Senegalese entrepreneur Thierno Sakho (pictured) has developed a solution to reinvent the entire value chain in the informal sector. The solution, ProXalys SAS, is a startup specialized in nano-credit and B2B e-commerce operations in the informal sector.

Thierno Sakho came up with the idea for ProXalys SAS in 2021, after realizing that informal trade actors and entrepreneurs have difficulty accessing traditional lending or credit services.

"The informal sector is a target for which digitalization is crucial. We intend to innovate on the operational methods in place to strengthen and modernize the distribution channels. Our objective is to enable informal entrepreneurs to resist the double digital and distribution revolution created by the large multinationals present on the continent," he explained.

With the regulatory framework for granting credit being difficult, Thierno Sakho decided to offer a supply service for everyday consumer products. ProXalys has many tools for managing and capturing daily financial flows, including an order-taking application for informal distributors, an IT system for administrative management, order tracking, and payment management, and a supply chain logistics management system. By consolidating the entire distribution chain onto a single platform, the startup is strengthening its customers' sales capacity and easing their working capital requirements.

In less than a year, Thierno Sakho has managed to gain a hundred customers in Dakar among retailers, distributors, and producers, with his app acting as an intermediary for their various transactions. In December 2021, the entrepreneur completed his first round of funding, raising $150,000 in the pre-seed funding, with Haskè Ventures as the lead investor. He plans to use the money to strengthen his presence in Senegal and eventually conquer the entire West African sub-region.

Aïsha Moyouzame