AkoFresh
AkoFresh is a Ghana-based climate-smart food systems startup that deploys solar-powered cold storage and refrigerated transport to off-grid smallholder farmers and fisherfolk across West Africa to reduce post-harvest losses, generating revenue through equipment rentals, produce sales, training, and a digital marketplace.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersKumasi, Ghana
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AkoFresh does
AkoFresh is a Ghana-based, youth-led climate-smart food systems company founded in 2020 by Mathias Charles Yabe. The company designs, deploys, and operates solar-powered cold chain infrastructure — including portable 2.5-ton cool boxes, stationary cold storage facilities at agricultural aggregation points, and mobile refrigerated tricycles — specifically engineered for off-grid rural communities in West Africa that lack reliable access to the electrical grid. Its core customers are smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural traders in Ghana who face acute post-harvest losses due to the absence of cold storage; the company claims a 40% income uplift for users and preservation of 950+ tons of food.
The business model is multi-stream: usage-based daily rental of cold storage assets (GH₵450 per 24-hour period for the 2.5-ton cool box), transactional revenue from selling preserved agricultural produce (tomatoes, chili peppers, cashew) through an integrated e-commerce storefront, training and capacity building services for farming communities, and a digital marketplace that connects producers to buyers. Distribution combines self-serve online booking and an e-commerce website with direct field engagement of farming cooperatives and fishing communities.
AkoFresh is headquartered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Kumasi, Ghana, and has assembled a notable strategic partnership network — TotalEnergies (renewable energy), UNIDO, UNICEF StartUp Lab, the Netherlands Trust Fund via the International Trade Centre, and various global award platforms (Prototypes for Humanity, Global Solutions Initiative) — that provides capital, credibility, and technical validation. The company is small (1-10 employees), primarily grant-funded to date, and operates a single-country footprint within West Africa, with public awards (UNIDO Global FoodTech 1st Prize in 2024, OPEC Fund US$100,000 Youth Entrepreneurship Award in 2026) signaling rising international visibility.
AkoFresh firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AkoFresh
- Legal name
- AkoFresh
- Website
- https://akofresh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AkoFresh is a Ghana-based climate-smart food systems startup that deploys solar-powered cold storage and refrigerated transport to off-grid smallholder farmers and fisherfolk across West Africa to reduce post-harvest losses, generating revenue through equipment rentals, produce sales, training, and a digital marketplace.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AkoFresh industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cold Chain Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (49312)
- SIC
- Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Produce (Fruits & Vegetables) Cold Storage & Ripening (TLALABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Frozen Food Warehousing & Blast Freezing (AFAOAFAC), Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Cold Storage for Produce (AFAOAFAI)
Keywords
Where AkoFresh is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kumasi
- HQ country
- Ghana
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
AkoFresh business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Cold Storage Rental Services: Revenue from renting solar-powered cold storage units and cool boxes to farmers, fishers, and traders on a daily/hourly basis. The Solar Powered Cool Box (2.5 tons) is rented for GH₵450 per day for fruits and vegetables.
- Agricultural Produce Sales: Revenue from selling processed and fresh agricultural products through the digital marketplace/store. Products include powdered tomato (5kg), fresh tomato (100kg), chili pepper (20kg), and cashew (50kg).
- Training & Capacity Building: Revenue from farmer training programs and capacity building services that teach agricultural communities sustainable food preservation techniques.
- Digital Marketplace Access: Platform revenue connecting farmers with market opportunities and buyers, facilitating market linkage opportunities for rural agricultural communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Solar Powered Cool Box - 2.5 tons capacity |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
AkoFresh product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AkoFresh operates an integrated solar-powered cold chain designed for off-grid rural communities in Africa. The company rents stationary solar freezers at agricultural aggregation points and mobile refrigerated transport (refrigerated tricycles) to preserve fruits, vegetables, and fish, and connects producers to buyers through a digital marketplace. AkoFresh also sells preserved and fresh agricultural produce (powdered tomato, fresh tomato, chili pepper, cashew) and provides farmer training and market linkage services.
