Senegal

SONAGOO is a company specializing in the processing of agricultural products and the sale of small processing equipment. It also provides training for young people who want to discover or start a business in this sector. The company is led by Ngoné DIA, a young entrepreneur passionate about adding value to agricultural products. 

The entrepreneur 

SONAGOO is led by Ngoné DIA, an entrepreneur specialized in agro-food processing. Passionate about adding value to agricultural products from a young age, Ngoné chose agro-processing as a profession, which she learned from her mother. She has strengthened her skills through several technical training programs and obtained, in 2022, a certification in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing techniques from CEFAS in Dakar, as well as a certificate in fruit and vegetable processing from JEUF ZONE. Between 2023 and 2025, she continued to build her capabilities through short training courses conducted in collaboration with producer EIGs (Economic Interest Groups) specializing in agricultural product processing. 

Thanks to her experience, she has developed skills in project management and product innovation, thereby contributing to the promotion of local products, the reduction of post-harvest losses, and the promotion of “Made in Senegal.” 

Partnership with I&P 

SONAGOO is supported by I&P Acceleration FARM. This partnership will enable the company to: 

• Increase its production capacity by strengthening its production equipment; 
• Create direct and indirect jobs locally, contributing to the region’s economic development; 
• Further structure its administrative function and strengthen its financial and commercial management capacities, in order to support the company’s growth and improve the quality of its internal management. 

SHIFT CLIMAT (trade name: FILTRE PLANTE) is a Senegalese company founded in 2022, specializing in wastewater treatment through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). It designs and builds ecological infrastructure such as planted filters, planted sludge drying beds, lagoon systems, and vegetated swales. Its innovative approach is based on adapting existing technologies to the specific climatic and environmental conditions of Africa, ensuring positive environmental impact while offering a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. 

The Entrepreneur 

Michael ORANGE, a French national, is a professional trained in management and technology. He has built strong experience in business development and corporate management within multinational companies such as Microsoft, Acronis, and Atos, where he held strategic regional roles, leading expansion and digital transformation projects. 

An entrepreneur at heart, he founded Restotimes, an online ordering platform, as well as MaxiCheque, a French digital gift voucher service, both of which he successfully sold. 

Driven since childhood by environmental and sanitation issues—an interest passed on by his father, a hydrogeologist—Michael permanently settled in Senegal in 2022. He leads Filtre Plante, where he leverages his expertise in management, innovation, and strategy to structure and scale the company. A self-taught, passionate, and visionary entrepreneur, he continuously deepens his knowledge, notably by attending specialized trade fairs on water management to learn from sector experts. 

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Gestion 

I&P has partnered with SHIFT CLIMAT to: 

• Finance the acquisition of a backhoe loader, various equipment, and the development of an IoT solution to meet growing demand and improve service quality; 
• Strengthen administrative and financial functions and support the company’s growth. 

Key Impacts 

• Filtre Plante’s activities are expected to reduce 339 tons of CO₂eq in 2025. By 2030, this reduction could reach 2,246 tons of CO₂eq. 
• The company anticipates workforce growth, increasing from 11 formal employees in 2025 to 17 in 2030, reflecting both its growth trajectory and its contribution to local job creation. 
• Filtre Plante’s revenues are expected to grow by approximately 274% between 2025 and 2030, highlighting the strong potential of the planted filter solution. 

OVAVITECH is a Senegalese company specialized in the design and local manufacturing of automatic incubators for small-scale poultry farmers. It complements its offering by selling day-old chicks and small poultry equipment, providing an integrated and coherent range that meets all farmers’ needs. 

The entrepreneur 

OVAVITECH is a Senegalese company founded in 2021 by Serigne Abdou Khadre FALL, a young animal production engineer and committed entrepreneur. A graduate of ENSA Thiès, he initiated the Ovavitech project during his master’s degree. He has received several awards, including the 1st Innovation Prize from ENSA Thiès and the 1st EDF Pulse Africa Senegal Prize in 2021. That same year, OVAVITECH joined the Suqali program managed by Teranga Gestion, and later the E4Y program in 2024. Serigne Abdou Khadre FALL’s ambition is to modernize Senegalese poultry farming by making chick production more accessible, more efficient, and more profitable. 

Partnership with I&P 

OVAVITECH is supported by I&P Acceleration FARM. This partnership will enable the company to: 

• Increase its production capacity and industrialize incubator manufacturing by setting up a modern workshop equipped with high-performance tools and machinery; 
• Strengthen its financial and commercial management capabilities; 
• Actively contribute to promoting the poultry sector at the regional level. 

JOKALANTE is a Senegalese company specialized in delivering agricultural, climate, and financial information in rural areas through accessible digital channels (SMS, voice messages, USSD, and a voice chatbot). Its services are primarily aimed at smallholder farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and public institutions. Its inclusive approach is based on multilingual content dissemination and interactive engagement with farmers, enabling two-way communication and improving service delivery.

The entrepreneur

Ms. Ndeye Amy KEBE is a Senegalese entrepreneur and instructional design engineer specialized in information and communication technologies (ICT) for development. She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training from the University of Lille 1 and has extensive, diverse professional experience spanning education, digital transformation, project evaluation, and finance. 

Thanks to her experience, she has developed strong skills in project management, supporting digital transformations, and innovating technological solutions—contributing to digital inclusion in rural areas, improved access to agricultural information, and the promotion of sustainable economic development in Africa. In 2016, she founded JOKALANTE, which she leads with a team of 19 people, and for which she received two consecutive awards in 2018 for social innovation. 

