[Startup Interview] Ian Sendagala, CEO, eFoods Trade, Uganda

eFoods Trade is an African online B2B marketplace connecting African foods to the global markets. The platform targets food importers, exporters, distributors, and manufacturers. Ian Sendagala the CEO explains the startup’s journey, business model and expansion plans.

Introduce your company

eFoods Trade is Africa's online B2B Food Marketplace for Importers, Exporters, and Manufacturers. A premium B2B gateway strategically positioning African Foods trade business to the global village. Consequently, we are bridging a critical gap in the Intra-African Foods Trade.

Our Services include free profiling of company details and directory, business matching, food buy/sell trade leads, trade alert.

Who are the founders and what are their professional backgrounds?

Ian Sendagala is a sole founder/ CEO while Darin Droganov is the Co Founder.

Ian Sendagala is the owner of FoodsForTrade.com, an international B2B Food Trade portal which he sold to an American to finance eFoodsTrade. He also owned Profile Index, and Beerfortrade.com.  Ian is a seasoned hospitality professional and philanthropist.

Darin Droganov is a successful web programming maverick with indisputable skills in web designing, search engine optimization (SEO) and digital markteing etc ,

Who are the owners of the company?

The two founders own and manage the company; backed by private equity investors as minority shareholders.

How is your company financed?

The company has boot strapped since until recently, when we were backed by private equity investors to stay afloat today. This funding fundamentally redeemed the operations, human capacity and marketing.

What would you say are the dynamics shaping your industry?

Africa is faced with an enormous challenge of breaking the numerous 'firewalls' in the global food trade landscape. Considering, Africa has potential to rise to the international stage and significantly change the narrative as the world's largest food exporter

Why did you start eFoods Trade? What opportunities did you see?

Africa is a net food importer, yet Agriculture is the spine of most African economies. The intra African Food Trade between African countries is as miserable as its embarrassing. The vast opportunities of trading within have been terribly wasted. Thus a platform to offer a cohesive voice for African food on an international stage; while incredibly boosting Intra African trade was a remedy.

What problem or problems does eFoods Trade solve?

 My company is solving the balance of trade issues with many African economies, by increasing food export opportunities.

We are motivating Agro Investors to Africa to boost Agribusiness and foreign trade

The company is profoundly solving unemployment and poverty in Africa by stimulating export opportunities with the world.

We are spot lighting 'Value-Add' to Africa's Agro Products, to compete favorably on the global stage - this is acutely lacking in Africa.

What gives eFoods Trade the competitive edge?

This is the only premium B2B Foods Trade platform for African importers, exporters and Food Manufacturers.

Our Google Ranking is a remarkable selling point since it has no competition.

This project is highly favored by all African trade organizations in the light of AfCTA.

Who are your customers?

Euro Fresh Distribution -Spain

J.Fr. Scheibler Gmbh &Co. - Germany

Biozucco Distributiones SL - Spain

EXSA Pty Ltd - South Africa

Northern Lakes Sea Food & Meats - USA

Pastificio Ricossa -Italy

My customers include food importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors across diverse verticals; fruits, vegetables, seafood, grains, baby foods, beverages etc

What does eFoods Trade need in order to grow?

We need capital, investors and meaningful partnerships/collaborations with private corporations and public agencies all over Africa. We are seeking Non Profit African Development agencies like AfCTA, African Development Bank, Africa Import & Export Bank, African Union etc

What is your growth strategy?

Our growth strategy shall be collaboration with key agro government agencies across the African continent, to embrace our platform and preach it to thousands of food importers and exporters. Once our database has achieved millions of traders we shall rely on the foreign offices to invite food importers and exporters all over the world

In which markets are you looking to establish your presence?

We are planning to roll out our presence firstly in each and every African region. Once this is done, we shall set shop on each continent to scale our PR/Advertising and Marketing.

What are your plans for the coming 12 months?

In the next 12 months we are planning an aggressive brand awareness campaign to sell our dream to the key strategic private and public organizations that would believe in our dream.

www.efoodstrade.com

Are you a startup and do you want your profile interview on this website?

Find here how to do that