Coffee has a long history in Africa, where up to 90% of coffee labor is done by women. However, workers are not paid fairly, something Margaret Nyamumbo hopes to change with Kahawa 1893! She landed a deal with Emma Grede on Shark Tank. Kahawa 1893 is valued at $5 million by 2024.
Margaret Nyamubo’s Background
Margaret Nyamubo is a Kenyan whose grandfather was one of the first local farmers allowed to grow coffee. She moved to the United States in 2007 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Soon after, she was working at an investment bank on Wall Street, where Nyamumbo’s entrepreneurial passion was fueled by her efforts to source authentic Kenyan coffee and work with companies like Starbucks and Nestle.
She researched how these companies got started and discovered that many of them sourced their raw materials from Africa. Eventually, Margaret returned to Kenya to work for the World Bank, a job that gave her a better understanding of the African market.
Kahawa founded in 1893
Nyamubo concluded that there is no direct link between African farmers and international companies. The fact that 90% of the labour is provided by women, who own only 1% of the land, is not given enough attention.
This prompted her to quit her high-paying job, find a mentor, and start a coffee company. She chose to promote Kenyan coffee, which is grown in volcanic soil and double-fermented to produce a unique flavor.
In 2017, she made history when she launched Kahawa 1893. “Kahawa” means coffee in Margaret’s native Swahili, and 1893 was the year coffee was first commercialized in her home country.
Appeared on Shark Tank
Kahawa 1893 was the first black woman-owned coffee brand to be sold at Trader Joe’s. It also gained notoriety for donating a portion of its proceeds to support female coffee workers in Africa.
More established retail chains began buying her products, and publications like Forbes, TastingTable, and New York Magazine covered her products. To expand her business, Margaret Nyamubo needed to raise capital and was eager to bring in sharks.
She won a spot on Season 14, wearing a colorful outfit and giving a passionate speech. It was refreshing to see an entrepreneur who wanted to do more than just make money. Despite this, she was valued at a whopping $7 million!
After Shark Tank
The episode aired in February 2023, and the publicity has helped boost sales of Kahawa 1893 significantly. On social media, fans of the show love the entrepreneur’s enthusiasm! Just appearing on Shark Tank is equivalent to a million-dollar ad and should help drive at least $100,000 in sales. There is no evidence that the deal with Emma Grede has been completed.
If you’re interested in purchasing their products, Kahawa 1893 is available at Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Target, and The Fresh Market. Additionally, when you purchase in-store, you can scan a QR code and send a tip directly to the farmer’s e-wallet.
The coffee brand is currently available in more than 1,100 stores across the U.S. You can buy it online through Amazon and its website, Kahawa1893.com. The company offers a subscription service, so loyal customers can get a 10% discount on every order.
Their best-selling product on Amazon is a Kenyan single-origin blend, which has an average rating of 4.2 stars from 144 customers. The business is currently valued at an estimated $5 million.
Categories: Shark Tank
Source: svlsf.edu.vn