Nailab’s SokoText, an SMS based ordering service for Mama Mbogas and African Laughter’s FarmbizAfrica, a farmer news and information portal are among the 12 startups that have received funding from the Bestseller Fund organised by GrowthAfrica.
The twelve were showcased to investors, development partners and financiers in a bid to secure B2B partnerships and raise appropriate funding to scale their social and financial impact held at the Agribusiness Venture Forum held at Strathmore Business School. The 12 entrepreneurs that showcased innovative products and services were graduating from the 18 week GrowthAfrica Agribusiness Accelerator – a BESTSELLER funded programme.
Speaking at the event, the chief guest a, CEO of Athi River Mining, and chairman of Kenya Association of Manufacturers Mr. Pradeep Paunrana advised entrepreneurs to be honest”, “it’s not just about viable business models, trust sets the pace in funding discussions and negotiations ” Pradeep added.
“I met talented energetic entrepreneurs with life changing ideas and sound business models at GrowthAfrica Agribusiness Venture Forum, said Pradeep Paunrana, “anything to do with agriculture is music to my ears” he added.
The Agribusiness Venture forum helps entrepreneurs showcase business, initiate funding discussions and cultivate great relationships with investors. The BESTSELLER FUND and GrowthAfrica are working to unlock opportunity in Africa and grow high impact businesses that will help end poverty.
Here is the whole list of the ventures.
1.Animal Minerals and Allied Ltd
Animal Minerals and Allied develops and sells hydroponic systems to small holder dairy farmers to help them produce green, highly nutritious and palatable feed using 80% less water, 40% less space and withoutthe use of soil.
Peter Chege, the founder and CEO, is an analytical chemist and researcher.
Location:Zambezi – Kenya
Website:www.formulationgoods.kbo.co.ke
2.Daluc Poultry Ltd.
Daluc is a poultry hatchery, brooder, and chick processing farm specializing in indigenous chicken.
Lucy Muiruri, the CEO, Daluc Poultry has experience in information security and a degree in Computer Science.
Location:Ongata Rongai, Kenya
3.EssentiaKanan
Essentia Kanan produces quality organic soil conditioners, fertilizing composts, and amendments, as well as offers soil testing services to help horticulture farmers maximize yields from their crop.
Robert Kariuki, the CEO and Co-founder of Essentia Kanan, has a degree in Biotechnology, Chemical and Process Engineering.
Location: Kajiado, Kenya
Website: www.essentiakanan.com
4.Farmbizafrica
Farmbizafrica.com is an online news site that publishes agricultural content to bridge the knowledge and information gap for small holder farmers in Africa.
The Managing Editor, Bob Koigi, is an award winning wordsmith and experienced journalist.
Location:Nairobi, Kenya
Website: www.farmbizafrica.com
5.Green Savannah Ltd.
Green Savannah produces pre-cooked, flavoured traditional porridge that provides affordable and highly nutritious and healthy particularly for women and children.
Purity Gacheri has several years of client-facing managerial experience, including working for Barclays and Jubilee Insurance.
Location:Nairobi, Kenya
6.Kenya Biologics Ltd.
Kenya Biologics provides farmers with green, safe and cost-effective crop protection that combine effectiveness with environmental safety.
Chris Kolenberg, the Director Marketing & Sales holds an MBA in International Business from Aston Business School.
Location:Makuyu-Kakuzi, Kenya
Website:www.kenyabiologics.com
7.MolaPlus
MolaPlus produces and provides small holder farmers with affordable microbes and essential mineral supplements that increase milk production in dairy cows, boost egg production in poultry and enhance yields in horticulture.
Henry Ambwere, the CEOof Mola Plus, previously workedin Kenya’s sugar industry where he developed a formula to convert stored energy frommolasses into healthy, super digester microbes.
Location:Nakuru, Kenya
Website:www.molaplus.com
8.Premier SeedEast Africa
Premier Seed produces, distributes and sells high quality vegetable and fruit seed varieties.
Simon Andys, the founder, has a degree in General Agriculture from Oregon State University.
Location:Nakuru, Kenya
Website:www.premierseeds.co.ke
9.Sare Miller
Sare Millers manufactures high-quality affordablepoultry feed, cattle feed, pig and fish feed.
Dave Okech has a BSc in Actuarial Sciences from European Business School in Cambridge.
Location:Kisumu, Kenya
Website: www.saremillersltd.com
10.Saumu Centre
Saumu Centre produces germinated garlic cloves using an innovative method to break dormancy in 18 days.
Moses Githaiga, the founder and the CEOhas over10 years of experience in agriculture and farming.
Location:Nyeri, Kenya
11.Soko Text
Soko Text aims at improving the access to agricultural products of kiosks in urban slum areas by aggregating the necessary orders and delivering them at more affordable prices.
Suraj has a BSc in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics.
Location:Nairobi, Kenya
Website: www.sokotext.com