I&P Accélération au Sahel (IPAS): Pioneering acceleration program for SMEs in the Sahel region draws to a close

 

In 2019, Investisseurs & Partenaires launched I&P Accélération au Sahel thanks to funding from the European Union, more specifically through The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. Financed up to €15.5 million, and deployed over 5 years, this program is aimed at start-ups and small businesses in the Sahel region with one main objective: to give them access to the financing and skills they need to enable their development and thus promote job creation.

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Sammanté

Sector of activity: Digital, Tech
Status: Financement d'amorçage
Entrepreneur: Haskè Ventures, Pauline Barra
Country: Senegal
A propos:

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
In portfolio since: 2024

How to support the acceleration phase of small businesses in the Sahel region : I&P publishes lessons from I&P Acceleration in Sahel’s mid-term evaluation

Since 2019 with the support of the European Union, I&P has been preparing small and medium-sized enterprises in the Sahelian sub-region for investment through the I&P Acceleration in the Sahel program. Three years after its launch, I&P is proud to present the first lessons of the program, identified following the mid-term evaluation carried out by Dalberg consulting firm.

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Fruitales

Sector of activity: Agro-food
Status: Investissement en capital
Associed fund: Teranga Capital
Entrepreneur: Marie-Andrée Tall
Country: Senegal
A propos:

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.

In portfolio since: 2022

Subito

Sector of activity: Logistics
Status: Financement d'amorçage
Entrepreneur: Mor Lamotte
Country: Senegal
A propos:

Subito International is a young Senegalese company specialized in private transportation (car rental, airport shuttles). Today, the company's client portfolio includes individuals and companies (Air France, French Embassy, etc.), as well as hosting sites (Booking), etc.

The entrepreneur

Subito was created in 2018 by Mor Lamotte, a Senegalese entrepreneur with a Master's degree in Port Management and Logistics.

Partnership with Teranga Capital and I&P

Subito is supported by Teranga Capital and I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel with the following objectives

  • refine its positioning in the B2B and B2C segments by offering a wider range of services that effectively meet the needs of each customer segment while maintaining high quality standards 
  • strengthen and improve the quality of the vehicle fleet 
  • structure the company's activities in business development, accounting, finance, labor, tax and regulations 
  • better manage operations by improving the reservation management system, implementing an operational monitoring system (monitoring of drivers, vehicles, flow, etc.) and investing in the training and professionalization of drivers
In portfolio since: 2022

Fa Confection

Sector of activity: Industry
Status: Financement d'amorçage
Entrepreneur: Aminata Ka
Country: Senegal
A propos:

Fa Confection by Naty is a young company specialized in traditional and professional clothes and articles in Senegal.

The entrepreneur

Fa Confection was founded by Aminata Ka, a Senegalese entrepreneur with a passion for fashion design. She holds a master's degree in International Business from the American Business School in Paris and has a strong experience in the banking sector in France and in Senegal.  

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

This young company is supported by I&P and Teranga Capital through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

  • increase production capacity to meet the growing demand
  • strengthen the services offered to customers by developing new value-added business lines
  • increase the company’s visibility and ensure efficient business development
  • structure the company’s activities on the operational, fiscal, accounting and financial levels
In portfolio since: 2022

Fruits & Berries

Sector of activity: Agro-food
Status: Financement d'amorçage
Entrepreneur: Youga GUISSE
Country: Senegal
A propos:

Fruits and Berries is a Senegalese company that specializes in the production of fresh fruit smoothies and juices made from blended or squeezed fruit, with no additives, added sugars, conservatices or coloring.The company targets consumers who are aware of the health issues related to the consumption of industrial beverages and who value the nutritional value of fresh fruit-based drinks.

The entrepreneur

Fruits and Berries was founded by Youga GUISSE, a Senegalese entrepreneur passionate about agriculture. He graduated in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol in England and holds a master’s degree in Economic Engineering from the University Pierre Mendes de Grenoble in France. He has more than ten years of experience in digital transformation.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Fruits & Berries is supported by Teranga Capital and I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel. This partnership aims at :

  • Set up a production unit in keeping with hygiene and quality standards
  • Increase the production capacity with more efficient equipment
  • Develop a distribution network through partnerships with supermarkets, gas station stores, hotels, cafés and restaurants
  • Increase the company’s visibility and build a strong brand image
In portfolio since: 2022

Frija Décor

Sector of activity: Industry
Status: Financement d'amorçage
Entrepreneur: David AMEDEKA  et Caroline YOUL
Country: Senegal
A propos:

Frija Décor is a company specialized in the fabrication of wood, metal and upholstery furniture in Senegal.

The company operates in Dakar and collaborates with a network of local artisans. In two years of activity, this young company has already achieved a good reputation allowing to build up a portfolio of customers consisting of individuals and companies including restaurants, hotels, etc.

The entrepreneurs

Frija Décor was founded by a couple, David AMEDEKA and Caroline YOUL:

  • David AMEDEKA is a young entrepreneur, trained as a lawyer and has had 5 years of professional experience in communication, sales, teaching of law and marketing before starting his own business. He is in charge of the e-comerce platform and the monitoring of KPIs, the planning and implementation of sales and marketing programs, as well as pricing.
  • Caroline YOUL studied Banking and Financial Engineering, with experience in financial analysis through internships and volunteer missions. Within the company, Mrs. YOUL is in charge of the elaboration and follow-up of the dashboard, the follow-up of the customers, the management of the suppliers and the quality control.

Partnership with I&P and Teranga Capital

Frija Décor benefits from I&P Acceleration in Sahel implemented in Senegal by Teranga Capital whose objectives are to :

  • progressively internalize production to ensure product quality, shorten delivery times and increase production capacity
  • support the company in its formalization
  • increase the company's market share
In portfolio since: 2022

I&P reveals the annual ESG & impact report of IPDEV 2 fund

Each year, Investisseurs & Partenaires monitors and publishes a report of the environmental, social and governance impact of its different lines of business. Launched in 2002, I&P Développement line (IPDEV 1, IPDEV 2) aims at create, develop and sponsor a dozen impact funds and support 500 SMEs in several sub-Saharan African countries.

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