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Conference discusses the role of nature-based solutions in healing the planet
The Global EverGreening Alliance in partnership with the Government of Zambia, AFR100, and AUDA-NEPAD has convened a global conference bringing together global thought leaders and action-takers to deliberate and come up with actionable strategies to tap into the potential of nature to address challenges.
[Kenya] Livestock sector players review investment opportunities, challenges in unique forum
With the demand for livestock products projected to grow by up to 50% by 2030, there’s a clear opportunity for strategic investments to drive growth and innovation in the sector.
Rwandan female researchers selected for food systems policy fellowship
The AWARD Policy Fellowship is cultivating a growing pool of African women in the policy field to catalyze the design and implementation of gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.
Indian agritech startup Fasal raises $12 million funding to grow its precision farming solution
Fasal's solution has already proven to improve crop yield and reduce operational costs at an affordable price to the individual farmer.
Israeli precision irrigation management startup Treetoscope closes $7m seed round to fuel growth
Treetoscope has closed $7m seed round.
STHL East Africa bets on demand for power tools to grow revenues
German power tools manufacturer, STIHL East Africa, has reported a significant increase in revenue in its first year of operation since upgrading its marketing office to a fully-fledged sales subsidiary.
Indigo Ag accelerates sustainability programs for farmers with $250m fundraise
Indigo Ag has raised $250m to drive innovation and sustainability.
50 African women to benefit from fellowship on agri food policies
The two-year career development program aims to grow a pool of confident and capable mid-career African women to lead policy changes to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods, particularly women.
Ugandan Agritech startup Emata raises $2.4m seed funding
Ugandan agritech startup Emata has raised $2.4 million in seed funding.
SatSure partners with Rabo Partnerships to revolutionize cash flow-based lending for smallholder farmers
SatSure announced partnership with Rabo.
Freiburg-based constellr secures new funding to springboard US expansion
constellr has secured further investment to extend its seed round to a total of €17m.
Kenyan households bet on food MSEs for affordable meals
An estimated 60 per cent of rural and urban Kenyan households access their daily meals from micro/small enterprises (MSEs) at local markets.
Belgian agritech startup Aphea.bio raises €70m to accelerate growth
Aphea.Bio, a Belgium-based agricultural technology company, announced the closing of its Series C funding round.
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk acquires KwikBasket, expands into fresh produce market
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.
Aigen unveils world's first AI-driven, solar-powered, agricultural robotics platform
Agritech startup Aigen, unveiled an autonomous, scalable robotics platform.
SK networks invests $2m in AI farming Dutch startup Source.ag
SK networks announced it will invest $2m Series A funding round of $27 million for Source.ag.
[Column] Nixon Gecheo: Agtech, a pivotal force driving climate change action in agriculture
The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Pluton Biosciences raises $16.5m Series A funding to fight climate change
Pluton Biosciences announced the close of a $16.5 million Series A funding round.
Ugandan women entrepreneurs grow businesses with group saving accounts
For women and youth involved in fish trade at lakes Albert and Victoria in Uganda, having little to no savings is a thing of the past.
Absa acquires minority stake in South African agritech startup Khula!
Absa Bank has acquired a minority stake in South African agritech startup, Khula!
UK biotech startup Resurrect Bio completes seed investment round to develop disease resistant crops
Resurrect Bio, a biotechnology startup which is on a mission to revolutionize the agricultural industry by giving crops the genetic tools to defend themselves against disease, has completed its seed investment round, totaling at £1.61 million.
Start-Up Nation Central collaborates with Microsoft to promote Israeli agri-food tech startups
Start-Up Nation Central has collaborated with Microsoft to promote Israeli agri-food tech startups in the international marketplace.
STIHL EA to invest Sh100 million to boost local manufacturing
Power tools manufacturer STIHL East Africa has announced it will invest Sh100 million in local accessories manufacturing every year as it seeks to localise its product development in the region.
Mobile app points Ugandan stakeholders to reliable fisheries data
Trained data collectors consult with fishers to update the easy-to-use app with data such as fish catch quantity, type of fishing nets and boats used, and how much money the fishers expect to earn.
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council appoints Elgon Kenya MD for advisory role
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, CWEIC, has selected agro input company Elgon Kenya as its strategic partner and appointed its Managing Director Dr. Bimal Kantaria to its global advisory council.
GRASP fellowship invests in African women researchers
The Kenyan women, and others selected for the GRASP Fellowship, are set to participate in a series of interventions, including leadership and mentoring training, designed to enable them to become more effective policy practitioners
Factor[e] Ventures launches a new venture studio to transform the African startup ecosystem
Delta40 focuses on technology-driven energy, agriculture, and mobility ventures led by diverse, experienced founders.
