The Paal

Custom Livestock; India

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Custom Livestock Challenge

Learn more about the Custom Livestock Challenge and why distributing proven livestock interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

The Paal is reimagining the cow as more than just a livelihood, turning it into an investable asset to unlock economic opportunities for smallholder women farmers.

The Paal turns livestock into an investable asset class to bring better opportunities and economic security for smallholder farmers. The pilot is in Salem and Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu in India. Unlike others, The Paal treats the farm as not merely an input but as a core product- creating value for farmers, consumers, and investors alike.

The Paal was co-founded by Manali Jain, a graduate student at Harvard University who serves as CEO, and Shivam Johri, COO, with experience in agribusiness and private equity. They met as undergraduates at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and combined grassroots insight with strong operational expertise to build a scalable, farmer-first model.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 100 customers.

• Distribute 50 proven interventions.

• Fundraise an additional $30,000.

FOUNDING TEAM

Manali Jain - CEO

Shivam Johri - COO

Fuga

CUSTOM AGRICULTURE CHALLENGE; KENYA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Livestock health and nutrition products.

Learn more about the Custom Agriculture Challenge and why distributing proven agricultural interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Fuga (formerly Cherehani Agriculture) leverages an organized network of veterinary doctors to distribute animal health and nutrition products.

The veterinary extension officers use a downloadable application to onboard farmers within their area of work. They schedule visits and order medicine directly through the app. Fuga aggregates this demand to order and supply medicine from manufacturers directly to the extension officers who use them in farms. This model shortens the delivery time from manufacturer to farmer while lowering cost and increasing efficiency.

Fuga was founded in 2019 by Wesley Owiti, Nasreen Ali, Christine Mukiri and Robert Mboya.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 farmers by the end of the three-month pilot

• Provide vaccination to over 2,000 cattle by the end of the three-month pilot

• Raise additional $50,000 by the end of the three-month pilot

• Reach 60,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Wesley Owiti - CEO

Christine Mukiri - CTO

Robert Mboya - COO

Nasreen Ali - CFO

Katswiri

CUSTOM CHALLENGE; MALAWI

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Livestock market bundle.

Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Katswiri's mission is to distribute livestock and livestock services on loan to rural smallholder farmers in order to promote a better quality of life.

The Katswiri distribution model is based on three part approach, that includes financing through the provision of livestock and livestock services on loan, training of rural farmers in livestock production best practices, and marketing support.

Katswiri’s plan is to provide long term sustainable livestock services to farmers in need and drive evidence-based impact.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Enroll 100 households in livestock program within first six months

• Directly distribute 1,400 livestock units, offer a series of 3 agriculture production trainings and vaccinate 1,400 livestock units

• Raise 20,000 USD in first six months and then scale operations in the next year pilot to reach 450 farmers with an estimated fundraising budget of 100,000 USD

FOUNDING TEAM

Sopani R. Neba - Founder and Team Lead

Judith Kamanga - Training and Livestock Extension Specialist

Graciano Ulemu Gawamadzi - Project Management and Evaluation Specialist