He develops projects that let him explore how technology affects daily life. He leverages his technical skills to modernize the agricultural sector.

Thioube Samba (photo), a Senegalese computer engineer and entrepreneur, founded and is CEO of Sotilma. His company designs technology solutions for the agricultural sector.

Established in 2022, Sotilma develops tools to boost farming efficiency. The company provides automated water management systems that allow remote control of irrigation and fluid distribution. These systems operate without internet or electricity by utilizing long-range communication and solar power.

Sotilma's main solution, Sotilma Farm, uses smart valves and connected water meters controlled via a mobile or web application. Users can monitor real-time data on soil moisture, water levels, and other environmental factors.

The system allows remote irrigation adjustments, which helps reduce water consumption and increase crop yields. Farmers can also automate key operations, from irrigation to crop monitoring, through an easy-to-use interface.

Beyond agriculture, Sotilma also offers tools for industrial pipeline management, water treatment, and fluid distribution across various sectors. Orange Startup Studio supports the company. Sotilma was among the Orange-backed startups representing Senegal in June at Viva Technology 2025, an international tech and startup event hosted by telecom operator Orange. Sotilma also received the "Social Impact" award from Yas Sénégal during its Innovation Challenge.

Thioube Samba earned a degree in computer engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Saint-Louis in 2022. He began his career in 2021 as a data science intern at the African Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, Computer Science, and ICT in Senegal. In 2022, he joined Sonatel, the country’s main telecom operator, as a data science intern. By 2023, he was appointed regional delegate for the GRFI Filaha Innove Incubator in the ECOWAS region.

Melchior Koba