Empowering Farmers and Elevating Retail, ft. Founder Youssef Mamou & YolaFresh
Discover how YolaFresh’s tech platform brings fairness and transparency to the fresh produce supply chain. Founder Youssef shares insights on growth and innovation in MENA’s tech industry.
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Startup Showcase: YolaFresh
What unique qualities or value does your product/service offer that sets it apart from others in the market?
YolaFresh brings end-to-end transparency to the produce supply chain, empowering farmers and providing retailers with unmatched access to quality produce—all through a seamless tech platform.
What’s the most exciting feedback you’ve received from your users?
Farmers appreciate the newfound visibility and fair pricing, while retailers value the reliability and quality of produce. Retailers who used to go to the wholesale market at 3 AM now enjoy a good night’s sleep, which is incredibly rewarding to hear. This dual positive impact motivates us every day.
What kind of impact do you hope your product will have in the market? Where do you see your company headed in the next few years?
We aim to revolutionize the fresh produce supply chain in MEA, driving efficiency and fairness. In the next few years, I see YolaFresh expanding regionally, strengthening our tech, and empowering even more farmers and retailers.
We spoke with Youssef Mamou, Founder & Co-CEO of YolaFresh
Current Work & The Story Behind the Venture
What are you currently working on? Can you share the story behind your current venture? What motivated you to pursue this path?
Currently, I’m focused on expanding YolaFresh, our retail tech/agritech platform that connects farmers with retailers to streamline the fresh produce supply chain. The idea came from a need to bring transparency and efficiency to the agricultural sector. Seeing the daily challenges farmers face motivated me to create a solution that benefits both ends of the market—empowering farmers and ensuring retailers receive the best quality produce.
Connecting with the MENA Startup Community
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA's global startup community?
Connecting with MENA's startup ecosystem is essential for us at YolaFresh. This region holds immense potential for growth and innovation, particularly in agri-tech and retail solutions. Being part of this community allows us to share knowledge, access new markets, and collaborate with others who understand the region's unique challenges and opportunities. Together, we can build a stronger, more interconnected MENA tech scene.
Strategies for Securing Funding
What strategies have you found most effective for securing funding and attracting investors?
Transparency, a clear vision, and strong unit economics have been critical for us in securing funding. Investors need to see a mission with measurable impact, so we prioritize showcasing our growth, market potential, and social benefits. Mastering unit economics from day one and sharing those metrics openly has been essential. Additionally, we managed to attract senior directors early on, which shows we have the right leadership in place to scale the business. Building strong relationships, backed by open communication and consistent updates, fosters investor trust and confidence.
Balancing Innovation and Practicality
How do you balance innovation and practicality when developing new products or services?
Balancing innovation with practicality means constantly aligning with user needs while pushing for new solutions. We adopt a data-driven approach to ensure that our innovations are rooted in practical insights, gathered from real-world usage and feedback. By focusing on data to drive decisions, we ensure our solutions are feasible and valuable for our partners.
Overcoming Challenges
Can you share a particular challenge or setback you experienced, and what you learned from it?
One significant challenge was building a skilled team on the ground. We didn’t find a ready-made workforce in the market, so we focused on training from the ground up to ensure our team shared our vision and values. Another key area was gathering data to build robust models that inform our decision-making. These experiences reinforced the importance of building a strong foundation with skilled individuals and data-driven insights.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make an impact in the MENA region and beyond?
Focus on solving real, on-the-ground challenges and listen to those you aim to serve. Building connections within the MENA community is essential, as is resilience—there will be hurdles, but each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. Also, leverage the unique advantages the region offers and work collaboratively.
Favorite Viaka Network Moments & Connections
What's your favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far? Do you have any memorable experiences or helpful connections to share?
The Viaka Network has been invaluable in connecting us with like-minded entrepreneurs and investors across MENA. I’ve enjoyed the community’s openness and the wealth of knowledge shared through their webinars and panels. These experiences have not only enriched our strategy but also fostered connections that could lead to meaningful partnerships.
Psst! Join the Viaka network now and unlock our exclusive Slack channel, along with many other benefits! Chat directly with members like Youssef and others eager to share their expertise. Don't miss out!
Support from the Viaka Network
How can members of the Viaka Network (and beyond) be most helpful to you and your work right now?
Connecting with experts in tech development and logistics would be incredibly helpful as we build out YolaFresh’s tech stack. We’d love to connect with individuals who have experience in scaling tech for the agriculture or retail space. Any introductions to potential partners or investors would also be valuable.
Bonus: Favorite Dish from MENA
What is your favorite dish from the MENA world?
It has to be Moroccan seafood pastilla. The flaky pastry filled with spiced seafood is incredibly flavorful, and when it’s spicy, it’s even better. It’s a dish that combines intricate flavors and craftsmanship—perfect for sharing and always a memorable experience.
📲 Follow YolaFresh on LinkedIn and head over to their website for more information 💻
📅 Events within the Viaka network & beyond:
Personal Branding for Startup Founders [hosted by Hub71] November 5th (In-Person, AbuDhabi, UAE)
AI Wave Conference featuring Boston's top AI thought leaders and companies [hosted by VentureFizz] November 6th (In-Person, USA)
Fund Manager Masterclass [Become a VC Fund Manager Expert. Designed for emerging & future fund managers, entrepreneurs, angel investors] November 10-12 (In-Person, Cairo, Egypt)
Leap Investor Day [DIFC Innovation Hub hosts Investor Day, a premier event designed to connect innovative start-ups with the investor community] November 12 (In-Person, Dubai, UAE)
Techstars AMA Session [exclusive digital event where you'll have the opportunity to ask anything before the Techstars application deadline closes] November 12 (Virtual)
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator Certification Workshop – 2024 [4-day workshop led by Per Kristiansen in collab with Inno Missions] November 30th- December 3rd (In-Person, Riyadh, KSA)
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
🆙 Click above for access to our regularly updated job database, including new opportunities and talent open to work. 💡 If you apply, let us know so we can make a personal introduction!🤝
If you’d like to share a job posting in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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