Our Journey

From a field visit that changed everything to a competitive incubator program — here is how Kayangana Eco-Palms came to life.

ACE Incubator Program at Ashesi University

20March 2026

Kayangana Team

Milestone

We Got Into the ACE Incubator — Here's What That Means

Kayangana Eco-Palms has been accepted into the Ashesi Center for Entrepreneurship (ACE) student incubator program — one of the most competitive entrepreneurship programs at Ashesi University. This is a program dedicated to coaching young students with agriculture-related project ideas, helping them analyze the market and transform their ideas into reality. We are actively refining our operations and expecting to secure over $1,500 in equity-free capital as part of our startup funding.

20January 2026

Kayangana Team

Origin Story

The Visit That Changed Everything: How Kayangana Was Born in Rumonge

Kayangana Eco-Palms was not born in a classroom. It was born the moment our founder visited Rumonge and witnessed firsthand the reality of artisanal palm oil production — women and men bent over open fires, breathing toxic smoke, spending days on manual labor for a fraction of what their oil was worth. That visit made the problem impossible to ignore, and the idea impossible not to pursue.

20January 2026

Kayangana Team

Field Research

On the Ground in Rumonge: What We Saw, What We Learned

Our founder spent time directly with artisanal palm oil producers in Rumonge — Burundi's palm oil heartland, accounting for over 63% of the nation's palm grove area. The field research validated the severe inefficiencies in the current supply chain: open fires, crude tools, days of manual labor, and exploitation by middlemen. This is the reality we are committed to changing.

20January 2026

Kayangana Team

Market Research

The Numbers Don't Lie: Burundi's Palm Oil Supply Gap Is Massive

Burundi's national palm oil demand stands at 300,000 tons annually. Inefficient artisanal methods produce only 20,000 tons per year. That is a 280,000-ton gap — and it represents both a massive market opportunity and a critical food security issue. Our immediate target: urban households in Bujumbura and formal retailers who need a reliable supply of clean, branded, health-compliant virgin palm oil.

THE ACE INCUBATOR PROGRAM

A competitive program that is helping us transform our idea into reality

ACE Incubator session at Ashesi University

Ashesi Center for Entrepreneurship (ACE)

The ACE Student Incubator is one of the most competitive entrepreneurship programs at Ashesi University — an institution dedicated to raising ethical entrepreneurial leaders to transform Africa. The program coaches young students with agriculture-related and other project ideas, helping them:

Analyze and validate their target market
Refine their business model and operations
Connect with experienced mentors and alumni founders
Access equity-free seed capital to launch their ventures

Kayangana Eco-Palms was accepted into this competitive program and is actively working through the curriculum. We are expecting to secure over $1,500 in equity-free capital — representing 30% of our $5,000 pilot Smart Hub budget.

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Stay Updated on Our Journey

Follow our progress as we build Burundi's first community-centered, mechanized palm oil Smart Hub.