been a member of several organizations such as AAFEX, FARM, AWEP and the Enablis network.

Partnership with I&P

Fruitales is supported by Teranga Capital through a capital investment. This financing will enable the company to increase its production capacity. Fruitales will also benefit from technical support ranging from strategic thinking to improving organizational efficiency.

Founded in 2015, Perform ISMA (Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Automobile et de l’Aviation) is one of the few private schools in Senegal specialized in automotive training. 
The institute includes a business school specializing in automotive trades, as well as a technical and vocational training center to capture all the potential demand from young people with CAP, BEP, BT and BTS diplomas in automotive and petroleum trades.
This pioneering school in the automotive sector is designed to fill the training gap in this sector, which is in great demand by companies. It is also aligned with government's goal to strengthen support for public and private technical and vocational training.
Perform’s missions are to:

Offer high-quality technical and vocational training for students and professionals in line with the real needs of the automotive and aviation sectors;

Contribute to the development of the human capital of companies and administrations operating in the automotive and aviation sectors;

Participate in research and innovation for the development of the automotive and aviation sectors.

The school is recognized for its compliance with education sector regulations, the specialization of its training offer, the quality of its training, and its relations with professional players both nationally and internationally. Perform operates in a fast-growing market with high demand for technical training, especially in specialized fields.
They offer accessible tuition fees with scholarships granted to the most vulnerable to reintegrate all these young people who have dropped out of school, generally from disadvantaged families. This opportunity is offered with a high standard of training quality, based on a practice rate of around 70%, and a major objective: to mobilize all the school's energies for the professional integration of students and graduates.
To achieve this, students need to be close to the training offered, with an appropriate learning environment using modern tools.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Dame GUEYE holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Institut Supérieur de Management ISM Dakar, followed by a rich career in the tobacco (Philip Morris and British American Tobbaco) and the automotive (Volkswagen Senegal, CFAO, Mercedes and CCBM) industries, he founded Perform. Through Perform, he wants to bring innovation to technical education and vocational training in Africa, in a spirit of creativity and prospective.

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with Perform to:

⇒ Purchase technical equipment for practical works

⇒ Improving hybrid mechanics learning

⇒ Update IT equipment

⇒ Grant scholarships to 15 young women for courses in the technical fields

⇒ Implement a student's safeguarding policy and improve safeguarding services (infirmary, security, washrooms, etc)

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Boost the employability of young people

⇒ Improve the quality of training provision through the acquisition of new equipment and introduction of new subjects

The Centre International de Formation Pratique (CIFOP) is the largest community development project of a lay Scout association called "Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs du Sénégal" (EEDS). Launched in 1988 in partnership with the Association des Guides et Scouts du Luxembourg, CIFOP is located in Mboro (Niayes region, about 100 km north of Dakar).
A community development project of a lay scout association called "Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs du Sénégal" (EEDS). Founded in 1988 in partnership with the Association des Guides et Scouts du Luxembourg, CIFOP is located in Mboro (Niayes region, about 100 km north of Dakar).

The ambition of CIFOP is to train qualified technicians and workers, fully operational at the end of the training. This is why CIFOP provides practical training in connection with the most sought after skills on the local job market.
CIFOP currently has ten training sections: agroecology, construction, locksmithing, car mechanics, woodworking, ceramic pottery, hairdressing, sewing and pattern making, multimedia and sanitary plumbing. 
The majority of the students enrolled come from low-income families so the CIFOP places great emphasis on social inclusion to facilitate the educational path of young people.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

The center is run by Ibrahima GUEYE, a lawyer by profession.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P is committed to working with the CIFOP to:

⇒ Improve the quality of education through the digitalization of the educational offer and the acquisition of suitable computer equipment,

⇒ To provide students with an e-learning platform

⇒ Promote entrepreneurship with the launch of a fund to finance graduate projects ;

⇒ Renovate the accommodation and sanitary structures

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Improved educational quality and relevance

⇒ Increased youth employability