Brastorne Enterprises
Description
Brastorne connects the unconnected across Africa, through its flagship service mAgri which bridges the digital gap for rural smallholder unconnected farmers in Africa by providing them with access to information, markets, low cost communication and financial inclusion without the need for internet or data.
Market Opportunity/ Problem
80% of rural households (~175m people) in Africa derive their livelihood from agriculture. Rural populations (~279m) in Africa remain disproportionately unconnected to the tools, opportunities, and services provided by the internet. This leads to limited access to information, markets, communication, and financing for small holder farmers. Farmers are exposed to harsh weather conditions, pests, and diseases, which can destroy their crops and harm their livestock and struggle to market their produce/livestock. These issues could be mitigated or avoided if farmers were empowered with the relevant, timely information, market access and are able to share knowledge with each other. The recurring result of this problem is stagnant or regressive productivity levels due to the lack of adequate information and opportunities resulting in an increase in poverty levels.
Company Information
Years of operation
8
Type of organization
Private company
Stage of the business
Growth stage
Agribusiness focus
Enabling (Digital agriculture/aggregation platforms)
Agriculture value chain(s) focus?
Livestock
Primary country of operation
Botswana
Other country(ies) of operation
Democratic Republic of Congo
How many employees does your business have?
40
Does the business have more than 30% women ownership?
No
Does the business have more than 30% youth ownership (under 35 years)?
No
Financing and expansion overview
How much capital is the company currently fundraising (US$)?
>1m
What is the split between equity and debt?
16.7% debt and 83.3% equity