This capital injection was led by the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund from Mirova and the Regenerative Growth Fund 1 managed by Zebra Impact and Mirabaud.
The funding will fuel Koa’s ambitious plans to tenfold its current production, empower 10,000 additional cocoa smallholders, and champion regenerative agriculture practices.
By doing so, Koa aims to tackle the twin challenges of food waste and climate change, while simultaneously boosting farm incomes and carving a sustainable path for the future of cocoa.
Unlike the traditional model that discards the juicy cocoa fruit after extracting the beans, Koa sees hidden potential in it.
Through their newly inaugurated processing facility in Ghana, the company ingeniously transforms the fruit pulp into value-added ingredients for the food and beverage industry, creating everything from smoothies and juices to chocolates and snacks.
By collaborating with Ghanaian farmers and sharing its upcycling technology, Koa empowers local communities, generates additional income for families, and reduces food waste on farms.
“We are delighted to partner with ISA to support the development of solar energy in Africa,” said Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50. “This partnership will help to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in Africa and improve the lives of millions of Africans,” he added.
Catalyst Fund, an impact investor supporting early-stage climate tech startups in Africa, has announced a $1.8 million investment in nine promising ventures across the continent.
DisrupTech Ventures, a fintech-focused investment firm based in Egypt, has made its first investment outside Egypt by backing Nigerian startup Winich Farms. The funding is part of Winich’s pre-Series A round.
Nairobi-based Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a startup studio focused on tourism, has secured an extra $500,000 to boost its seed funding round to $5 million.
© 2021 Empower Africa. All rights reserved.