From 23 to 28 July 2018, Parakou was in the spotlight for the second round of Benin Start-up Week, an initiative of Minister Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou aimed at meeting the start-ups of the digital ecosystem in the city of the Koburus, in order to learn about their expectations and present the opportunities put in place by the Government to develop their activities.
During this second tour, the Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, and her team observed the tradition of the Bénin Start-up Week label by organising the Start-up Tour and, of course, the Town Hall Meeting. During the Start-up Tour, the Minister visited the premises of three start-ups in the city of Parakou (northern Benin). These young companies offer innovative solutions for the development of Benin’s digital ecosystem. They are:
Waxangari L@bs, Orizon Web Services and Light Innovation. This was an opportunity for each founder to present their organisation, its activities and the various projects they are working on, and above all to set out the various problems they face.
Three Parakou start-ups in the spotlight Waxangari L@bs The first organisation visited, Waxangari L@bs, was presented by Mr Sero Amed LAFIA, its CEO. With a team of 7 volunteers, the organisation offers the following services: • a coworking space • a TechLab • cultural entrepreneurship activities • introductory courses and training in digital skills. In addition to these services, Waxangari L@bs is also working on several projects, including BeninLocal, Vacances+ and Kaweru wanri.
Pleased with the projects presented, the Minister observed that the organisation sits at the crossroads of two priority sectors of the Government Action Programme (PAG), namely digital and tourism.
Orizon Web Service After a general presentation, Gregory THOTO, General Manager of the agency, outlined to the delegation the various areas in which he and his team work. These include activities such as: • web copywriting and search engine optimisation • graphic design • website and mobile app development • social media management, etc.
As regards the projects under way at this start-up, the Minister and her delegation were amazed to see how these young people aim to solve various problems through innovative solutions. These include Keoubougou Pi, HackHer, Sandwich Express and Parakou Bibou. The discussion then turned to the problems the organisation faces, including internet access, Parakou being overlooked when it comes to major technology events and, of course, the difficulties caused by frequent power cuts.
Light Innovation The tour ended with a visit to the premises of Light Innovation, led by Mr Géraud AIHONNOU, which offers services in the following areas: • design and computer graphics • website and app creation • consulting and training • advice and support for start-ups.
The agency is currently working on 3 projects: LIGHT Maket, Korat.net and Solidarité. The meeting was crowned by highly productive discussions, and the Minister also expressed her satisfaction with the services offered by the organisation. Photo
Town Hall Meeting This 2nd round of Benin Startup Week ended on 28 July 2018 with the Town Hall Meeting held at the University of Parakou. It brought together several of the city’s authorities, including the Prefect’s representative, the Mayor of Parakou, the Director of Huawei Bénin and the Director of the city’s Institut français. They set out their determination to develop the digital sector in northern Benin through a number of opportunities. Explaining the rationale for this initiative to the hundreds of students and entrepreneurs gathered, Aurelie Adam Soule Zoumarou stated that it is a forum enabling start-ups and other project developers in Benin’s digital ecosystem to express their expectations. For the time being, it should be noted that some 137 start-ups have been registered in Benin. They operate in various fields such as health, agriculture, trade and education.
All newsDuring this second tour, the Minister of Digital Economy and Communication, Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, and her team observed the tradition of the Bénin Start-up Week label by organising the Start-up Tour and, of course, the Town Hall Meeting. During the Start-up Tour, the Minister visited the premises of three start-ups in the city of Parakou (northern Benin). These young companies offer innovative solutions for the development of Benin’s digital ecosystem. They are:
Waxangari L@bs, Orizon Web Services and Light Innovation. This was an opportunity for each founder to present their organisation, its activities and the various projects they are working on, and above all to set out the various problems they face.
Three Parakou start-ups in the spotlight Waxangari L@bs The first organisation visited, Waxangari L@bs, was presented by Mr Sero Amed LAFIA, its CEO. With a team of 7 volunteers, the organisation offers the following services: • a coworking space • a TechLab • cultural entrepreneurship activities • introductory courses and training in digital skills. In addition to these services, Waxangari L@bs is also working on several projects, including BeninLocal, Vacances+ and Kaweru wanri.
Pleased with the projects presented, the Minister observed that the organisation sits at the crossroads of two priority sectors of the Government Action Programme (PAG), namely digital and tourism.
Orizon Web Service After a general presentation, Gregory THOTO, General Manager of the agency, outlined to the delegation the various areas in which he and his team work. These include activities such as: • web copywriting and search engine optimisation • graphic design • website and mobile app development • social media management, etc.
As regards the projects under way at this start-up, the Minister and her delegation were amazed to see how these young people aim to solve various problems through innovative solutions. These include Keoubougou Pi, HackHer, Sandwich Express and Parakou Bibou. The discussion then turned to the problems the organisation faces, including internet access, Parakou being overlooked when it comes to major technology events and, of course, the difficulties caused by frequent power cuts.
Light Innovation The tour ended with a visit to the premises of Light Innovation, led by Mr Géraud AIHONNOU, which offers services in the following areas: • design and computer graphics • website and app creation • consulting and training • advice and support for start-ups.
The agency is currently working on 3 projects: LIGHT Maket, Korat.net and Solidarité. The meeting was crowned by highly productive discussions, and the Minister also expressed her satisfaction with the services offered by the organisation. Photo
Town Hall Meeting This 2nd round of Benin Startup Week ended on 28 July 2018 with the Town Hall Meeting held at the University of Parakou. It brought together several of the city’s authorities, including the Prefect’s representative, the Mayor of Parakou, the Director of Huawei Bénin and the Director of the city’s Institut français. They set out their determination to develop the digital sector in northern Benin through a number of opportunities. Explaining the rationale for this initiative to the hundreds of students and entrepreneurs gathered, Aurelie Adam Soule Zoumarou stated that it is a forum enabling start-ups and other project developers in Benin’s digital ecosystem to express their expectations. For the time being, it should be noted that some 137 start-ups have been registered in Benin. They operate in various fields such as health, agriculture, trade and education.