NAIROBI, May 28 – Kenyan agritech startup SokoFresh is preparing to raise about $1.5 million as it expands its solar-powered cold storage business to support the country’s growing avocado export market.
Founded in 2019, the company operates more than 32 cold storage facilities across Kenya, helping smallholder farmers preserve fresh produce for longer before export.
Kenya produces more than 500,000 tons of avocados annually and exports more of the fruit than South Africa, Africa’s biggest exporter by value. Still, nearly 80% of the crop is grown by small-scale farmers who often lack reliable refrigeration, leaving produce vulnerable to spoilage before reaching international buyers.
SokoFresh said its solar-powered cold rooms can extend avocado shelf life to as much as three weeks after arrival abroad, compared with around one week without refrigeration.
The company’s storage network has become increasingly important as disruptions in Middle East shipping routes continue to delay deliveries to Europe, Kenya’s largest export destination for avocados.
Its Kiambu County aggregation hub, located north of Nairobi, can store more than 140 tons of fruit at a time and currently works with around 2,500 avocado farmers.
According to the company, farmers using its facilities have increased yields by over 20% while cutting post-harvest losses by as much as 40%. Export-grade avocados can also sell for up to 120 Kenyan shillings per kilogram, compared with between 50 and 70 shillings for produce sold without cold storage support.
SokoFresh said the fundraising round will help position the business for a larger Series A raise of more than $10 million planned for 2027.
