Kgalagadi Solar Cold Rooms
What makes the world go round
BWP 0
raised of BWP 939 500 target
0
investors
0%
of target raised
Investment opportunity
I run a small agricultural services business in Tsabong that provides solar-powered cold storage for small vegetable farmers. Many farmers in the Kgalagadi area produce tomatoes, cabbage, and green peppers, but they struggle to store produce after harvest. My business provides shared cold room storage that farmers rent per crate.
Offer highlights
Traction
34 farmers currently using the facility Average of 2.5 tons stored weekly Informal agreement with a vegetable transporter supplying Gaborone markets
Monthly revenue
BWP 62 000
Costs: BWP 38 000/mo
Why customers pay
Farmers currently lose a portion of their harvest to spoilage. With cold storage they can store produce for several days and sell when transport arrives or when prices improve.
Raising
BWP 939 500
Minimum investment: BWP 150
The problem
Farmers here often lose 20–30% of their produce because there is no cold storage between harvest and transport to Gaborone. When vegetables spoil, farmers are forced to sell at very low prices or throw away produce. Traditional cold rooms require stable electricity which is unreliable in our area.
Business model
We operate a solar-powered cold storage facility that farmers rent on a daily basis. Revenue streams: Storage fee per crate per day (BWP 6) Bulk weekly storage contracts with farmer groups Operations: Cold room capacity: 12 tons Solar panels power refrigeration units Farmers bring produce after harvest and collect when transport is available.
Target customer
Smallholder vegetable farmers in the Tsabong region producing tomatoes, cabbage, and peppers.
Use of capital
Seeking funding to expand capacity by adding a second solar cold room and increasing storage capacity to 25 tons. Use of funds: Solar panels and battery system Additional refrigeration unit Storage facility extension
Team
Founder (operations and farmer relations) One technician managing refrigeration systems One assistant handling intake and storage logs
Risks
A prolonged drought or poor farming season could reduce vegetable production in the area, which would lower demand for cold storage services. If the solar refrigeration system experiences equipment failure, storage capacity could temporarily stop until repairs are completed. Another cold storage facility could open in the area offering lower prices or larger capacity. Some farmers may still prefer to sell immediately after harvest instead of paying for storage, especially if they need quick cash. Transport disruptions to Gaborone markets could result in produce remaining in storage longer than expected, creating capacity constraints.
BWP 0
raised of BWP 939 500 target
14-day cooling-off period applies after the round closes.
Risk notice: Investing in early-stage businesses carries a high risk of capital loss. This is not a savings product. Only invest what you can afford to lose.