Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire

What Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire does

Izili (formerly Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire, founded 2017) is the Côte d'Ivoire operating entity of Izili S.A.S., a Paris-headquartered off-grid solar Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) distributor serving rural and peri-urban households and small entrepreneurs across six African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Madagascar, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso). The company sells and finances solar home systems and kits, solar-powered refrigerators/freezers, improved cookstoves, hybrid solar generators, and smartphones under the MOLO MOLO (Côte d'Ivoire), Ndank Ndank (Senegal), and Kpédédé kpédédé (Benin) sub-brands. Technology centers on photovoltaic hardware paired with a PAYGo financing engine: customers pay a small upfront deposit followed by daily, weekly, or monthly installments via Mobile Money (MTN MoMo, Moov, Orange Money, NIM) on telecom and microfinance rails, with product activation tied to payment compliance and ownership transferring upon full repayment.

The business model combines subscription-style recurring installment revenue with one-time hardware sales, financed through PAYGo credit issued by Baobab Energy Solutions and channel partners including LAPO Nigeria, REMUCI Côte d'Ivoire, ACEP Madagascar, COFINA Senegal, and Bank of Africa Senegal. Go-to-market blends nomadic last-mile field agents, branded Izili agency branches across major cities in each country, telecom operator retail outlets, Jumia e-commerce in Côte d'Ivoire, and partnerships with MFI/bank branches for urban and productive-use reach. Customers also include women entrepreneurs targeted via IFC Energy2Equal and the 2X Challenge, with Energy4Impact supporting female-led solar businesses in Senegal. Cumulative beneficiaries exceed 2.5 million people across the six markets.

Izili became a majority-owned subsidiary of BioLite in April 2025, enabling vertical integration with a manufacturer that has reached 14.6 million users globally; Norfund, Baobab Group, and a $5M OGEF convertible bond (January 2026) underpin the capital structure. The January 2026 acquisition of Qotto expanded the footprint into Benin and Burkina Faso, supported by a stated target of 170,000+ solar solutions deployed by 2028. Leadership transitioned to Guilla Lenne Venance as Group CEO in May 2026.

Name

Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire

Legal name

Izili S.A.S.

Website

https://baobabplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Izili (formerly Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire) is a PAYGo off-grid solar distributor selling solar kits, freezers, cookstoves, hybrid generators, and smartphones on installment to rural and peri-urban households and small entrepreneurs across six African countries, financed via Mobile Money and microfinance partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Off-grid solar energy distribution

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vertical-Specific BNPL (e.g., Healthcare, Travel, Home Improvement) (FSAKACAK), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• PAYGo solar financing
• Off-grid solar distribution
• Clean cookstoves
• Solar home systems
• Digital inclusion financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Les Coteaux - Cocody Riviera 3 - Abidjan - Côte D'Ivoire

HQ country

Côte d’Ivoire

HQ region

Africa

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Solar Energy Products: Sale and financing of solar home systems, solar kits, and solar refrigerators to rural and peri-urban households and entrepreneurs. Revenue generated through upfront cash sales and PAYGo installment payments over 6-36 months.
2. Pay-As-You-Go Financing: Financing revenue from PAYGo solar and digital products. Customers make small upfront deposits followed by affordable recurring payments via Mobile Money, with ownership transferring upon full repayment. PAYGo credit history creates financial inclusion enabling access to additional financial products.
3. Clean Cookstoves: Sale of improved cookstoves with 3x less smoke and 4x less charcoal consumption, sold both for cash and via PAYGo financing.
4. Digital Devices: Sale and financing of smartphones through PAYGo arrangements via telecom partners (MTN, Orange, Moov) in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Madagascar and other markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire (Izili) distributes off-grid solar energy systems (solar kits, solar freezers, hybrid generators), improved cookstoves, and smartphones to households and small entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire under a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) financing model. Customers pay a small upfront deposit and then affordable daily, weekly, or monthly installments via Mobile Money, with full ownership transferring upon repayment. Products are delivered through a last-mile network of field agents, physical branches, MFI and telecom-operator partnerships.

