SCP ltd and Proof Profile
Soft Commodity Profiling Ltd was a tech start up I cofounded in 2019.
Our hypothesis was fairly simple, and I think it still stands:
Coffee is valuable.
Current valuation methods are bad.
This leads to information asymmetry where middlemen extract unfair value and farmers and producers (and often consumers) are exploited.
New applications of existing tools and technology would massively improve insights.
Better insights could disrupt the entire coffee supply chain / market.
However, identifying a problem and solution are only a small part of what it takes to successfully launch a new enterprise.
Our business plan and route to market required significant investment to work.
Despite having an impressive team of academics, computer scientists and industry experts, we were unable to raise the required funding to keep going in the way that we wanted.
One of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to take, which I am also most proud of, was deciding to pause things. We realised we weren’t going to be successful doing what we were doing, yet it was a tough decision. Entrepreneurship requires massive levels of self-confidence and belief in the mission.
Yet, I learnt a huge amount and made some fantastic connections. We made some fantastic achievements. Overall, I am very grateful to have had this experience (and humbled by the levels of support I had from friends and family).
In 2020 I went back to full time employment in engineering and asset management where I still apply computer science and engineering to try to deliver a positive impact in society.
Paused, not finished.
I’ve been totally transparent with my employers and colleagues that I haven’t officially wound-up soft commodity profiling ltd. I’m still in regular contact with the other founders, advisors, and the team.
Collectively we are keeping an eye on the market. We have continued to iterate and build on our experiences to create various different projects and business plans. Each of us continue to launch new and exciting projects. (Please do subscribe to my blog if you’re interested in what I’m up to).
Importantly, we are all still doing a lot of the things we are passionate about: drinking lots of coffee. Enjoying different flavours and profiles. Understanding coffee and the coffee supply chain. Building tools and processes.
If you are an investor and would like to discuss the future of SCP, please do get in touch.
If you’re generally involved or interested in coffee and/or the coffee supply chain, subscribe to my blog to find out when I’m next organising a meet up. Likewise, please feel free to say hello.