How a computer science professional transformed 15 years of tech experience into a thriving agricultural enterprise that's revolutionizing Zimbabwe's bean supply chain.
In 2020, after 15 successful years in the ICT industry, Malvin Shiringo made a bold decision to leave technology to enter the beans supply business. This was an unlikely career shift that eventually proved to be a masterstroke of entrepreneurial vision, combining technical expertise with agricultural innovation.
Identifying the Gap
"It seemed crazy that a computer science professional with a solid career in ICT would suddenly shift to beans and farming. But I saw an opportunity to use technology to solve real problems in agriculture," Malvin said. His entrepreneurial journey emerged from a simple observation that farmers were struggling to sell their produce at fair prices, while off-takers faced constant supply shortages. The agricultural value chain in the country was broken, plagued by poor communication, unfair pricing, and inefficient distribution networks.
Drawing from his ICT background and newfound passion for agriculture, Malvin developed Beantrack, a revolutionary platform that connects farmers, suppliers, off-takers, and seed companies. This digital marketplace facilitates communication and negotiation, ensuring farmers receive fair value for their products while reducing costs related to communication and transport.
Building a Sustainable Business Model
Beantrack operates on a dual revenue model that balances accessibility with profitability. The platform generates income through two main streams namely advertising revenue from financial institutions and other value chain players, and premium subscriptions that offer users full access to advanced services. The basic features on the platform are free for all users to ensure essential services remain accessible to everyone while creating sustainable income streams. His model perfectly demonstrates how technology can be used for social good without compromising business viability.
The Power of Strategic Partnerships
Apart from the digital platform, Malvin is also a beans off-taker through his company Chico. His brilliant move that separated him from the rest of the competition was to partner with the Government of Zimbabwean to promote biofortified products. The company purchases bulk NUA45 beans from farmers, then packages and supplies them to supermarkets and wholesalers across Zimbabwe.
The company is looking to expand into other biofortified products like the iron and zinc-enriched yellow maize meal which aligns perfectly with government policy to address nutritional needs, especially for pregnant women and children. This partnership has brought Chico tax rebates, entry into government databases and recognition as a partner in national development. "When you align your business with national priorities, you are not just building a company but also contributing to your country's development," Malvin explained.
Learning from Industry Experts
Malvin's success was not built in isolation, he actively sought knowledge through partnerships with research and leading organizations in bean productions. His kep partners are Harvest Plus, which provided insights into biofortified crops, the government of Zimbabwe’s research branch which supported him with technical expertise, and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), a Kenya-based organization that provided training on bean varieties and market dynamics. Through these partnerships he attained deep industry knowledge necessary to identify market gaps and develop effective solutions.
Overcoming Skepticism and Building Trust
As a company responsible for bulk buying and repackaging beans, Chico often faces market credibility challenges caused by uncertified bean varieties smuggled from neighboring countries. These varieties are not only time-consuming to cook but also lack palatability compared to local certified varieties. Malvin has overcome this hurdle by focusing on rebuilding consumer trust by employing lab scientists to test products before market release and implementing strict quality control measures. This attention to quality has paid off as the business has significantly grown boasting of two warehouses, various trucks and working towards expansion into the Zambian market.
You can have the best plan in the world, but without execution, you will definitely fail
The 80/20 Rule of Entrepreneurship
Malvin's entrepreneurial philosophy is that entrepreneurship is 20 percent strategy and 80 percent execution. “You can have the best plan in the world, but without execution, you will definitely fail," he emphasized. He urged aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on execution because great ideas do not yield results without consistent action. He also highlighted the importance of businesses prioritising serving people instead of just chasing profit.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Malvin has ambitious plans to expand Beantrack to other Southern African countries within the next five years and incorporate additional biofortified on the platform. He also foresees venturing into farming to gain control of the complete value chain from production at the farm to the market whilst leveraging technology to solve challenges.
Malvin's work extends far beyond personal success, through Beantrack and Chico, he has ensured that farmers are supported and receive fair prices for their produce. He continues to improve nutrition through biofortified products, contributing to food security in Zimbabwe whilst creating employment opportunities. Malvin Shiringo’s story demonstrates that success comes from combining passion with purpose, strategy with execution, and innovation with service to others.