Sinergi Niger

What Sinergi Niger does

Sinergi Niger (Societe d'Investissement et de Gestion d'Initiatives au Niger) is a private impact investment fund incorporated in Niamey, Niger in 2006 and founded as part of the pan-African Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) network. It is positioned as the first impact investment fund dedicated to startups and high-potential SMEs in Niger, with a stated operational track record of 18+ years and a core team of 14 staff operating from a Niamey headquarters and a Maradi satellite office.

The fund operates two primary financial products: (i) capital investment in the form of minority equity or long-term unguaranteed shareholder loans of 20-200 million FCFA per company over a 4-7 year hold period, targeted at formalized SMEs with 20-170 million FCFA financing needs across all sectors and regions of Niger; and (ii) seed funding of 2-40 million FCFA, delivered as interest-free, unguaranteed reimbursable advances to startups and early-stage companies, primarily under the EU-funded I&P Acceleration in Sahel program covering 13 Sahel countries. There is no technology platform; the firm's proprietary assets are a customized SME diagnostic tool, bespoke portfolio management tools, and a five-phase investment lifecycle methodology aligned to the I&P framework, supplemented by coaching, technical assistance, and access to the pan-African Club Africain des Entrepreneurs (200+ companies).

Sinergi's go-to-market is a hybrid sales-led and community-led model. Entrepreneurs submit dossiers (CV, business plan, financial statements) via email and are typically reviewed within 2-6 weeks; deal flow is generated through the Sinergi website, ecosystem events (Sinergi Business Network, BRVM/UEMOA roundtables, CEDEAO impact studies), partner referrals from incubators (CIPMEN) and microfinance institutions (Proxifina), and the I&P network. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed, but earnings derive from equity realizations, reimbursable seed advances, and management/program fees on donor-funded initiatives. The firm's institutional partner stack includes the EU (FFUE, 10 billion FCFA across 13 countries), USAID (PACE, CATALYZE F4R), the Government of Monaco (WANGARI women-entrepreneurship program), GIZ (CATAL1.5C climate program, 2025-2027), and the Fonds de Solidarite Africain (FSA) portfolio guarantee partnership formalized in November 2024.

Name

Sinergi Niger

Legal name

Société d'Investissement et de Gestion d'Initiatives au Niger

Website

https://sinerginiger.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sinergi Niger is a private impact investment fund, founded in 2006 by Investisseurs & Partenaires, that provides equity and seed financing (20-200M FCFA and 2-40M FCFA respectively) plus coaching and technical assistance to startups and SMEs across Niger and the Sahel region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Impact Investment (SME Private Equity)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN)

Keywords

• Impact investment fund
• SME equity financing
• Seed funding Sahel
• Venture capital Niger
• Entrepreneurial coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Niamey

HQ country

Niger

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Capital Investment (Equity/Quasi-Equity): Sinergi takes minority equity stakes or provides long-term shareholder loans (without guarantee) in high-potential Nigerien SMEs. Returns are proportional to company performance. Investment tickets range from 20–200 million FCFA. The investment period is 4–7 years, after which Sinergi's shares are sold per the promoter's vision.
2. Seed Funding (Amorçage): Seed financing between 2 million and 40 million FCFA for startups and early-stage companies, typically delivered as interest-free, unguaranteed reimbursable advances under the I&P Acceleration in Sahel program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sinergi Niger is an impact investment fund that deploys equity and quasi-equity capital (20–200 million FCFA minority equity participation or long-term shareholder loans) to high-potential Nigerien SMEs and interest-free seed funding (2–40 million FCFA reimbursable advances) to startups and early-stage companies. Alongside capital, it delivers personalized coaching, technical assistance missions, training, and access to a Nigerien, pan-African, and international network of entrepreneurs and investors via the I&P ecosystem and Club Africain des Entrepreneurs.

Product overview

Sinergi Niger is an impact investment fund (Société d'Investissement et de Gestion d'Initiatives au Niger) created in 2006, providing financing and support services for Nigerien SMEs. The company operates two core financing products: Capital Investment (minority equity participation with tickets of 20-200 million FCFA for established SMEs) and Seed Funding (2-40 million FCFA for startups). These are complemented by multiple support programs including I&P Acceleration in Sahel (EU-funded), PACE (USAID), CATALYZE (USAID/Palladium), WANGARI (women's entrepreneurship with Monaco), and CATAL1.5°C (GIZ climate program). Additional services include personalized coaching, technical assistance, and access to a pan-African network of investors and entrepreneurs through the I&P ecosystem (Comoé Capital, Sinergi Burkina, Teranga Capital, Miarakap).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I&P Acceleration in Sahel: Seed funding program targeting start-ups and small companies in 13 Sahel countries, funded by the European Union and implemented by I&P and its partners including Sinergi.
• WANGARI
• CATALYZE Sahel Finance for Resilience (F4R)
• CATAL1.5°C

