Sorry for my english, is not my first language but i want to share this because maybe someone here is going through same thing.

I sell roasted coffee beans in Tanzania. Ground and whole beans, i deliver weekly and monthly to small offices and people who buy coffee machines. I roast everything by hand using traditional firewood method i learned here.

I started from my house. So i just started with what i have. Slowly customers start coming back. Then they tell friends. Then subscriptions grow. I was packing orders on my kitchen table every night. Tired but happy because it was MINE.

Then one day somebody notice my business. He offer me $5,000 (around 13 million shillings). For me this is very big money. Enough for small office, physical address. Here in Tanzania if you dont have physical address people dont trust your business. This money could change everything fast.

But he want control. Loan + control of the space. I dont know exactly what that mean legally but something feel wrong.

I was so confused. Take money and grow fast? Or say no and maybe he copy my idea and beat me with more capital? He already see how my model work…

I say no. I am still roasting from home. Still delivering myself. Growing slow but it is still mine.

If you are small founder in Africa or anywhere the system is not made for you slow growth with your dignity is better than fast growth on somebody else terms. I really believe this now.

TL;DR: Selling roasted coffee in Tanzania from home using firewood. Investor offer $5K but want control. I say no. Still growing slow but free.