Ibrahim Yusuf (Tumutu Pesticide)
Ibrahim on his chili farm in Tanzania
Ibrahim Yusuf is the COO and co-founder of Tumutu Pesticide (Tumutu), a Tanzania-based company producing all-natural, plant-based pesticides.
From chili farmer to co-founder of Tumutu Pesticide
Before launching Tumutu, Ibrahim worked as an export chili farmer, following regulations that banned the use of synthetic pesticides—leaving Ibrahim’s plants vulnerable to insects and causing him to search for a solution.
He started out by testing different natural ingredients to protect his chilis. After much trial and error, he found a combination that seemed to work and brought his recipe to a botanist. “He confirmed to me the characteristics of the ingredients I selected, and that was the beginning of Tumutu,” said Ibrahim. “Actually, even the name Tumutu comes from the ingredient names!”
With his recipe finalized, Ibrahim distributed 100 buckets of the pesticide to his network of chili farmers and three local universities, who all agreed to try the product. This field testing helped Ibrahim identify what types of pests the product kept away, which plants best thrived with it, and if the pesticide could work as a fertilizer as well.
After completing his initial round of field testing, Ibrahim officially launched his business. His customers are smallholder farmers in Tanzania who typically own 1-2 acres and grow a combination of corn, potatoes, tomatoes, coffee, leafy greens, bananas and beans. In many cases, these farmers rely on their crops for their own sustenance. In fact, most never sell their crops, except to the occasional neighbor in need of an ingredient for dinner. Tumutu’s product helps these farmers ensure their crops are safe from pests while not damaging the environment with chemical-based products.
Ibrahim on his way to fetch needed water for his fields and product
Over the past several years, Tanzania has been experiencing a drought, which has affected all residents of the country, but especially farmers who rely on rain to irrigate their crops. At Tumutu, this lack of water has impacted the ability to both produce the pesticide and gain new customers. However, this hasn’t stopped Ibrahim from accomplishing big things since being in the Because Accelerator Spring 2021 Cohort.
While in the accelerator, Ibrahim was able to solve transportation issues and learn how to better run his business. “All topics were 100% valuable to me, and I feel like I have improved,” said Ibrahim of the program. “To me, the training was like a university course—and a tuition-free one!”
Securing because accelerator funding
At the end of the cohort, Ibrahim took part in Because International’s post-cohort pitch event, where all entrepreneurs have an opportunity to pitch their business to an audience of Because Advisor Network members, Because supporters, potential investors and more.
After hearing all of the pitches, viewers voted for three entrepreneurs to receive funding. Ibrahim was selected as one of the event winners—taking home $1,000 to put towards his business. Shortly after, Ibrahim received an additional $7,500 from a donor who was impressed by his pitch and business.
The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.