Backing a Kenya-based seafood company connecting small-scale fishers to premium, traceable markets

Small-scale fisheries are central to food security and employment across the Western Indian Ocean, with more than 2 million people directly engaged in fishing across the region and several million more working in processing and trade. Yet many coastal fishing communities remain constrained by weak cold-chain infrastructure, fragmented markets, limited access to working capital, and high post-harvest losses. In rural East African communities, fish losses can sometimes exceed 55% without reliable ice, cold storage, and handling systems.

The company

Kumbatia Seafood Limited is a Kenya-based seafood company operating in Lamu and Kwale, with planned expansion across East Africa in the coming seasons. The company works directly with artisanal fishers to improve product quality, strengthen traceability, and move seafood into higher-value domestic, regional, and export markets.

The investment

CI Ventures has invested US$175,000 in Kumbatia through revenue-based financing to support the company’s next stage of growth. This capital is designed to help Kumbatia purchase and store more fish during peak seasons, reduce spoilage, expand access to premium markets, and strengthen supply continuity for buyers and fishing communities.

The impact

Over the next five years, Kumbatia aims to grow from approximately 150 partner fishers to 1,500, support an income uplift of at least 200% for participating fishers, and scale sustainable seafood production. The company also targets expanding their gear exchange program to reduce use of harmful gear types. Its model channels economic value back into coastal communities: with portions of revenue flowing to fishers, local labor, community-owned assets, and local governance institutions, including BMUs, conservancies, and cooperatives.