Product overview

Izili (formerly Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire) is a last-mile distributor of solar energy and digital products across 6 African countries. The company's product portfolio centers on PAYGo-financed off-grid solar solutions — including solar kits, solar freezers, hybrid generators, and improved cookstoves — alongside branded smartphone financing under the MOLO MOLO sub-brand. Products are distributed through a combination of direct branches, last-mile agent networks, and e-commerce (Jumia), with financing delivered via Mobile Money integrations with MTN and Moov. In Côte d'Ivoire, the company serves both urban and rural customers including entrepreneurs, with products also available through microfinance institution (REMUCI) partnerships and Baobab Energy Solutions credit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar Kits (MOLO MOLO) Off-grid solar home systems bundling solar panels, battery, LED lights, radio, TV, motion detectors, and phone charging, sold via PAYGo financing or cash to households and small businesses in Côte d'Ivoire.
• Solar Freezers / Refrigerators Solar-powered refrigeration units for small businesses to preserve perishable goods and generate additional income, available via PAYGo installment financing.
• Hybrid Solar Generators Portable hybrid solar generators with 10+ year lifespan, designed for entrepreneurs to power smartphones, computers and fans, sold via Baobab Energy Solutions credit.
• Improved Cookstoves Clean cooking solutions reducing charcoal consumption by 3x and smoke emissions by 4x compared to traditional methods, sold for cash or via PAYGo to households.
• MOLO MOLO Smartphones Branded smartphone financing offer enabling households to acquire quality mobile phones via installment payments through MTN, Moov, and Baobab partner networks in Côte d'Ivoire.
• Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) Financing Pay-As-You-Go installment financing program enabling customers to acquire solar kits, smartphones, freezers and generators via small daily, weekly, or monthly Mobile Money payments, with ownership transferring upon full repayment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer income increased by 30% through extended market hours with solar home system
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• COFINA SénégalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2026COFINA Sénégal (major financial inclusion actor in Africa) partnered with Izili Senegal in May 2026 to make solar solutions more accessible to individuals and professionals through adapted financing solutions. COFINA provides alternative finance and SME support across Africa.
• Bank of Africa – Senegal (BOA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 April 2026BANK OF AFRICA – SENEGAL became a new partner in April 2026, making Izili Senegal's solar solutions accessible to BOA's customer base. The partnership aims to further facilitate access to sustainable energy through banking distribution channels.
• Qotto GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Izili Group acquired Qotto in January 2026, a leading PAYGo solar provider in Benin and Burkina Faso. Qotto co-founder Fabrice de Gaudemar joined Izili's supervisory board. The acquisition expanded Izili to 6 countries with 170,000 solar solutions target by 2028, backed by $5M OGEF financing.
• NSIA Assurances SénégalmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 August 2025NSIA Assurances Senegal partnered with Baobab+ Senegal (now Izili) in August 2025 to strengthen customer confidence through improved after-sales service and product protection/insurance, adding peace of mind to solar product purchases.
• LAPO Microfinance Bank NigeriamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 July 2025Partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank enables rapid nationwide expansion in Nigeria through LAPO's existing microfinance distribution network. LAPO provides financing for PAYGo solar products to Nigerian customers.
• REMUCI (Réseau des Mutuelles de Côte d'Ivoire)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with REMUCI in Côte d'Ivoire announced in June 2025, providing microfinance-based solar product distribution in the Ivorian market. REMUCI's cooperative network enables broader reach for Izili products.
• OrangemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecom operator partner distributing Izili digital products (smartphones) through Orange retail outlets and Orange money mobile payments in Senegal and Madagascar. Enables both product distribution and PAYGo mobile payment infrastructure.
• MTNmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecom operator partner in Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria distributing Izili smartphones and digital products through MTN retail networks and MoMo (Mobile Money) payment infrastructure for PAYGo transactions.
• Moov AfricamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecom operator partner in Côte d'Ivoire distributing Izili smartphones through Moov retail network and enabling mobile money payments for PAYGo financing.
• Energy4ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner working with Izili Senegal to empower female entrepreneurs through access to solar energy solutions, supporting gender equality objectives (SDG 5). Part of broader Energy2Equal (IFC) and 2X Challenge programs.
• BioLite Energy (Shareholder/Manufacturing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond being majority shareholder, BioLite manufactures and supplies quality off-grid solar products (kits, home systems, cookstoves). The partnership provides vertical integration in hardware manufacturing, quality assurance, and product development. BioLite reached 14.6 million users globally.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BBOXX: BBOXX is a UK-headquartered PAYGo solar company with operations across East and West Africa using similar mobile-money-installment models. Operates in overlapping geographies and serves the same off-grid household segment.
• d.light: d.light designs, manufactures, and distributes solar power products globally with PAYGo financing across multiple African markets. Direct overlap with Izili on PAYGo solar home systems, solar lanterns, and last-mile rural distribution.
• Sun King (formerly Greenlight Planet): Sun King distributes PAYGo and cash solar home systems across Africa and Asia through a similar last-mile agent network model. It competes directly with Izili in overlapping customer segments and is among the largest PAYGo operators globally.
• Zola Electric: Zola Electric offers PAYGo solar home systems and productive use products across several African markets. Directly comparable to Izili on product mix (solar kits, larger home systems) and customer base (rural and peri-urban households).
• M-KOPA: M-KOPA is the largest PAYGo solar provider in Africa, operating across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana with similar deposit + mobile money installment model for solar home systems and smartphones. It is the most directly comparable scaled competitor to Izili.
• Fenix International (ENGIE): Fenix International, acquired by ENGIE, operates PAYGo solar in Uganda and other African markets with comparable rent-to-own solar home systems. Closely aligned offering and customer segment to Izili's PAYGo portfolio.

Emerging players

• SolarAid / SunnyMoney: SolarAid operates the SunnyMoney distribution network selling solar lighting across Africa with mission-driven positioning. Adjacent comparator in the off-grid solar category with overlapping rural distribution objectives.

Others

• BioLite: BioLite is Izili's majority shareholder and primary hardware supplier, manufacturing off-grid solar products and clean cookstoves. Comparable as the upstream product developer and as a strategic partner with vertical integration into Izili's distribution.
• Baobab Group: Baobab Group is the founder of Izili and a major microfinance partner, providing branch distribution and credit infrastructure. Operates as a sister/ecosystem player enabling Izili's PAYGo financing and urban reach.

Broad incumbents

• Engie Energy Access: Engie Energy Access is the off-grid energy arm of utility ENGIE, offering PAYGo solar across multiple African markets with broader portfolio and balance sheet. Direct competitor at scale with deeper capital base than Izili.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/iziligroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Iziligroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/iziligroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baobabpluscotedivoire
• Instagraminstagram.com/izili_group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Baobab+ Côte d'Ivoire