PepsiCo
Kgodiso Fund has invested in the South African leading Agri-tech app, Khula! to
enable small and medium agricultural enterprises, commercial farmers, and
distributors to fully participate in the agricultural value chain and make a
significant contribution to South Africa’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Since
developing the ecosystem, South African entrepreneurs Karidas Tshintsholo,
Jackson Dyora, and Matthew Piper have steadily been making an impact in the
agriculture industry. By utilizing the power of disruptive technologies, Khula!
connects South African farmers with agricultural input suppliers, bulk buyers
and with financing in a connected digital ecosystem.
The
investment from the Kgodiso Fund will allow Khula! to continue to develop
innovative ways to sustainably finance emerging farmers. “It’s important to
have a marketplace and ecosystem that enables farmers to grow, bridging the
gaps and solving their initial access-to-market problems,” explains Khula!
CEO Karidas Tshintsholo and adds that PepsiCo joining the ecosystem positions
Khula! well for off-takes on its Trader Platform and PepsiCo’s global presence
and value chain will support the Khula! ambition of scaling up, beyond South
Africa.
The objectives of the Khula! ecosystem aligns
seamlessly with PepsiCo’s and the Kgodiso Fund vision – to revolutionize the
South African agricultural landscape by nurturing sustainable farming
enterprises, driving economic growth, and promoting a sustainable food system;
as well as to invest in small, medium, and micro enterprises.
Speaking
at the event, Setlakalane Molepo, Chairman of the Kgodiso Fund explained, “Our
investment and partnership with Khula! is exciting because it aligns with our
commitment to empower emerging farmers and promote regenerative agriculture
practices that build agri-business resilience.”
Also
present at the event, was CEO of PepsiCo Africa, Middle East and South Asia,
Eugene Willemsen, who echoed the excitement, “Strategic partnerships with
innovators such as Khula! help to address local development challenges and
tackle knowledge and skills gaps across the South African food system to affect
real large-scale strategic transformation,” and adds, “But with the scale
and reach of PepsiCo,
PepsiCo and the Kgodiso Fund join existing
shareholders, ABSA, AECI and E-squared each of which play an individual role in
what they bring to this eco-system.
“We
are fortunate to have found a partner in the Kgodiso Development Fund and by
extension in PepsiCo, which share our interest and vision,” explains Tshintsholo, “This
boost will help us scale our business operations and help us entrench our
imprint on providing market access to South Africa’s new and emerging farmers.”
By: Kanto Okanta
