the plan

Phase 1: laying the foundations and assembling the team

Month 1:

• we obtain an SSL certificate using Let’sEncrypt and an AWS web-hosting service subscription ($19/month – aprox 19 euros) for a t3.small plan. 
• a lawyer drafts the terms and conditions for data use, transportation 
• liabilities, and service agreements ($173 – aprox 173 euros).
• a SEO for the website including a developer ( initially $240/month. – aprox 240 euros )
• we will set up social media accounts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Tik Tok, Youtube) to build a community, PPC ads set up, costing $1 per 100 visitors to the website. Starting small at $5 per social media site stated above, our costs are $20/month (aprox 20 euros/month).
• informational brochures are designed and distributed to agricultural cooperatives and local markets ($700 for design and printing 500 copies).
• partnerships with regional radio stations are initiated to promote Branch in areas with limited internet penetration (dependes on the radio station mostly but max 25 EUR)

Our marketing strategy in the first stage is to create a basic landing to collect early interest and contacts. We will only include an introduction and a COMING SOON display and create CONTENT including short videos, graphics that are produced that will be posted on our social media pages. 

Building our team and finding sponsorships

Our team will start reaching out to to local food banks, charitable organizations, and community leaders. These relationships form the backbone of Branch's social impact. We will be responsible for building the main website, and graphics designers will be hired in further stages of the plan. 

Phase 2: Building the actual platform

Month 2 to 4:

• we will create the backend of our app is developed to support data analytics, matching algorithms, and secure user transactions
• a rudimentary rule-based matching algorithm is implemented to optimize connections between farmers, buyers, and donors 
• we will create an introductory online course tailored for farmers ($600) for a comprehensive 8-chapter course. Because most farmers’ business knowledge is basic so it does not need to be from a high-end expert yet.

Our marketing for this stage consists of a series of explainer videos are produced and shared via YouTube and other platforms to demonstrate Branch’s benefits. ($2000 per video) and a press release is issued to local newspapers and agriculture magazines (500 euros mostly).

Phase 3: Going live

Month 5:

• the platform is launched. 
• farmers and buyers register and begin using the system.
•  referrals become key revenue sources, with partnerships signed with supermarkets and transport companies to be present on our platform. 

Our main income stems from a percentage of each made transaction! 

Our marketing for this stage is based on collaborations with different influencers (that relate to the field) and organize events to attract interest. This strategy heavily depends on our revenues. 

Phase 4: Scalling up

Months 6-12

• advertisers for farming-related products secure ad space on the platform. Using google-adsense as an estimate at 50000 visits (100 visits per farmer) per month, expected $3000/year revenue.

Phase 5: Community engagement

Months 12-18

• the first set of virtual workshops and events are conducted for farmers. 
• some are free, while others charge minimal fees. 
• hiring a Business Analyst to deliver each workshop costs ~$180, including cost for them to form the workshop. 
• hosting monthly workshops, expecting 100 attendees and charging $2 per person for 6/12 workshops, the net cost is $960/year.
• open donations are integrated into the platform, allowing users to contribute to Branch’s mission. Not counted into income as it’s a volatile stream.

Projected impact after the first year

Revenue: 149,074 EUR

Expenses: 65,694 EUR

Net Profit: 83,380 EUR therefore this demonstrates the project’s viability 

This progressive system ensures that smaller farmers pay a minimal commission (3-5%) to keep their earnings sustainable, while larger farmers contribute more (7-10%) as their profitability increases. This structure is designed to keep Branch financially viable while ensuring fairness for all users.

The premium subscription would be then for 5€: Affordable for all farmer categories – This price represents less than 0.5% of a marginal farmer’s annual income, making it accessible while still ensuring value. Sustainable for Branch – It creates a steady revenue stream without overburdening farmers. At €5, farmers will feel they are investing in a tool that directly benefits their business, rather than seeing it as an unnecessary expense. The psychological pricing  of keeping the price in a single-digit range (€5 instead of €10+) makes it easier for farmers to commit.

Phase 6: Optimization

Months 18-21

• now that all foundational aspects are established (like web design, courses, outreach) we aim to have at least 1500 farmers 
• affiliate sales trend: maintain upward growth of 10% per month
• enhance user experience based on the initial feedback (€8,800 – €16,500)

Phase 7: Expansion

Months  22-25

• we can start targeting marketing campaigns in new regions (costs may vary depending on the influencers)
• active farmers: 2,500
• customer retention rate: 75%
• revenue from premium services: increases by 20%

Year 3 

Phase 8: Upgrading Branch

Months 26-29

• launch additional online courses focused on business expansion (1800 euros if we extend it to 3 courses)
• introduce partnerships with logistics companies
• active farmers: 4000 
• increase in successful farmer-supermarket transactions: 25%
• expand customer support to include regional languages
• pilot AI-driven pricing insights for farmers

Our job is to continue to pursue partnerships with different firms, ONGs and food banks while maintaining quality content for the farmers (tailored to their level of education and understanding)

Phase 9: Creating new operations by expanding them to three new states

Months 30-33 

• launching in-app financial advisory tools (€15,000 - €30,000)
• active farmers: 6000
• scale to include major supermarkets and retailers
• increase logistics partnerships

The number of users is estimated to rise to 20,000 by the end of the year and that will increase profits to 30%. 

Phase 10: Expanding our business as much as we can

Months 34-40

• increasing logistics partnerships
• developing an offline module for farmers with limited internet access
• introducing blockchain-based transparency for transactions

For the following years from 6 to 10 we want to expand our network on an international leve land we hope to have parnerships with international NGOs, integrate AI-driven demand forecasting for farmers, developing new service offerings such as micro-loans, expand to neighboring countries. 

Our future vision is to collaborate with supermarkets to scale operations regionally and internationally, implement a matching algorithm for farmers, buyers and donors and increase investment in workshops and free resources to empower the farmers.