What is LakeGrid?

LakeGrid is the digital platform being developed by Lake Farms to connect fishers, fish farmers and value chain actors through technology, cold-chain infrastructure and embedded financial services. It is designed to improve market access, reduce post-harvest losses and create the data needed to unlock financing for underserved fishing communities.

Why are we building LakeGrid?

Millions of small-scale fishers and fish farmers remain financially invisible despite feeding communities and supporting local economies. Limited access to cold storage, markets and affordable finance results in significant losses and low incomes. LakeGrid is being built to address these challenges and create a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable blue economy.

How does LakeGrid support fishers and fish farmers?

LakeGrid supports fishers and fish farmers by providing access to solar-powered cold chains, market linkages, digital tools and value-added services. By reducing spoilage and improving access to buyers, the platform helps increase incomes, strengthen livelihoods and improve food security in fisheries-dependent communities.

Embedded Finance and Data-Driven Services

LakeGrid combines embedded finance with data-driven services to make fisheries communities more fundable. Through transactions occurring across the platform, LakeGrid generates information on sales, repayments and cash flows, creating financial histories that can support access to credit, insurance and other financial products. Over time, this data infrastructure can help unlock investment into the blue economy.

Our Long-Term Vision

Our vision is to build Africa's leading blue economy platform, enabling sustainable fisheries, climate-resilient cold chains and financial inclusion for small-scale producers. Starting in Zambia, we aim to scale across Lake Mweru, Lake Kariba, the Kafue River systems and eventually throughout Central and Southern Africa, creating a connected ecosystem that supports livelihoods, food security and healthier aquatic resources.