Ecotutu
Cold Storage, Hot Problem. Solar powered cold rooms that help farmers and traders keep food fresh and sell at better prices.
Across Nigeria, heat and weak electricity mean a large share of fresh food spoils before it is sold. Farmers and traders lose income even when harvests are strong.
Cold storage exists, but it is costly and often tied to unstable grids or diesel generators. For small sellers, it is out of reach.
Ecotutu tackles this gap with solar powered cold rooms placed inside markets and farming hubs. Users rent storage per crate and per day, without buying equipment or fuel.
When cooling becomes a shared service, spoilage falls and bargaining power rises.
Key Numbers
Numbers reflect public reporting up to November 2025.
Company Information
Ecotutu is a Nigerian cleantech company providing off grid cooling for agriculture and food markets. The firm designs and operates solar cold rooms that work even where power is unreliable or absent.
Ecotutu view
Leadership
| Role | Name | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Co founders | Babajide Oluwase and Michael Akinsete | Launched Ecotutu in 2020 to cut post harvest losses with solar cooling |
| Operations | Market hub teams | Run cold rooms, support users, manage maintenance |
How the Model Works
Ecotutu installs solar cold rooms in markets and farming zones. Users rent space per crate and per day. The company handles power, temperature control, and upkeep.
What Ecotutu Provides
Impact and Results
Ecotutu reports growing adoption in major produce markets. Public estimates indicate more than 6,000 farmers supported and about 70,000 tonnes of food preserved through its cold rooms.
Operational Highlights
- 2023 market milestone: 3.75 tonne solar cold room launched at Sabongida Market, Nasarawa State
- 2025 infrastructure upgrade: revived a 30 tonne NIHORT facility in Ibadan with partners
- Recognition: co founder Michael Akinsete received a national Agropreneur award in 2025
Where It Operates
Ecotutu operates in Nigeria with hubs in key fresh produce markets and nearby farming belts. Sites are chosen where traders handle high volumes and electricity is weak.
| Area | Presence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lagos | Core market | Large produce markets and trader networks |
| Nasarawa | Active hub | Sabongida solar cold room site |
| Ibadan | Partner facility | 30 tonne NIHORT cold room revived |
Funding and Support
Ecotutu has expanded through grants, partner programs, and prizes. Detailed equity rounds have not been publicly disclosed.
Landscape and Alternatives
Ecotutu is part of a broader shift toward solar powered cold chains. The main alternative for customers is still no cold storage.
| Company | Model | Main markets | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecotutu | Pay as you chill hubs | Nigeria | Solar cold rooms inside markets for small traders |
| InspiraFarms | Cold rooms and leasing | East and Southern Africa | More focused on large farms and processors |
| Koolboks | Solar fridges | Nigeria and global | Household and micro retail cooling |
| Diesel or grid cold rooms | Fixed facility | Single markets | Higher running costs and power risk |
Key Lessons for Founders
What can builders learn from Ecotutu?
- Work where losses are visible. Markets feel spoilage daily, so they adopt faster.
- Keep pricing simple. Paying per crate removes the biggest barrier to use.
- Solar fits weak grids. In unreliable power settings, off grid energy is essential.
- People complete the model. On site staff builds trust and keeps quality high.
- Partnerships unlock scale. Public and donor programs open locations and users.
• Founding year, founders, 6,000+ farmers supported, ~70,000 tonnes preserved, and 3.75 tonne Nasarawa cold room from Spotlight in Africa (Nov 1, 2025).
• 3.75 tonne Sabongida cold room also referenced in Energizing Agriculture mini grid case study.
• 30 tonne NIHORT facility revival from BusinessDay (Apr 14, 2025) and partner coverage.
• Pay as you chill pricing from AgroCentric founder interview (Sep 18, 2025).
Data checked on 24 Nov 2025.