Who we are
Founded in 2012, InspiraFarms Cooling empowers African agribusinesses with innovative cold chain solutions that reduce food losses, lower energy costs, and open access to higher-value markets.
We have deployed over 150 units across 15 countries, supporting farmers, exporters, and distributors with efficient, sustainable, and affordable cooling technology.
Since 2022, our solutions can retrofit existing cold chain assets, offering flexible servicing and financing options.
Through our technology and partnerships, we have improved the livelihoods of over 5,000 rural community members, created jobs for women in underserved areas, and helped build more resilient food systems.
Strategic partnerships & certifications
GLOBALG.A.P.
InspiraFarms Cooling is an official GLOBALG.A.P Community Member, supporting safe, sustainable and responsible farming worldwide. As an associate member, we help shape GLOBALG.A.P. standards and promote best practices in food safety, quality and agricultural sustainability.
B-Corporation
InspiraFarms Cooling is a Certified B Corporation, verified by B Lab for high social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Our B Corp status reflects our commitment to sustainable agriculture, reducing food losses, and improving livelihoods across Africa. Verified performance data is publicly available on our B Corp profile, demonstrating our dedication to responsible and ethical business practices.
Funders & Investors
Energy Access Ventures Fund
EAV I is a €75 million fund – focused on the energy infrastructure problem. Through this, they back early-stage companies providing low-carbon and affordable solutions, including for power, internet, and cooling, to businesses and individuals across Africa. Their mission is to invest in companies that overcome this problem by scaling decentralized and digitized infrastructure across the continent. EAV is an investor in InspiraFarms Cooling since 2018.
FactorE Ventures
FactorE is dedicated to supporting the people and ideas that turn challenges in energy, agriculture, mobility, and waste into de-carbonized solutions for emerging and frontier markets. FactorE serves as a conduit between philanthropic and commercial investors who are like-minded in their pursuit of sustainable development through market-driven forces. FactorE funded InspiraFarms Cooling in 2017.
Pymwymic
Pymwymic is a co-owned impact investment cooperative investing in impact-driven companies. It is a group of over 100 individuals, families, and entrepreneurs with different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities, joined by a common purpose. Pymwymic is an investor in InspiraFarms Cooling since 2018.
SunFunder
SunFunder has the mission to pioneer and scale climate investments in emerging markets, with a current focus on the clean energy transition in Africa and Asia. With 40 person team, based in Nairobi, London, Paris, and most recently Singapore, has built the most extensive track record of distributed solar investments in Africa – financing 60 solar companies and projects over the last decade. SunFunder has invested in InspiraFarms since 2019.
Shell Foundation
Shell Foundation (SF) is a charity registered in England and Wales, founded by Shell in 2000, that creates and scales business solutions that empower underserved populations to earn a living income through access to clean energy products and services. Shell Foundation has funded several projects developed by InspiraFarms Cooling since 2014.
Kawisafi Ventures
KawiSafi Ventures has the mission to unlock the potential of renewable off-grid energy as a faster, cheaper, and cleaner way to bring power to Africa’s energy-poor communities than extending the grid. KawiSafi invests in companies that are developing decarbonized, distributed energy infrastructure, that can provide critical essential services and enhanced productivity to underserved populations across Africa. KawiSafi Ventures has invested in InspiraFarms Cooling since 2020.
Doen Foundation
DOEN is striving for a world based on a circular economy, in which everyone counts, that puts the commons first, and there is room for radical imagination. It focuses on supporting pioneers entrepreneurs working toward three overarching, interconnected themes: regenerative economy, social solidarity, and, power of imagination. Doen funded InspiraFarms in 2014.
The Montpelier Foundation
The Montpelier and Hampshire Foundations fund partners who are finding pathways to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or to help people build resilience against poverty and climate change. The Montpelier Foundation funded InspiraFarms Cooling in 2014.
UKaid
In partnership with Shell Foundation, UKaid’s Transforming Energy Access program supported InspiraFarms Cooling to receive strategic support and funding for its data services, and to support the reduction of production costs and research into key value propositions, helping the company to scale up its commercial operations in Kenya and pilot demonstration units in India. Additional support through the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities project (a partnership between UK aid and the IKEA Foundation) has enabled the company to now test the business feasibility of pay-as-you-use cold chains with thirty farmers in Kenya.
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)
The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and south and south-east Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of pioneering, partnership, safety, inclusivity, and urgency. Its project development offering, InfraCo, invests in early-stage project development and project and corporate equity. PIDG is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Global Affairs Canada, Germany, and the IFC www.pidg.org
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