Acumen has invested in Mountain Harvest, a Ugandan specialty coffee company working with smallholder farmers to improve incomes and promote climate resilience through regenerative agriculture. The investment reinforces Acumen’s dedication to building inclusive agricultural markets that enable farmers to earn a living income while protecting the ecosystems they depend on.
Uganda is the world’s eighth-largest coffee producer, yet most of its 1.8 million smallholder coffee farmers continue to face significant challenges. Low productivity, volatile prices, limited access to premium markets, and growing climate pressures have left many farmers earning well below a living income. In Uganda’s mountainous regions, such as Mount Elgon, Rwenzori, and Kigezi, these challenges are compounded by remoteness and historically limited commercial coffee production, despite favorable growing conditions.
Mountain Harvest addresses these constraints by working directly with more than 1,000 smallholder farmers to source organic Arabica coffee, process it to specialty standards, and connect it to premium international buyers. As a farmer-allied intermediary, the company pays farmers 13% to 37% above market rates while supporting them with bundled services like agronomic training, access to inputs, and microfinance. This integrated approach helps farmers improve yields, manage climate risk, and capture more value from global coffee markets.
The company’s model is underpinned by a focus on traceability, gender inclusion, and youth engagement. Mountain Harvest has implemented digital traceability systems that link coffee back to individual farmers, enabling transparency for buyers and premium pricing for producers. Its gender action plan and targeted microfinance offerings support women’s participation and leadership, while youth employment initiatives create new pathways into an aging sector. Together, these elements position Mountain Harvest as a differentiated player in Uganda’s specialty coffee landscape.
“Acumen’s investment in Mountain Harvest reflects a deep alignment around mission and values. We share a belief that what tastes best in your cup can and should provide a living income for farmers — and that patient capital, paired with strong local leadership, can build inclusive and resilient markets that work for everyone.”
Kenneth Barigye, Managing Director, Mountain Harvest
Acumen’s investment will support the company’s next phase of growth, including the construction of a temperature-controlled warehouse, accompanied with a dry mill and color sorter, and land acquisition to expand processing capacity. These investments are expected to improve quality control, optimize product mix, and strengthen margins — key steps toward financial sustainability and long-term scale.
The investment also represents a strategic shift toward patient capital, strengthening Mountain Harvest’s balance sheet and enhancing its ability to attract additional financing. By enabling the company to leverage its assets and expand its farmer network, Acumen aims to demonstrate that specialty coffee can be a powerful engine for inclusive growth in Uganda.
“Acumen’s investment in Mountain Harvest is catalytic. It enables the company to deepen its impact with farmers, strengthen its financial sustainability, and set new standards for gender and youth inclusion in Uganda’s coffee sector.”
Millycent Aoko, Investment Manager, Acumen East Africa
Looking ahead, Mountain Harvest plans to expand its farmer base to 2,600 by 2028, with a strong focus on women and young farmers. It also aims to complete its new processing facilities and reach sustainable EBITDA profitability by 2029. With growing demand for traceable, high-quality coffee and increasing urgency around climate resilience, Mountain Harvest is positioned to show how premium agricultural value chains can support a thriving ecosystem of smallholder farmers.
This work is supported by the CFYE (Challenge Fund for Youth Employment) and the Autodesk Foundation as part of Acumen’s Trellis initiative.