Kasaka Agriventures, a start-up founded by graduates of the Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM) Master in Innovation and Business program, is developing a device designed to make coconut sap harvesting more efficient for farmers.
Formed by Bimbo Gabor, Rommel Terante, Maxi Cunahap, and Diane Chua, the team started Kasaka Agriventures as part of their capstone project at AIM. Their goal was to find practical ways to help coconut farmers who continue to rely on manual and time-consuming harvesting methods.
Through their research, the group identified a gap in the process of collecting coconut sap, also known as tuba, which is often done using traditional tools. This led to the creation of their prototype, called the “Maxi Machine,” which aims to make sap collection safer and more consistent while improving yield.
In September 2023, before completing their program, the team was accepted into the AIM-Dado Banatao Incubation Program, giving them access to mentorship and resources to further develop their project. The following year, Kasaka Agriventures secured a ₱2.9 million grant from the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) to refine the Maxi Machine and produce 50 prototype units.
Since receiving the grant, the team has focused on building and testing improved versions of the device to meet technical and performance standards.
Kasaka Agriventures hopes the Maxi Machine will help make coconut sap collection more sustainable and profitable for local farmers, contributing to better livelihoods and a stronger coconut industry. The team continues to refine its technology and explore opportunities to bring the device to wider use in coconut-producing communities.
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