During our trip, from Open Value Foundation we visited several of the companies we have supported or are considering, and participated in the African Impact Summit, one of the most important events for the continent's impact ecosystem. Here are some of the experiences that have made the biggest impression on us:
- True Moringa: From Seed to Shelf
Behind this company, there's a migrant entrepreneur who studied at MIT, worked at NASA, but not content with that, decided to return to his home country and set up a business that would change many people's lives. There's something magical in seeing how a plant like the moringa can transform an entire community.
True Moringa works with over 5,000 smallholder farmers in Ghana, producing extremely high-quality natural cosmetics and supplements. What impressed us most was their commitment to local added valueThey don't just cultivate; they also process and export from Ghana.
With more than 380 acres managed And a product already sold in the United States and Germany, True Moringa is the perfect example of how “local” can be synonymous with global excellence.
- YomYom: bringing the market to the farmers
In many rural areas of Ghana, Producing is not the problem. The challenge is in selling.
And that's where YomYom comes in, a startup combining technology, motorcycles and trucks to connect farmers with larger markets. We spent a day with them on operations, seeing how their network of riders and logistics hubs allows fresh produce to reach supermarkets in Accra from remote areas.
They're growing fast, and they're already thinking about to expand. They also dream of entering the cocoa market, where the economic impact could be enormous.
- Shack: rubbish that turns into opportunity
We revisited our friends at Coliba, who have been professionalising plastic waste recycling in Ghana for years.
Con 10 collection points and more than 30 direct workers, they have built an infrastructure that not only collects waste. Furthermore, their model includes Informal collectors, to whom they pay fair prices per kilo collected. It is an example of how circular economy can also be inclusive.
- Whesoyy: plant-based food and personal resilience
We also learned the story of Whesoyy, a small company that produces plant-based foods for the local market.
Behind them is a committed team, which has overcome all sorts of challenges, but continues to strive for sustainable growth, to care for its employees and to offer a healthy and affordable product.
Beyond the companies, the trip also took us to African Impact Summit, a meeting point for investors, foundations, startups and impact allies across the continent. It was a privilege to be there and, above all, to celebrate that Cherehani, one of our investees in Africa, received the award for African Impact Company 2025.
A testament to the fact that Africa-led solutions are ready to lead beyond its borders too.
To conclude, we would like to leave you with some reflections on our fieldwork trip:
Investing in Africa is not philanthropy. It is strategic vision.
Yes, of course there are projects that need donations. But there are also thousands ready to scale with the support of patient and strategic investors.
Africa is full of people who don't expect solutions to be brought to them, but who are creating their own.
From the Open Value Foundation, we feel very fortunate to be able to accompany these individuals and projects on their journey.
And if anyone tells you that you can't invest in Africa... we invite you to show them this blog 😉
