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Chifco is a young internet startup based between Paris and Tunisia. Partnering with local telecom companies, it offers internet packages for both home and office use and bundles it with its own “layer of device management” explains Chico’s founder and CEO Amine Chouaieb. This layer is made up of Chifco’s proprietary system, composed of both software and hardware, that helps clients monitor and reduce their energy consumption.

Chifco defines itself as “a customer engagement platform that reinvents the way utilities, telecommunications companies, and facility managers interact with customers and devices.” It designs software and supplies hardware as well - if needed with the help of its manufacturing partners - that work on automating your home or workplace.

It was founded by Amine Chouaieb in 2011, who, working as a consultant at the time, decided to act on some trends that he picked up on in his line of work: a strong interest in the internet of things, including home automation, and a growing demand for sustainable energy.

The InnerJ Box

Indoor & outdoor cameras, connected switches and plugs, connected lamps, motion sensors, door locks, smoke detectors, and smart thermostats all plug into Chifco’s system. The company's proprietary software collects all that information, relays it to the cloud and then back to a mobile device. As such, it becomes possible for individuals to monitor and control the environment in question. Central to this process is the InnerJ Box. Watch the video below to understand more:

As seen in the video above, the system can help reduce energy costs by up to 30%. From a tablet or a smartphone, users can control most electronic devices in their home remotely.

As it stands, Chifco’s main clientele has been telecom and utilities companies. Telco’s in particular are keen to offer more than bandwidth comments Amine. Chifco takes a cut from the monthly fees they charge.

While the idea had been brewing in his head since as early as 2009, the company didn’t start operations up until three years ago. It is currently staffed by a 20 person team. In 2011, Amine personally supplied $65K to kick it off. In 2012, he secured his first investment: a $200K injection from an undisclosed private investor. This year, he is close to officially announcing a million dollar investment from a bank. The name of the bank will not be disclosed.

I asked him whether he thought that the MENA region was ripe for connected homes technology. “It’s coming,” he replied. He has no doubts on the demand for it. Energy crises and rising oil prices make his proposal very appealing.

“The market is wide, there is a lot of data,” he adds. He sees big opportunity in moving into this particular market. He believes the future lies in big data, something that the region should capitalize on early for its own benefit. He also expressed his concern for up and coming Arab professionals as well, hoping that Chifco’s success story inspires them and helps pique their interest to innovate, rather than being lulled by steady monthly salaries and government jobs.