A serial entrepreneur, he leverages drone technologies to collect farm data and optimize management operations.
Joseph-Olivier Biley (photo) is an Ivorian tech entrepreneur on a mission to revolutionize farm management and broaden the use of drone technologies in agriculture. He is the co-founder of JooL International, a drone startup established in 2021. The startup aims to democratize drone usage to ensure Africa has access to the necessary data for its development, particularly in the agricultural sector.
JooL International provides farmers with the ability to remotely manage their plantations, offering a range of services including Jool Lab, Jool Monitor, and Jool Audit.
Jool Lab, a drone repair and manufacturing laboratory, is proudly “made in Côte d’Ivoire.” Jool Monitor, a software suite, offers features such as agricultural plot delimitation, plant counting, aerial farm views, and plant health analysis.
Jool Audit provides an audit and analysis service, giving plantation owners insights into their plantation’s condition and factors affecting their yield. It suggests an action plan to enhance productivity and ensures transparency throughout the process.
The company has also developed the Jool Box, a smart device that allows drones to be controlled remotely from a computer or tablet. The solar-powered box is rain-resistant and capable of obstacle avoidance.
In addition to his role at JooL International, Biley heads the West Africa hub of ZEBOX, a technology startup incubator and business innovation center. He is also a co-founder of #Ci20, an association comprising Côte d’Ivoire’s most innovative and disruptive startups.
Biley, a graduate of Paris Business College and OMNES Education, was the CEO of WeFly Agri, a startup that utilized drones for remote visualization and control of agricultural plantations, from 2017 to 2021.
The entrepreneur has been recognized both domestically and internationally, receiving the Young African Personality of the Year 2020 award from Africa 35.35 and the ECOWAS Best Startup Award for JooL International in 2021.
Melchior Koba
