Global South, a German-Kenyan start-up transforming Kenya’s potato sector, has joined the develoPPP Ventures portfolio, signaling a major step forward for agri-innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2023, the company is tackling persistent challenges in the potato value chain, helping smallholder farmers earn stable incomes while reducing post-harvest losses. By combining innovative outgrower models, solar-powered cold storage solutions and long-term contracts with institutional buyers, Global South is reshaping the way potatoes move from farm to market, creating economic and social impact across rural Kenya.
Almost half of potato harvests in Kenya never reach the market, largely due to insufficient storage and unstable demand. This results in low incomes for farmers at harvest time while the country ultimately relies on imports to meet demand. Global South addresses this challenge by providing farmers with training, access to high-quality seeds and solar-powered cold storage facilities. These interventions enable smallholders to sell at fair prices, stabilize their income and reduce losses, while improving resilience across the potato value chain.
The company’s inclusion in the develoPPP Ventures portfolio is supported by €100,000 in non-dilutive funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), alongside tailored technical assistance provided by DEG Impulse. This support allows Global South to scale its operations, strengthen supply chains and expand its social impact. Specifically, the funding and technical guidance will equip 100 additional smallholder farmers, half of them women, with agricultural inputs and guaranteed offtake agreements. It will also allow the company to hire technical experts to strengthen operations, prevent an estimated 416 tons of crop losses and reduce approximately 108 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by lowering food waste.
“In Kenya almost half of potato harvests never reach the market, due to missing storage and unstable demand. The result: farmers struggle with low incomes at harvest, while later the country turns to imports. At Global South we are changing this: With farmer training, access to high-quality seeds and solar-powered cold storage, we enable smallholders to earn fair prices and build resilience. With the backing of develoPPP Ventures, we can expand our reach, connect with new partners and unlock more potential of Kenya’s potato sector,” says Dr. Thomas Behrens, Founder and CEO of Global South.
Global South’s model is designed to create lasting impact by improving supply chain sustainability and reducing dependence on food imports. The company collaborates closely with smallholder farmers, ensuring they benefit directly from innovations in storage, logistics and market access. By building and operating solar-powered cold storage facilities, Global South not only safeguards crops but also contributes to climate resilience, social development and economic stability in rural communities.
The company is one of 15 start-ups selected in the latest, eighth cohort of develoPPP Ventures, bringing the active DEG Impulse portfolio to 59 companies. DEG Impulse, a subsidiary of DEG, has been operating since September 2022 with a team of 40 employees. Its mission is to help companies implement investments efficiently while achieving measurable development impact. Through programs such as Business Support Services (BSS) and develoPPP, alongside services from the Agency for Business & Economic Development (AWE) and the Helpdesk on Business & Human Rights, DEG Impulse provides advisory support and funding solutions that enable companies to create social and ecological value in developing and emerging markets.
By joining develoPPP Ventures, Global South gains access to a network of technical and financial support designed to accelerate growth, strengthen operations and maximize impact. The partnership allows the start-up to scale its outgrower model and cold storage infrastructure, directly benefiting smallholder farmers while contributing to Kenya’s agricultural sustainability and economic resilience. This alignment with development policy goals and the Sustainable Development Goals demonstrates the potential for private-sector initiatives to drive tangible improvements in communities and create climate-positive outcomes. Moreover, by incorporating women farmers into its programs, Global South ensures that its model contributes to gender equity and inclusive growth.
As the company expands its operations, it is well positioned to transform the potato sector and serve as a model for agri-innovation across sub-Saharan Africa. By leveraging technology, sustainable infrastructure and collaborative networks, Global South demonstrates how private-sector solutions can address critical development challenges while creating lasting economic, social and environmental impact. The start-up’s inclusion in the develoPPP Ventures portfolio marks a significant milestone in its mission to improve smallholder livelihoods, reduce post-harvest losses and unlock the potential of Kenya’s agricultural sector.
