Kgodiso Fund chairperson Setlakane Molepo, Khula! CEO Karidas Tshintsholo, PepsiCo Africa CEO Eugene Willemsen and PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl
Multinational food and beverage group PepsiCo has announced an investment by its independent fund Kgodiso Development Fund into agri-tech company Khula! To support sustainable finance and market access opportunities for emerging farmers.
Kgodiso exists to empower emerging farmers and help them achieve commercial success and resilience, while Khula! Is an agri-tech digital ecosystem of platforms that enable small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, as well as commercial farmers and distributors, to fully participate in the agricultural value chain.
By using disruptive technologies, Khula! Connects South African farmers with agricultural input suppliers, bulk buyers and with financing in a connected digital ecosystem.
The investment from Kgodiso will enable Khula! to continue developing innovative ways to sustainably finance emerging farmers, as well as support a marketplace that allows farmers to grow and bridge gaps to market access.
Khula! CEO Karidas Tshintsholo says PepsiCo’s support positions the company well for offtakes on its trader platform, while PepsiCo’s global presence and value chain will support Khula!’s ambition to scale up beyond South Africa.
PepsiCo CEO for Africa, Middle East and South Asia Eugene Willemsen says 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.
“With the scale and reach of PepsiCo, this opens up a new route to market for farmers and producers,” he adds.
PepsiCo and the Kgodiso Fund join existing shareholders Absa, AECI and E-squared as investors in Khula!.