Alejandro Moreno
Alessandra Quiroga
Adrián ALATORRE
Moises Rodriguez
Abigail Garcia
EGADE Business School Tecnologico de Monterrey
Fernanda Concha
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Through solar energy, we explore new cold chain frontiers in off-grid and underserved regions, facilitating access to food, improving food preservation and enabling new business opportunities.
Youmma is a Brazilian company, part of Embraco, a worldwide compressor manufacturer. The inspiration behind the project is to bring a better quality of life by reinventing the access to refrigeration to off grid communities by applying their cooling know how in making an affordable efficient refrigeration system.
Youmma’s first market comprises communities in eastern Africa where several pay as you go service providers have developed a business model where by minimum payments the people can access off grid services such as light, radio, tv and now refrigeration.
Youmma’s technological advantage comes with the use of an ultra efficient DC linear compressor which allows reducing considerably the size of the solar panel and battery, making a cheaper solution to the end users.
Two models, ranging in sizes between 50 and 100 liter, refrigerator only are available. Size was defined after several field tests and potential consumer interviews, habits evaluation, transport conditions, etc. Overall it was a product defined for the people by the people.
The inspiration comes from Embraco’s mission which is to offer innovative solutions to improve the quality of life. With this in mind, and a business potential of reaching hundreds of thousands of families through these new platforms, it was an easy choice to make.
More than 5 thousand families have benefited so far from having access to refrigerated food and medicines today. This benefits the users not only in terms of preservation but it helps improve the overall quality of life by reducing displacements between the house and shops or house and hospital. This represents as well a saving which is used to either pay for the appliance or reinvest in generating more benefits to the end user.
Youmma and Embraco have found a way to be a profitable company while delivering sustainable solutions to the market. This brings an intangible benefit to the company which goes beyond a good contribution margin when selling those refrigerators to the pay as you go partner.
Youmma seeks to impact the community and their environment in a positive way through 3 main axis, lined up with the United Nation’s Sustainable development goals.
They team claims that “Whether empowering women in rural areas, improving preservation or helping local business to strive, our solutions can play a major role in creating value for people living in extreme conditions.”
PEOPLE
Starting from people, we learn and co-develop solutions to improve quality of life.
PLANET
Understanding off-grid region’s needs and climate change challenges, we designed affordable fridges for clean solar energy
PROSPERITY
Through refrigeration, we make possible new and lasting opportunities for the entire value chain.
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Gabriel Frigieri Saud, Head of Youmma
Gabriel Frigieri Saud, Head of Youmma
Through solar energy, we explore new cold chain frontiers in off-grid and underserved regions, facilitating access to food, improving food preservation and enabling new business opportunities.