AI crop analysis platform Inarix raises €3.1m seed funding to help farmers determine quality and value of their crops
Inarix, the AI-powered crop analysis platform, announced a €3.1 million seed round from Ankaa ventures, Label Investment, Newfund, Alliance for impact and Resiliance.
Elgon Kenya partners with Ministry of Agriculture to reward young farmers
Agro input company Elgon Kenya has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to reward pupils and their teachers for participating in food production in a wider scheme that seeks to motivate school going children into farming.
[Interview] David Galadima, Founder, Graemoh Foods, Nigeria
Passionate about sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and food security in Africa, David Galadima is the Founder of fast growing agriculture and processing company, Graemoh Foods, operating out of the northern state of Kaduna, Nigeria.
Agritech startup IngredientWerks announces successful completion of seed round funding
IngredientWerks, an ag-tech ingredient company developing high value plant-based proteins for the alternative protein markets, announced it has secured its seed round of funding.
22 Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech finalists push to the finish
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, kicked off the final phase of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech.
Irish agritech startup Proveye secures €1m seed funding to accelerate growth
Irish agritech startup Proveye, a pioneer in remote sensing image analysis for agriculture, announced the closing of €1 million seed funding round to advance the company’s growth strategy.
Food Foundry accelerator announces fifth cohort of early-stage foodservice startups
Food Foundry, an accelerator program built by Relish Works and Gordon Food Service for early-stage startups disrupting the food and foodservice industry, announced the five startups that will join the fifth cohort starting in January 2023.
Agritech startup EarthOptics secures $27.6m Series B funding to advance data-driven agriculture through actionable soil insights
EarthOptics, a pioneer in soil measurement and insights, announced a $27.6 million round of funding led by Conti Ventures.
Terramera creates enrichAg to commercialize transformative soil analysis platform with $6m from At One Ventures
Terramera announced the formation of its new majority-owned subsidiary, enrichAg, which will focus on commercializing its soil enrichment platform. The seed round is led with a $6 million investment from AOV.
John Deere announces 2023 startup collaborators
Deere & Company has released the names of eight companies chosen for its 2023 Startup Collaborator program.
Nigerian agritech startup Releaf secures $3.3m pre-Series A funding, unveils new technologies to drive profitability for consumer goods manufacturers
Releaf, a Nigerian agritech startup, has raised $3.3 million in an oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round.
Kenya to host sixth edition of continental agriculture expo
Kenya will host the 6th edition of Africa Agri Expo in February 2023 , endorsed by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development aimed at bringing the entire agricultural value chain under one roof.
Mad Capital closes $4m seed round to finance the regenerative agriculture revolution
Mad Capital, an impact-focused lender that offers equitable, flexible funding for organic and transitioning farmers, announced it has raised a $4 million Seed round, led by Trailhead Capital.
AWARD selects 50 African women for fellowship on improving policy in the agri-food systems
Inspired by the flagship AWARD Fellowship Model, the Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, aims to grow a pool of confident and capable African women to lead policy changes to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods.
Agroforestry startup Propagate raises $10m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Propagate, a commercial agroforestry platform, has closed a $10 million Series A led by Belgium-based The Nest.
Kenya to host international poultry expo next year
Demand for poultry products is on the rise in Kenya driven by an emerging middle-class created in existing and new urban settlements as a result of devolution.
Kenyan agritech startup Stable Foods raises $600k funding to grow its climate smart smallholder platform
Stable Foods, a Kenyan agritech startup offering a host of solutions to small-scale farmers, has raised $600k funding round, to build out its climate smart smallholder food production platform.
ACRE Africa targets Kenyan farmers with climate smart insurance
Insurance can help cushion smallholder farmers from crop and financial losses that occur as a result of climate change, yet many are reluctant to invest in such schemes. But why?
Cooperative Ventures announces first investment in agritech startup Sabanto to improve sustainability
Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund formed by North America's agricultural cooperatives, announced its first investment in Sabanto, a hardware and software company.
Africa to take a common stand at COP 27
Aware of the lack of coordination between policymakers, scientists and negotiators to provide such evidence, the heads of states under the African Union decided in 2009 following COP15 that Africa should have one voice and negotiate as a block
Ghana women livestock owners boost animal health with vaccine project
The project has recruited two female vaccinators to vaccinate animals. These vaccinators are supported by 105 women ‘lead farmers’ or AHSPs, who aid in mobilizing other women and deliver vaccines to group members.
