Five Senegalese entrepreneurs have been selected to receive six months of business incubation and US$2,000 seed-funding from the Senegal Start-Up Accelerator to kick-start their business
The Senegal Start-Up Accelerator, run by Kosmos Innovation Centre and Reach for Change, has been looking for young Senegalese entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that could tackle the challenges facing the agriculture sector through technology to join its programme for the last two months.
The accelerator is designed to support innovators in the fishing and agricultural sectors to develop their commercial solutions and maximise their impact, helping them to navigate the early stages of business growth.
Over the course of six months, the programme will provide the five winners with intensive and expert individual and group training, organised visits to established businesses for market research and professional mentoring.
Mamadou Mar Faye, external affairs and CSR manager of Kosmos Energy, said, “Each winner will be guided through the process of developing a product that is ready for market and meets a real market need, contributing to the creation of a healthy and competitive agricultural sector in Senegal. Look out for five exciting new products coming to the market in just six months’ time!”
The five winning entrepreneurs are:
1. Mouhamadou Lamine Kebe of Tool Bi: Designed an innovation that works to facilitate irrigation with an electronic innovation and improve agricultural yields.
2. Mame Diarra Sarr of Fraisen/Waalu Ma Aagri: Developed an efficient way of producing organic strawberries locally in Senegal at an affordable cost.
3. Abdourahmane Diop of Jappandil: Developed a platform that connects farmers to qualified agricultural experts, service providers and materials needed to improve farming practices and access the latest innovations.
4. Aliou Diallo of Sigle: Senphytomed Suarl: Working to improve access to herbal products and natural remedies while reinvesting in the conservation of medicinal plants.
5. Arfang Mafoudji Sonko of GIE Senbioagro Corporation: His innovation works to reduce food waste while creating employment and transforming excess yields into market-ready products
