Issa Sidibé, an engineer and passionate entrepreneur, is one of the most influential leaders in the agricultural sector in Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa. With a strong background in entrepreneurship and finance, he co-founded Neper Ventures and SupAgro Afrique, initiatives aimed at transforming local agriculture through innovation and sustainability. His mission: to master the entire agricultural value chain and provide efficient solutions to address the region’s environmental and economic challenges.

A graduate of the Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute in Yamoussoukro, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 2007, Issa went on to complete a Master of Science at HEC Paris. After starting his career as an analyst in Europe, working with financial institutions like HSBC, Tikehau Capital, and Société Générale, he decided to return to Côte d’Ivoire to pursue entrepreneurship. In 2015, he co-founded TaxiJet, an ambitious initiative to create a transport service similar to Uber in Côte d’Ivoire. However, the market was not yet ready, and the venture ended in failure.

Drawing lessons from this experience, Issa partnered with Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) to establish Comoé Capital in 2017, a management company dedicated to financing Ivorian SMEs. This initiative supported projects in diverse sectors such as education, craftsmanship, and healthcare. While working with a company producing dried mangoes, he discovered that Côte d’Ivoire loses a third of its mango production due to a lack of processing capacity, revealing the untapped potential of the country’s agriculture.

In 2022, recognizing the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector, Issa co-founded Neper Ventures, a startup studio focused on structuring value chains in West Africa. This initiative includes Neper Farmers, a company supporting agricultural producers in Côte d’Ivoire, and SupAgro Afrique, a school dedicated to training young people in modern agricultural techniques. The goal is to control the entire agricultural value chain, from seeds to processed products, by introducing high-yield crops such as sunflower, soybeans, and sesame. Additionally, tests are underway with sorghum, a cereal that requires 30% less water than maize, offering a sustainable alternative in the face of climate challenges.

Issa Sidibé is also engaged in initiatives to enhance the sustainability of Ivorian agriculture. By 2025, he aims to produce fertilizers eligible for carbon credit programs, contributing to the fight against climate change while improving agricultural productivity. His dedication to innovation and sustainability reflects his vision of a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly Ivorian agriculture.

Through his various initiatives, Issa Sidibé has established himself as a key figure in agricultural development in Côte d’Ivoire, combining financial expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to sustainable and inclusive farming practices.

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