Product overview
AkoFresh offers an integrated cold chain solution portfolio for off-grid African communities, comprising solar-powered cold storage products (portable boxes and stationary facilities), mobile refrigerated transport (refrigerated tricycles), and supporting services including farmer training, market linkage opportunities, digital marketplace platform, installation services, and research initiatives. The company also sells preserved food products including tomatoes, chili peppers, and cashews. The core value proposition centers on preventing post-harvest food loss through clean-energy-powered temperature control solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar-Powered Cold Storage Box Portable solar-powered cold storage unit with 2.5-ton capacity for preserving fruits and vegetables, rented to farmers, fishers, and traders on a daily basis (GH₵450 per 24-hour period). Designed for off-grid rural communities.
- Solar-Powered Refrigerated Storage Stationary solar-powered cold storage facilities located at agricultural aggregation points, providing reliable temperature control for perishable agricultural products using renewable solar energy without grid electricity.
- Refrigerated Tricycles Mobile refrigerated transport units (refrigerated tricycles) used to move perishable goods from farms and landing sites to markets while maintaining cold chain integrity.
- Farmer Training & Capacity Building Educational programs and training services that help farmers and fishers adopt cold storage practices and post-harvest management techniques to reduce food loss.
- Market Linkage Opportunities Connection services that link farmers and fishers to markets, buyers, and trading opportunities, strengthening market access and enabling sales at higher prices.
- Powdered Tomato (5kg) Dehydrated tomato product packaged in 5kg units, processed and preserved using AkoFresh cold chain technology, sold to consumers and businesses.
- Fresh Tomato (100kg) Fresh tomatoes available in 100kg quantities, preserved using AkoFresh cold storage solutions and sold to buyers through the AkoFresh online store.
- Chili Pepper (20kg) Fresh chili peppers packaged in 20kg units, sourced from farmers using AkoFresh cold storage and sold through the AkoFresh online store.
- Cashew (50kg) Raw cashews available in 50kg packaging, sourced from farmers using AkoFresh cold storage and sold through the AkoFresh online store.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% increase in farmer income
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AkoFresh
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AkoFresh technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AkoFresh partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- UNIDOcoreUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization partnership through which AkoFresh won the 2024 Global FoodTech Award. UNIDO recognition provides credibility and access to global industrial development networks focused on sustainable food systems.
- TotalEnergiescoreGlobal energy company partnering on solar-powered cold storage solutions. TotalEnergies' renewable energy expertise complements AkoFresh's cold chain technology, enabling reliable off-grid refrigeration for rural African communities.
- Netherlands Trust Fund - International Trade Centre (NTF-ITC)coreDevelopment partnership supporting trade capacity building and market access for agricultural producers in developing countries. NTF-ITC partnership helps AkoFresh connect farmers to regional and international markets through improved cold chain infrastructure.
- UNICEF Startup LabcoreUNICEF's startup incubation program supporting innovative solutions addressing challenges faced by children and communities. AkoFresh's food security mission aligns with UNICEF's child welfare and nutrition objectives.
- Prototypes for HumanitymajorDubai-based initiative showcasing transformative projects globally. AkoFresh's 2022 inaugural win provides high-visibility platform access and credibility within global innovation ecosystems.
- Global Solutions InitiativemajorInternational organization behind the Global Solutions Summit that awarded AkoFresh 1st Prize in 2022. Provides access to policy networks and thought leadership platforms for sustainable development solutions.
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)corePremier Ghanaian technical university where AkoFresh is headquartered at the Opoku Ware II Museum on KNUST campus. Prof. Samuel Akomea serves as Manager of Center for Business Development and Senior Lecturer at KNUST, facilitating academic collaboration and talent pipeline.
- Anzisha PrizeminorAfrica's premier award for young entrepreneurs supporting the continent's youngest founders. AkoFresh founder Mathias Charles Yabe likely connected through this network of youth innovators.
