Samaking

Samaking

Samaking

A renewable-powered fish aggregation and cold chain solution driving high-quality fish supply for B2B markets while improving farmer livelihoods.

Nairobi, Kenya

KEN

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Africa faces a severe fish supply-demand imbalance, with over 40% post-harvest losses due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure, unreliable market access, and fragmented supply chains. Smallholder fish farmers and artisanal fisherfolk, who produce over 80% of Africa’s fish, struggle with volatile incomes, high spoilage rates, and limited access to modern trade and export markets. Meanwhile, urban populations face shortages of high-quality, traceable fish, increasing reliance on imports, contributing to higher carbon emissions. Globally, 3 billion people depend on fish for protein, yet climate change is disrupting marine ecosystems, and overfishing is depleting stocks. In East Africa, rising demand and unsustainable practices worsen food insecurity. Kenya has a 200,000+ metric ton fish deficit, forcing reliance on high-carbon imports, particularly from China. Samaking is solving this challenge through a climate-smart, technology-driven fish value chain. We aggregate fish at the farm gate, leverage solar-powered cold chain logistics, and ensure digital traceability to supply B2B customers. Additionally, we work with a retail franchise model, empowering informal fish traders, primarily women, to sell more fish to consumers. By eliminating middlemen, reducing spoilage, and ensuring fair pricing for farmers, we are building a sustainable fish value chain that enhances food security, reduces emissions, and secures livelihoods.

Samaking is a renewable-powered fish aggregation, cold chain, and retail distribution solution that ensures a high-quality, traceable fish supply for B2B customers while improving farmer and trader livelihoods. We source fish directly from smallholder farmers and fisherfolk, aggregate it at strategic hubs, and use solar-powered cold storage and refrigerated transport to maintain freshness, reduce spoilage, and cut carbon emissions. Our tech-enabled traceability system is under development to track fish from farm gate to buyer, ensuring quality compliance for hotels, restaurants, caterers (HORECA), supermarkets, and export markets. Additionally, our B2B2C retail franchise model empowers informal traders, primarily women, with affordable cold storage and digital tools to sell fresh fish to consumers. By eliminating middlemen, farmers earn fairer prices, traders expand their businesses, and B2B customers receive a consistent supply. As we build out our data-driven demand forecasting, we aim to optimize logistics, reduce food waste, and strengthen supply chain efficiency. By leveraging solar energy for cold storage and transport, Samaking transforms Africa’s fish value chain into a climate-resilient, scalable system, ensuring food security, reducing emissions from inefficient logistics, and driving economic empowerment.

Samaking serves fish farmers, fisherfolk, and women traders who face limited market access, high post-harvest losses (40%), and price exploitation by middlemen. These producers, who contribute over 80% of Africa’s fish supply, often lack cold storage, reliable logistics, and direct B2B market linkages, leading to financial instability. Our solution provides aggregation, solar-powered cold storage, and demand-driven B2B sales channels (HORECA, supermarkets, and export markets), ensuring higher farmer incomes, reduced spoilage, and stable market access. Additionally, our B2B2C retail franchise model empowers women traders with affordable cold storage and digital tools, enabling them to sell fresh, high-quality fish to consumers while increasing their profitability. For consumers, we ensure safe, traceable fish, addressing food safety concerns. Businesses—hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets—gain a consistent supply. By reducing reliance on imports and creating localized, climate-smart supply chains, we improve food security, increase incomes, and build resilience against climate change impacts on fisheries. A key part of being climate-smart is developing a demand-driven supply chain, aligning production with market needs to reduce waste, optimize logistics, and enhance efficiency. Samaking is transforming Africa’s fish industry into a climate-resilient, inclusive, and scalable ecosystem that benefits thousands of farmers, traders, and consumers.