Nzatu
Investment Thesis & Opportunity
Nzatu’s core investment thesis is that its regenerative agriculture model provides a powerful nature-based solution for solving systemic issues like poverty and climate change while offering significant commercial returns. The opportunity addresses multiple critical African market gaps, including widespread food insecurity, a lack of climate resilience for smallholder farmers, and a need for women and youth inclusion. By actively changing dysfunctional systems, Nzatu achieves a triple bottom line: it lifts farmers out of the poverty trap with fair wages and income growth potential (up to $150/year per household) , combats global warming through soil carbon sequestration , and projects a scalable revenue model that could reach $10.25 million over five years.
Business Model, Market Opportunity, & Strategy
Nzatu operates a multi-faceted business model centered on regenerative agriculture and value creation within its African supply chain. The primary strategy is revenue generation through Produce Offtake (branding and exporting certified coffee and honey) , complemented by providing Knowledge Transfer and consulting services for soil science and apiary management. Crucially, the company partners with corporate and government organizations on ESG and CSR initiatives, serving as an implementation arm to meet sustainability goals. The go-to-market strategy ensures ethical sourcing by providing guaranteed markets and extensive technical training to over 5,000 local farmers , with minimal capital dedicated to implementation (60% of funds), setting a precedent for scalable, impact-driven commercial growth.
Financial Performance, Terms, & Target Returns
Nzatu projects a significant increase in volume by 2025 for coffee and honey combined, reaching approximately 1,400 to 1,500 Metric Tons.
With their network of cooperative leaders and farmers across 14 countries, revenues have the potential to grow exponentially in the medium to long term.
The company provides three case scenarios for the 5-year revenue potential, based on conservative producer output estimates from only three countries : (a). Worst Case: $2,550,000.00 . (b). Median Case: $6,650,000.00 .(c) Best Case: **$10,250,000.00**
Impact Measurement, Management, & SDG Alignment
Management Team & Corporate Governance
The leadership team combines global business expertise with deep regional and technical knowledge, operating out of Switzerland (Europe), Zambia, and South Africa.
1. Michele Sofisti (Chief Executive Officer): Founder and President of SOFOS Management, bringing international expertise in strategic consulting, marketing, branding, and management across luxury, food, and other industries.
2. Gwen Jones (President & Chief Partnerships Officer): Over 25 years of global entrepreneurial experience and an Advisory Board member of the World Food Bank. She is a collaborator with the Namwala Ila Tribal Chief to sustain social and cultural heritage in Zambia.
3. Denise Madiro (Chief Operating Officer): An entrepreneur with enterprise development experience in Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa), focusing on capacity development and enhancing skills of small and medium enterprises.
4. Prithvi Naik (Chief Sustainability Officer / Distribution Lead): A climate economist with expertise in sustainability, climate policy, and circular economy concepts, having experience in the petrochemicals industry and related non-profit sectors.
5. Andrea Chiesi (Chairman of the Board): Head of Special Projects at Chiesi Pharmaceuticals and Chairman of the board of Confindustria, Emilia Romagna.
Advisory Structure
The Board is supported by a robust group of advisors spanning conservation, diplomacy, and global science, which is critical for their nature-based mission.
1. Conservation & Science: Includes Dr. Krithi Karanth (Chief Conservation Scientist & Rolex Laureate) and Mr. Terry D. Garcia (Ex-Chief Science and Exploration Officer at National Geographic Society and former Deputy Administrator at NOAA).
2. Diplomacy & Global Affairs: Includes Amb. Giuseppe Mistretta (Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
3. Community Development: Includes Dr. Gloria B. Herndon (Published author and founder of an SBA program)
Risk Factors & Exit Strategy
Financially, the company is Raising Funds with minimum and maximum ticket sizes set at $250,000 and $500,000, respectively, for an equity stake that is open for negotiation. The deployment of these funds is weighted toward Procurement, Logistics, and Implementation (60%), reflecting their focus on scaling the supply chain in Africa. The Management Team and Advisory Structure feature a mix of high-level global expertise in strategic consulting and finance (Michele Sofisti, Andrea Chiesi) alongside deep technical knowledge in climate economics (Prithvi Naik) and local African enterprise development (Gwen Jones, Denise Madiro), complemented by advisors from global conservation and science organizations. While Risk Factors are not explicitly itemized, the business faces inherent risks related to market volatility, securing international off-takers, and climate variability, while the deck does not outline a specific Exit Strategy
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