Products and services

• Capital Investment (Investissement en capital) Minority equity participation or long-term unguaranteed shareholder loan for high-potential SMEs in Niger, with investment tickets between 20 and 200 million FCFA and a 4–7 year hold period. Returns are proportional to company performance; the investment facilitates bank credit access by strengthening equity base and credibility. Targeted at formalized/formalizing SMEs with strong growth potential across all sectors and regions of Niger.
• Seed Funding (Financement d'amorçage) Interest-free reimbursable advance (unguaranteed) for startups and early-stage companies in Niger, typically between 2 and 40 million FCFA, provided under the I&P Acceleration in Sahel program to support the incubation/acceleration phase.
• WANGARI Women Entrepreneurs Program 9-month structured program for women entrepreneurs in Niger (and Mali via Zira Capital) delivering e-learning, mentoring, and expert support to reach investment readiness and prepare for capital fundraising. Targets women-led SMEs with annual revenue of 5–20 million XOF and at least 3 employees.
• Support and Coaching Services

Quantifiable outcome

• I&P Acceleration in Sahel financed 10 Nigerien SMEs at 0% interest with no guarantee, plus free technical assistance missions, over a 4-year period.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) – UEMOAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSinergi co-organized a workshop with BRVM on alternative SME financing modes (private equity and seed funding) and stock exchange listing, targeting banks, Chamber of Commerce, Patronat, and SGI Niger.
• Club Africain des EntrepreneursmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African entrepreneurs' association initiated by I&P, gathering 200+ companies. Sinergi connects its portfolio companies to this network for peer learning, business opportunities, and high-value services.
• Comoé CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI&P-affiliated investment company in Côte d'Ivoire, part of the pan-African I&P network (with Sinergi Burkina, Teranga Capital in Senegal, Miarakap in Madagascar) sharing skills and initiatives.
• CIPMENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigerien startup incubator that supports entrepreneurs in preparing investment-ready dossiers and provides mentorship through its mentor network.
• ProxifinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigerien microfinance institution providing financial education and digital tools (Proxiner) to very small enterprises and producers, complementing Sinergi's funding range.
• Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Niger (CCIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCIN partnered with Sinergi through a framework agreement at the 31st FSA Board session, facilitating SME ecosystem access.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Injaro Investments: Injaro Investments is a West Africa-focused impact investment fund providing debt and equity capital to SMEs in francophone West Africa — directly comparable to Sinergi Niger in geography, ticket sizes, and SME impact orientation.
• Comoé Capital: Comoé Capital is the I&P-affiliated impact investment fund in Côte d'Ivoire providing minority equity and seed funding to West African SMEs with a near-identical thesis and methodology to Sinergi Niger, making it the closest direct peer in the I&P pan-African network.
• Teranga Capital: Teranga Capital is the I&P-affiliated impact investment fund in Senegal supporting SMEs and startups with equity and quasi-equity financing, sharing the same I&P methodology, donor partners, and ESG framework as Sinergi Niger.
• Zira Capital: Zira Capital is the I&P-affiliated impact investment fund in Mali, co-implementing the Wangari women-entrepreneurs program with Sinergi Niger and operating with the same SME equity/seed funding model.
• Miarakap: Miarakap is the I&P-affiliated impact investment fund in Madagascar offering equity and technical assistance to SMEs, comparable to Sinergi Niger as part of the same pan-African I&P investment company network.
• Sinergi Burkina: Sinergi Burkina is the I&P-affiliated impact investment fund in Burkina Faso providing equity, seed funding, and technical assistance to SMEs, operating as a sister entity to Sinergi Niger within the same I&P ecosystem.

Regional players

• AgDevCo: AgDevCo is a specialist impact investor focused on African agribusiness SMEs, comparable to Sinergi Niger's CATALYZE Sahel F4R (cowpea, small ruminants, poultry) value-chain focus, though typically with larger tickets and a continental mandate.

Others

• Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P): I&P is the parent impact investment group that created and continues to support Sinergi Niger; it is the originator of the I&P methodology and orchestrates the pan-African network of country funds.

Broad incumbents

• Acumen West Africa: Acumen is a global impact investor with a West Africa presence deploying patient capital into early-stage SMEs tackling poverty, comparable to Sinergi Niger in target customers and impact thesis, though operating at much larger scale and with a global mandate.

Emerging players

• GroFin: GroFin is a pan-African impact-focused SME finance provider offering equity, debt, and technical assistance to small businesses in frontier markets — comparable to Sinergi Niger in target customer and impact orientation, though operating across more countries and with larger tickets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sinergi-niger

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Sinergi Niger