Smallholder farmers across ASEAN struggle to access the capital needed to finance their day-to-day operations. There are more than 100 million of these farmers in the region, and while they feed roughly 80% of the population, fewer than a third have any form of financial access, leaving an estimated USD 100 billion financing gap unmet.
Sebijihub addresses this gap directly. The platform partners with active farms and converts them into short-term, small-sized rentable plots that consumers can sponsor, giving farmers accessible non-bank financing while offering consumers a share of the harvest and a tangible connection to how their food is grown.
Business Model
Sebijihub operates as a marketplace, earning commission by facilitating connections between consumers and farmers. Revenue is generated through a 30% commission on each farm-tour package and a 20% commission on each rent-a-farm package. Against an addressable market of roughly two million target customers, the model projects revenue of RM 6 million by 2030.
Traction & Validation
At the time of the pitch, Sebijihub had onboarded 10 partner farms and pre-sold 1.5 acres of plots. The near-term plan targets onboarding ten additional farms, renting out twenty acres, and establishing school collaborations, underpinned by a defined RM 10,000 commitment budget across hosting, logistics, advertising, and farmer engagement.
My Role
I served as Business Team Lead, responsible for research and strategy across the venture.
- Financial Modelling. Built the initial financial projection, including the P&L and a five-year forecast, and defined the RM 10,000 commitment budget.
- Business Model Canvas. Led the development of the value proposition and overall business model.
- Market Research. Conducted research on target customers, total addressable market size, and demand validation across both consumer and farmer segments.
