YoLa Fresh is a Casablanca-based agritech startup founded in 2023 by Youssef Mamou and Larbi Alaoui Belrhiti. The company's platform connects smallholder farmers directly with traditional retailers of fruits and vegetables, initially serving the Moroccan market. YoLa Fresh aims to improve the agricultural supply chain by reducing food wastage, ensuring transparency, and fostering economic growth for both farmers and retailers. As of November 2024, YoLa Fresh has raised $7 million in a pre-Series A funding round.
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Founders | Youssef Mamou and Larbi Alaoui Belrhiti |
| Revenue | Up to $1 million monthly GMV |
| Key Investors | Al Mada Ventures, Algebra Ventures |
| Industry | Agritech |
| Number of Employees | Information not directly available |
YoLa Fresh was founded in 2023 by Youssef Mamou and Larbi Alaoui Belrhiti, inspired by similar startups like Meicai in China and Frubana in Latin America that aim to revolutionize the fresh produce supply chain. The startup emerged with a mission to address inefficiencies in the Moroccan agricultural sector by providing a direct connection between smallholder farmers and traditional retailers. Drawing on the founders' extensive experience in the tech and e-commerce industries, YoLa Fresh quickly realized product-market fit, leveraging technology to track and reduce food wastage and improve economic outcomes for stakeholders in the supply chain.
YoLa Fresh operates an innovative platform that links smallholder farmers with traditional retailers, aiming to modernize the fresh produce supply chain by eliminating middlemen. This approach allows retailers to pay less while farmers receive more profit, aligning supply with demand more effectively. The company utilizes advanced tracking technology to ensure transparency, reducing spoilage rates from typical levels of 25-40% down to 6-7%, with plans to decrease further to 3% by 2026. Key achievements include a high customer retention rate and a burgeoning gross merchandise volume, indicating strong market acceptance and loyalty. The recent funding round signifies investor confidence in the company's model and growth potential.
YoLa Fresh is focused primarily on the Moroccan market but has intentions of expanding its presence across Africa by 2026. The platform's operational strategy lies in enhancing the farm-to-retail supply chain using data-driven insights to streamline logistics, minimize waste, and bolster supply chain efficiency. The company's competitive edge arises from its commitment to transparency and sustainability, providing a significant advantage in Africa's agritech sector. The positive contribution margin projected for late 2024 further underscores YoLa Fresh's robust market position.
YoLa Fresh is poised to revolutionize the agritech industry in Africa by tackling longstanding supply chain inefficiencies. The company's innovative model, which emphasizes direct connections between farmers and retailers, has attracted significant investment and shows promise for substantial growth. With strategic plans to expand beyond Morocco and a firm commitment to reducing food waste and increasing profitability for farmers, YoLa Fresh is not only improving the agricultural landscape in Morocco but also setting the stage for broader regional impact in the agritech sector.