NTF V Fast Track Tech project trains 30 start-ups in product development
How many entrepreneurs have seen their products fail because they didn't meet proven market needs? Developing an innovation is not enough. It's even more important to ensure that it solves a real problem for consumers. To avoid these pitfalls, the NTF V Fast Track Tech project has launched a three-month training and support programme for start-ups in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal.
Understanding the fundamentals of product management
Many successful start-ups have suffered reverses of fortune because they failed to meet their consumers or find their growth levers. Because it favors a product-centric approach to innovation, Product Management could well be the secret weapon of successful companies.
To give themselves the best chance of success, selected start-ups working with the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) trained with an expert in product management. His name is Angelo Dafia, and for the past five years he has been in charge of developing on-demand transport and delivery applications for the flourishing start-up Gozem.
His day-to-day mission? To ensure that the company's services fulfill the needs of customers throughout West and Central Africa. Angelo shares all his knowledge as Product Lead Manager with some 30 start-ups involved in the NTF V project, during distance learning sessions.
‘MVP (minimum viable product) is what I teach them, a frame of reference for testing and developing their project,’ he said. ‘This helps them to validate market hypotheses and obtain feedback from users without investing massively from the outset. Using advances in AI and the design thinking approach, the method enables them to quickly make corrections, avoid unnecessary functionalities and improve the product while limiting financial risks.’
Mainly active in fintech, agritech and adtech, the participants are encouraged to work with concrete examples. Gradually, they acquire proven methodologies to increase the impact of their solution. ‘After the training program, some start-ups often recruit a product manager,’ he said.
Adopting an agile method and overcoming obstacles
Six of the trainees benefited from additional coaching. Such is the case of Lucien Medjiko, whose start-up BioLife Tech is working to develop the pineapple industry in Benin. Through its ePineA application, BioLife Tech connects agricultural producers with potential buyers in just one click.
Although the solution is designed to smooth trade, users are struggling to adopt it, and prefer to place orders by telephone. The application, launched in 2022, didn’t start from a user-centered design process.
‘We were aware of the difficulties, but we didn't know what strategy to adopt. With Angelo's individual support, we were able to straighten everything out and understand how to overcome the situation,’ said the entrepreneur. ‘The coaching sessions were particularly helpful, as they were tailored to our specific needs. One session after another, we reworked the design of our template to make it more intuitive. Our new dynamic map is now in line with our users' expectations. We can approach international markets with greater confidence.’
From Burkina Faso to Nigeria and Europe, BioLife Tech expects to triple the number of active users before the end of the year!
About the project
The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) programme (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Trade Centre. NTF V supports SMEs in the digital technology and agribusiness sectors in Benin, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda. Its ambition is to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of agri-food systems partly through digital solutions, to improve the international competitiveness of local tech start-ups and to support the implementation of the export strategy of IT&BPO companies.
