Digital, Tech

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 

Nkwa Tech Ltd is a Cameroonian company that has developed an application that encourages its users to save: users can set savings targets in terms of either amounts or dates. Withdrawal before reaching the target leads to penalties (set by the users), while achieving the target on time leads to rewards in the form of interest generated on the amount saved.

Nkwa Tech Ltd has a platform whose transactions are based on mobile payment technology. The platform incorporates an interface dedicated to end users, the operators' customers.

The entrepreneurs

Nkwa Tech Ltd was founded in 2021 by Akwo ASHANGNDOWAH, a Cameroonian entrepreneur with experience in creating technological applications.

Partenariat avec I&P et Fako Capital

Nkwa Tech Ltd is supported by I&P Accélération Technologies, a €2.5 million programme to finance and support around fifteen digital start-ups in Sub-Saharan Africa, backed by AFD through  Digital Africa. In Cameroon, this programme is being implemented by Fako Capital.

This partnership will enable this start-up to carry out :

• Bring the company into legal compliance (recasting of articles of association, acquisition of microfinance approvals, etc)
• Strengthen the company's governance by setting up an advisory committee to assist with strategic decisions
• Supporting the company in its structuring by setting up a robust accounting and financial system, an operations management system, and in the development of its human resources
• Strengthening the company's marketing efforts to increase its visibility and the number of users
• Support in launching microfinance activities

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

Founded in 2016, AS Pharm is an innovative pan-African start-up that offers pharmacies a SaaS platform to optimise their operational management. This comprehensive solution covers all the essential aspects of their business, such as sales management, customer relations, invoicing, stock tracking, accounting, data analysis, and much more. Available both online and offline, the platform guarantees total flexibility to meet the specific needs of each pharmacy.

The entrepreneurs

AS Pharm was co-founded by two entrepreneurs, Régis Salako and Aboubakar Sidick Aboudou:

• Régis Salako is an experienced IT professional with a solid university education and more than 10 years' experience in the sector. He graduated from the University of Rennes in 2012 with a Master's degree in Computer Science specialising in MIAGE (computer methods applied to business management).
• Aboubakar Sidick Aboudou has gained significant experience in the IT sector, having worked as an Analyst Programmer, Design Engineer and Information System Manager in an IT consultancy firm in France for seven years. He graduated from ENSSAT (Ecole Nationale Supérieures des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie) in 2011 with a degree in Software and Computer Systems Engineering.

Partnership with I&P and Fako Capital

AS Pharm is supported by I&P Accélération Technologies, a €2.5 million programme to finance and support around 15 digital start-ups in sub-Saharan Africa, backed by AFD through Digital Africa. In Côte d'Ivoire , this programme is implemented by Comoé Capital.

This partnership will enable the start-up to :

• Recruit technical and sales staff 
• Expand its activities in Côte d'Ivoire and accelerate its growth in Senegal.
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Founded in 2016, Solarly is a Cameroonian company supplying off-grid solar energy solutions (not connected to the traditional electricity grid): it offers its solutions in rural and urban areas with a focus on energy needs for productive use (health centers, schools, small industries) but also for basic household electrical needs.

Its leading products are :

-The SolarlyBox, a stand-alone off-grid solar system that supplies continuous energy by connecting solar panels, batteries and various equipment (fridge, television, telephone charging cable). The SolarlyBox is a connected object (Internet of Things), enabling :

• Performance monitoring, to anticipate and solve problems
• Data collection on usage
• Remote control and activation based on user payments

-AC Kits, combinations of components, integrated and marketed in a standardized way to meet the most frequent needs, such as :

• Powering the most popular basic appliances: lamps, cell phones, radios and TVs
• Powering a water pump for irrigation and/or a water tower
• Powering a fridge or freezer for food preservation
• Power an incubator for chick rearing

Today, it is estimated that more than 20,000 people are impacted by the Solarly product, either directly (households) or indirectly (hotels, health centers and schools).

The entrepreneur

Julien Riat is 31 years old and originally from Belgium. After graduating in Economics and Business Administration from the Université Catholique de Louvain (2012) and in International Business from EPHEC (2014) in Belgium, he joined an association that assists disabled children. He then joined Travis and Lloyd as a Business Developer. At a very young age, he embarked on the Solarly adventure with two of his friends. The three of them formed the basis of the project, later joined by other partners.

Partnership with I&P

Solarly is supported by I&P through I&P Digital Energy. The aim of the funding is to :

• Support the implementation of the company's new commercial and operational strategy to accelerate growth 
• Roll out the new research and development phase 
• Contribute to the opening and development of new hubs
• Strengthen WCR

Expected impacts

• Access to energy for vulnerable populations
• Improving the provision of health and education services through the electrification of health centers and schools that have benefited from Solarly's solar installations.
• Improving the agricultural and craft production capacities of small rural and informal production units 
• Improving the quality of service for small and medium-sized businesses in urban areas, thanks to a continuous supply of energy.

I-Futur is a Niger-based start-up specialized in the development of web and mobile applications. In addition, it has developed its own solutions/applications, notably the IPAY solution (payment aggregator), which has various applications, such as online payment of the A-levels or payment of school fees.

The entrepreneur

I-Futur was created in 2017 by Mr Sidikou BOUBACAR, an IT and telecom engineer with several experiences in major groups such as Orange Niger.

Partnership with I&P and Sinergi

I-Futur is supported by I&P and Sinergi through I&P Acceleration in  Sahel, whose objectives are :

• deploy Terra Finance, a rural payment and financial inclusion solution
• disseminate its solutions to players (microfinance, groups)
• implement a targeted sales strategy
• strengthen the accounting and management departments

ParCsmart is a Senegalese company that offers its customers physical and technological parking solutions. This SME has built a parking lot with a capacity of 300 spaces in the heart of the city of Dakar. The site is equipped with two smart barriers connected to the entrance. Thanks to the software, an account manager monitors movements and issues receipts. He is assisted by a security guard whose role is to direct motorists. ParCsmart also has a platform that offers a parking management interface for parking professionals and any other institution with dedicated parking spaces. The platform integrates an interface dedicated to the end users, customers of the operators.

The entrepreneurs

ParCsmart was founded in 2018 by Maria Gabriela MARIN and Lamine BA, specialists in digital project management with over 40 years of experience.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Innovex is a Ugandan company that has developed a smart meter coupled with an IoT solution that bridges the gap between solar energy providers/distributors and their last mile customers by giving the ability to remotely monitor, manage and turn on/off installed solar systems. This solution can be deployed in a variety of solar energy systems such as home systems, water pumps, cold chain storage and transportation systems, etc.

The entrepreneurs

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.