Why. To bring small farmers' products directly into communities, cutting the six-to-seven layers of intermediaries that inflate prices and waste produce. Taiwan's small farmers average over 65 years old, with no brand and no channel of their own.
What we built. A platform connecting small farmers with community group-buy organizers — organizers source directly from farmers and manage orders digitally. MVP tested with 300+ households; 25 community leaders (mostly mothers balancing childcare) trained to run neighborhood hubs.
What changed. Participating farmers' income rose 10.3%. The project received a NT$1M grant from the Tzu Chi Foundation, media coverage, and recognition from social innovation organizations.
Why it ended. Digital adoption among elderly farmers required continuous human assistance; with that labor priced in, the model couldn't sustain itself without external funding — contradicting the goal of a commercially self-sufficient social enterprise. A full retrospective is coming as a post.