- Ziti GroupminorAdvisory partner with Hollie Suffield serving as AkoFresh's Partnerships Director. Ziti Group provides strategic partnership development expertise and access to corporate sustainability networks.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AkoFresh competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ColdHubs: ColdHubs operates solar-powered walk-in cold rooms at agricultural aggregation points across Nigeria, directly serving smallholder farmers with the same off-grid cold storage model AkoFresh uses in Ghana.
- Koolboks: Koolboks provides solar-powered freezers and cold storage for businesses in Nigeria and francophone Africa, targeting similar smallholder and SME customers with comparable off-grid refrigeration hardware.
- SokoFresh: SokoFresh offers solar-powered cold storage as a service to smallholder farmers and traders in Kenya, sharing AkoFresh's rental-based model and focus on reducing post-harvest losses in East Africa.
- InspiraFarms: InspiraFarms designs and supplies off-grid, solar-powered cold storage solutions for smallholder value chains across Africa, overlapping with AkoFresh on technology and customer segments.
Emerging players
- Ecozen Solutions: Ecozen builds solar-powered cold rooms and pump controllers for agricultural value chains in India and emerging markets, with comparable technology and use cases to AkoFresh's solar cold storage units.
- BasiGo: BasiGo provides electric mobility and charging infrastructure in East Africa with a similar climate-tech, pay-as-you-go model and smallholder-adjacent customer base, sharing underlying off-grid energy themes with AkoFresh.
- Twiga Foods: Twiga Foods operates a tech-enabled agricultural supply chain in Kenya connecting farmers to urban buyers; while not a cold-chain operator, it addresses the same smallholder market-access and post-harvest problems AkoFresh targets.
Regional players
- SunCulture: SunCulture sells solar-powered irrigation and agriculture solutions to smallholder farmers across East Africa, addressing a related off-grid energy + agriculture need with comparable customer profiles.
- d.light: d.light designs and distributes affordable solar-powered products for off-grid households and small businesses across Africa and Asia, including solar refrigeration use cases comparable to AkoFresh's hardware.
Broad incumbents
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Sun King is a global leader in off-grid solar energy solutions for emerging markets, providing the broader distribution, financing, and customer-acquisition infrastructure that underpins much of the off-grid appliance ecosystem AkoFresh serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AkoFresh social profiles
Digital presenceAkoFresh financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AkoFresh leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AkoFresh funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AkoFresh M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AkoFresh
What does AkoFresh do?
AkoFresh operates an integrated solar-powered cold chain designed for off-grid rural communities in Africa. The company rents stationary solar freezers at agricultural aggregation points and mobile refrigerated transport (refrigerated tricycles) to preserve fruits, vegetables, and fish, and connects producers to buyers through a digital marketplace. AkoFresh also sells preserved and fresh agricultural produce (powdered tomato, fresh tomato, chili pepper, cashew) and provides farmer training and market linkage services.
Is AkoFresh a public or private company?
AkoFresh is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AkoFresh founded?
AkoFresh was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AkoFresh based?
AkoFresh is headquartered in Kumasi, Ghana, in the Africa region.
How does AkoFresh make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Cold Storage Rental Services are the primary driver. The others are agricultural Produce Sales, training & Capacity Building and digital Marketplace Access.
Who are AkoFresh's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ColdHubs, Koolboks, SokoFresh and InspiraFarms. Emerging players are Ecozen Solutions, BasiGo and Twiga Foods. Regional players are SunCulture and d.light. Sun King (Greenlight Planet) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AkoFresh have an API?
No public API is recorded for AkoFresh.
What industry is AkoFresh in?
AkoFresh's product category is Cold Chain Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLALABAE, Produce (Fruits & Vegetables) Cold Storage & Ripening, with a secondary code of AFAOAFAC, Frozen Food Warehousing & Blast Freezing. Its NAICS code is 493120 and its SIC code is 4220.