Partnership with I&P 

JOKALANTE receives support from the I&P Acceleration FARM program, whose main objectives are to: 

• Consolidate the company’s business model; 
• Diversify its customer base; 
• Strengthen the capacities of the leadership team; 
• Improve administrative and financial management; 
• Increase social impact and scalability. 

SheTOSS is a Senegalese company specializing in the installation and maintenance of prefabricated domestic biodigesters, a technology that converts organic waste into biogas for cooking and bio-compost for agriculture. Founded in 2022 by Frédérique Sheridan, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the energy transition in rural areas.

The entrepreneur

Frédérique Sheridan, a Dutch entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of SheTOSS, a company specializing in domestic biodigesters for rural areas. With degrees in physiotherapy and pediatric physical therapy, she completed Stanford's Seed Transformation Program in 2022.

Based in Senegal since 2013, she led VITALITE Senegal, connecting more than 11,000 households to solar energy, and co-founded a clinic in Thiès. After VITALITE's post-COVID difficulties, she launched SheTOSS to continue her commitment to the climate sector. Winner of the PFAN award in 2018, she also trained more than 100 young people in the basics of solar energy with GIZ in 2024.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

I&P has committed to working alongside SheTOSS:

• To finance 100 biodigesters and working capital to accelerate installations as part of its partnership with PNB, which plans to install 500 biodigesters.
• To assist the company in structuring its administrative and financial functions, supporting its growth and strengthening the quality of its internal management.
• To provide SheTOSS with a strategic partner to help it achieve its objectives.

Main impacts

KANEL Pâtisserie is a Senegalese company specializing in the bakery and pastry sector, particularly in the production and sale of sweet and savory treats inspired by both local culinary traditions and Western classics. Founded in 2019, the company offers a wide range of products, including fine pastries, Viennese pastries, personalized cakes, desserts, as well as breads and savory snacks. It stands out for its use of local fruits and ingredients such as bouye, ditakh, bissap, and madd, to revisit recipes with an authentic Senegalese touch.

KANEL focuses on high-quality artisanal production, meticulous product design, and a refined customer experience, whether in-store or via online ordering.

Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2019 by Marguerite DIOH, Daniel SARR, and Rouguiatou DIAW, KANEL is a Senegalese company that promotes local expertise through a range of artisanal sweet and savory pastries featuring local flavors. Coming from the public sector, Marguerite passionately retrained as a pastry chef, building up a small business with 20 employees. Rouguiatou brings her expertise in marketing and business development, while Daniel supports strategy and governance. Together, they are positioning KANEL as an innovative player in Senegal's agri-food sector.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Gestion

KANEL benefits from the support of the I&P Acceleration FARM program, a €4 million initiative designed to finance and support 28 African companies operating in the agricultural sector. This program is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) through its subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, Proparco.

This strategic partnership will enable KANEL to:

• Finance its working capital requirements in order to support the increase in its production capacity;
• Strengthen its production equipment, increase its storage capacity for seasonal raw materials, and expand its product range;
• Deploy a structured marketing and sales strategy to better address its target markets and support its growth.

Founded in 2005, Baobab Des Saveurs generates its revenue primarily through the wholesale of processed products made from leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers, etc. The company specializes in the promotion, production, and marketing of natural, ethical, diverse, and innovative ingredients derived from West African plants. Its flagship products include oils, powders, and leaves, with baobab as its signature product.

The company has demonstrated its resilience in the face of challenges over the years and has distinguished itself through its commitment to producing high-quality products while promoting fair trade and local development.

The entrepreneur

Pierre-Gilles COMMEAT, a tropical agronomist by training, is the founder and manager of Baobab Des Saveurs.

Thanks to his expertise in the agricultural field, he has conducted several training courses, feasibility studies, surveys, diagnostics, and implementations for prestigious organizations such as the FAO, CIRAD, and GRET between 2001 and 2016.

He has more than 19 years of professional/entrepreneurial experience in the agricultural sector.

Partnership with I&P and Gaia Impact

Baobab Des Saveurs benefits from the support of the I&P Acceleration FARM program, a €4 million initiative designed to finance and support 28 African companies operating in the agricultural sector. This program is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) through its subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, Proparco.

This strategic partnership will enable the company to:

• Improve the availability of its products throughout the year;
• Achieve better international positioning and strengthen its position in the local market;
• Reduce its dependence on fossil fuels;
• Improve working conditions for its employees and product quality.

KAOPLAST est dirigée par Sandrine Montigaud, 41 ans, française installée au Sénégal depuis 2017. Ancienne sportive diplômée en STAPS, elle a gravi les échelons de l’entreprise depuis 2019, jusqu’à en prendre la tête en 2021. Elle s’appuie sur une équipe expérimentée et une gouvernance impliquée, portée par les actionnaires.

KAOPLAST is accompanied by I&P and Teranga Capital through the CATAL1.5°T program. The funds raised are intended for:

• Strengthen and expand its range of recycled products (MPIR).
• Support the company in making strategic investments (CAPEX).
• Structure the administrative and financial function.

​Key Impacts 

• KAOPLAST expects a 52% increase in its workforce between 2023 (46 jobs) and 2029 (70 jobs), with the proportion of formal jobs tripling.
• The amount of recycled plastic is expected to increase by 171% between 2023 and 2027.
• By recycling 487 tons in the first year of the project, the company will avoid approximately 1,800 tons of CO2e.

Learn more

• Kaoplast website
• LinkedIn Page
• Facebook page

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