Secai Marche: B2B farm-to-table startup in M’sia bags US$1.6 million, aims to accelerate SEA expansion

Farm-direct platform Secai Marche, with offices in Malaysia and Japan, recently revealed that it has secured Series A funding of roughly US$1.6 million (210 million Japanese yen).

The Agribusiness Investment and Consultation Co., Spiral Ventures Asia Fund I, and Beyond Next Ventures took the lead in the funding round.

A B2B farm-to-table fulfilment platform is Secai Marche. It has operations in Southeast Asia and its headquarters are in Japan.

The startup's total capital raised to date is US$4.5 million after Secai Marche previously closed US$1.4 million in seed funding and US$1.5 million in pre-series A fundraising.

TechCrunch reports that Secai Marche would use the additional funding to improve its truck routing and develop a demand forecasting system as it extends its service areas.

Secai Marche is an internet marketplace that links Malaysian and Japanese restaurants with farmers. It bills itself as a "one-stop platform."

Momo Fresh Farm, NonehCekgu MD2 Pineapple, Nian Feng Plantation, Foliage Micro Greens, LK Fresh Eggs, Weeds and More, and XKH Farm are just a few of the Malaysian farmers it collaborates with.

More than 400 hotels and restaurants are using its platform, claims the company's website. This list include well-known brands including Huckleberry, GSC, EQ, Dewakan, Marini's on 57, and others.

Other grocery chains including AEON and Jaya Grocer are among its partners.

According to the organization's website, "Our objective is to contribute to the development of more economically viable and sustainable small-scale farms throughout the world by enhancing access to high-quality food."

Ami Sugiyama, the creator of Secai Marche, told TechCrunch that although the Southeast Asian food service distribution market is substantial, it is also "extremely fragmented and inefficient."

Thus, Secai Marche's internal software, which includes demand forecasting and warehouse management systems, strives to assist in streamlining the supply chain.

According to E27, Sugiyama stated that "the warehouse management and fulfilment system is designed to optimise the supply chain and maintain the lowest wastage rate of less than 1%."

We are now prepared to quicken our expansion in SEA to better serve more farmers and customers.

EdenFarm, an Indonesian B2B network that connects farmers with restaurants, caterers, street sellers, and entrepreneurs, just received US$13.5M in pre-Series B funding on January 30.

Farmers in the area will probably profit from the increasing interest in farm-to-table options, which could help Malaysia's agricultural industry as a whole.