Ancestral Organics - Chamber of Commerce of Armenia and Quindío (CCAQ)

Investing in Impact

P4G has awarded the partnership with about US $350,000 in grant funding. 

Ancestral Organics is a Colombian startup working with dozens of smallholder farmers to produce organic superfood products using regenerative practices in regions like Quindío where conventional monoculture practices and heavy chemical use have led to about 70% of the soil being degraded or in the process of degradation. 

The startup has an integrated value chain from crop cultivation to direct consumer marketing that enables it to have control over the entire process and ensure the quality and traceability of their products. Shortening the supply chain also allows it to offer significantly higher prices to farmers for their products. 

Ancestral Organics pays farmers between 50% to 200% more than the market rate and transforms their crops into higher value-added products such as Sacha Inchi protein powder, specialty coffee and goldenberries with dark chocolate. The startup also trains farmers on agroforestry methods such as chemical-free production and crop rotation to ensure healthier crops that can deliver higher incomes to farmers. During the partnership period, it will develop a baseline study on current agricultural practices in rural Colombia and will identify best practices in terms of regeneration that can have an impact on revenue and soil. 

Early experience has shown the startup that more training is required among farmers, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders on the principles and benefits of regenerative agriculture. The startup has selected and is working with the owners of two farms to develop demonstration and education sites that will build long term capacity in regenerative agriculture in the region. Ancestral Organics identified and provided technical assistance to help 11 producers covering 77 hectares, receive organic certification. Their documentation is currently being compiled for submission. Another set of producers was also identified who were not ready for certification but have been trained to build their capacity for future certification cycles. 

Between October 2024 – June 2025, Ancestral Organics has made significant progress on commercialization and investment readiness. 

The startup focused on boosting brand visibility and positioning on social media through engaging reels and videos on ingredients, regenerative agriculture and recipes. The startup will continue to amplify these marketing efforts through targeted campaigns in key markets like the United States and Colombia. 

Through participation in premier global food events such as the Fancy Food Show in New York and Expo West in California, the startup secured more than 150 high quality leads from independent retailers in the United States. Ancestral has also seen steady growth on its Amazon website as a result of continued brand and keyword optimization efforts on the platform. In six months, its revenue grew by more than 400% on the retailer. Additional drivers of its go-to-market strategy have included partnerships with B2B platforms such as Colombian Boosters and Faire. Beyond tangible sales, these partnerships have allowed Ancestral Organics firsthand insights on customers’ preferences, packaging impact and the behaviors of different retail environments. These experiences also allow Ancestral Organics more confidence to replicate its distribution model in the Northeastern U.S. and California, two key growth markets for the company. 

Ancestral Organics currently has 25 products in its portfolio that it sells to consumers in Colombia, USA and the UK. 

The startup was recently approved to sell its products in Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, and finalized a partnership with a distributor in Lyon, France. To further strengthen its current markets, the startup focused on optimizing its digital stores across premier e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Walmart and Etsy. Ancestral Organics also secured a UPS partnership that gives it a cost-efficient delivery service for U.S.-bound products and will facilitate easier access to international markets. 

As part of its growth strategy, Ancestral Organics is looking at two distinct revenue streams: 

• An expansion of its current line of products 
• A new business line focused on advisory services for producers transitioning to regenerative agriculture 

On the investment readiness front, Ancestral Organics has been developing its ESG strategy in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of Armenia and Quindío (CCAQ). In parallel, it has also been engaging with different investors and investor coalitions to help refine its investor materials. Key to some of these activities have been its participation in the P4G National Platform member iNNpulsa’s Capital Lab program that allowed Ancestral Organics to structure its financial narrative, develop clear unit economics, and create comprehensive Due Diligence checklists. 

CCAQ brings a wealth of experience in strengthening early-stage startups and will help Ancestral Organics improve its business processes and connect it to national and international stakeholders who can help the company grow. CCAQ is currently helping Ancestral Organics develop their Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance strategy and design a robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system. 

During the partnership period, Ancestral Organics aims to raise investment, bring 50 hectares of land under certified organic management, and expand its client base into four new country markets. 

The partnership comprises the following partners: Ancestral Organics (lead business partner); Chamber of Commerce of Armenia and Quindío (CCAQ) (lead administrative partner).