Keep IT Cool, a Kenyan startup revolutionizing food preservation, has secured funding from global impact investor Acumen to further its pan-African ambitions. Founded in 2021 by Francis Nderitu and Abigail Gachigi, the company combines sustainable cooling technologies and a B2B software platform to streamline the fish and poultry value chains.
Keep IT Cool’s app, Markiti, enables farmers and fishermen to track real-time demand, allowing outlets and eateries to place direct orders for fish and poultry at the source. This innovative approach has significantly reduced post-harvest losses and improved market access, with the company claiming to have nearly eliminated waste within its network.
Keep IT Cool
A 2024 Earthshot Prize winner, Keep IT Cool currently operates in Kenya and Tanzania. It has increased the revenues of 3,600 fishermen by over 15% and developed a network of more than 2,000 small businesses and 40 stores. The startup’s solar-powered cold storage solutions also empower smallholder farmers, addressing the lack of adequate cold storage in East Africa—a key contributor to food insecurity and economic stagnation.
The recent investment from Acumen aligns with both organizations’ shared mission of empowering underserved African communities. The funding will support Keep IT Cool’s expansion plans, which include: building a solar-powered cold chain facility to serve over 100,000 farmers and fishermen, diversifying into the fruits and vegetables supply chain, and extending operations across Africa to enhance productivity and reduce food waste.
“We aim to enhance productivity, improve market access, and reduce waste, ultimately helping underserved communities increase their incomes,” said co-founder and managing director Francis Nderitu.
Acumen’s East Africa lead, Chris Maranga, added, “Keep IT Cool’s innovative, sustainable solutions tackle critical challenges, fostering resilience and economic development in local markets.”
With its capacity expanded sevenfold, Keep IT Cool is poised to become a key player in transforming Africa’s food preservation and distribution landscape.