Project points East African women livestock holders to cost effective vaccines
To address these barriers faced by women in East Africa, and generate new evidence on how they can better benefit and participate in these systems, SheVax+ – a regional livestock vaccine initiative – was launched in 2019.
Ugandan agritech startup Inputi receives investment to boost inputs distribution
Ugandan agritech startup Inputi announced it received an investment funding to boost inputs distribution across the country.
Agri startup Yard Stick secures $225 million in USDA Grants for climate-smart agriculture
Yard Stick is commercializing a soil spectroscopy technology originally developed by Dr. Cristine Morgan, now the Chief Scientific Officer at The Soil Health Institute.
FNHIC launches to invest $2.5b in startups improving hunger and health outcomes through food
S2G Ventures, Food Systems for the Future and other partners launched the Food, Nutrition and Health Investor Coalition (FNHIC), a call to action to drive $2.5 billion in private investment.
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline raises $1.5m from Dutch investor Oikocredit
Ghanaian agritech startup Farmerline announced the second close of a Pre-Series A investment raise with an additional $1.5 million investment from Dutch social impact investor Oikocredit.
Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula appoints Michael Joseph as Board Chair
Former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph has been appointed as Board Chair of a Kenyan agricultural insurtech startup Pula.
India's fruits and vegetables platform Sahyadri Farms raises €40m growth capital to support smallholder farmers
India's integrated platform for fruits and vegetables Sahyadri Farms has raised €40 million growth capital from a group of impact-focused investors; Incofin, Korys, FMO and Proparco.
Industrial automation and agritech startup Agtonomy closes seed III funding round
Agtonomy, a cutting-edge software and service agritech startup, announced the successful closing of another round of funding for a total investment of $13.5 million.
Puna Bio startup raises $3.7m seed funding to restore soil health with desert microbes
Puna Bio announced $3.7 million in seed funding that will be used to commercially launch its first soybean seed treatment in Argentina that is cost competitive to existing biological solutions, expand field trials for wheat and corn.
[Startup Interview] Alfiya Kayumova, CEO and co-founder, Green Growth, USA
Green Growth is a US-based agritech startup that runs a software and hardware-based solution consisting of a set of sensors, combined in a single infrastructure.
Canadian startup Vive Crop Protection closes $26m funding round to accelerate its precision chemistry platform
Vive Crop Protection announced the close of $26 million Series C investment round, led by Emmertech with participation from the Cibus funds, and existing investors Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
BASF Venture Capital and Dutch-based Aqua-Spark invest in Sea6 Energy as part of Series B financing round
BASF Venture Capital, the corporate venture company of BASF SE, Germany, and Aqua-Spark, a Dutch investment fund focusing on the global aquaculture industry, are investing in Sea6 Energy as part of a Series B round.
Kenyan agritech startup IProcure secures $10.2m Series B funding to accelerate growth
iProcure, Africa’s tech and data-driven agricultural inputs supply company, announced the close of a $10.2 million Series B funding round that raised debt and equity from a diverse group of international investors.
South African agritech disruptor AgriKool drives down food costs for consumers, increases profits for farmers
AgriKool, a South African e-trading platform, is connecting agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the sale of products between retailers and farmers.
German manufacturer The Stihl Group enters Kenyan market
The subsidiary dubbed Stihl East Africa will be its Eastern Africa hub servicing countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi among others.
Agritech startup Lumo raises $2.1m to tackle the global water insecurity crisis
Lumo, a new agritech company focused on water sustainability, announced it has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding and plans to allocate funds toward commercialization of its irrigation technology.
Uganda entrepreneurs bet on fish project to boost incomes
To help communities reduce their post-harvest losses and access a more reliable supply of processed fish products.
Alien Invasive Fruit Flies project comes to the rescue of Southern Africa mango farmers
In a bid to tame the voracious flies, the Alien Invasive Fruit Flies project in Southern Africa has come up with five technologies as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) package.
German agritech startup CROP.ZONE secures $11m equity funding to expand to new international markets
Aachen-based integrated weed management startup CROP.ZONE announced it has secured $11m equity funding from existing shareholders and new financial investors.
CerraCap Ventures invests in soil microbiome focused agritech startup Solena
CerraCap Ventures, a Global Venture Capital fund headquartered in Southern California, announced an investment in Solena AG, a soil microbiome startup helping farmers improve agricultural yields and optimize agrarian input costs.
Decarbon8 investment opportunity open for agritech innovation and decarbonization startups
The Decarbon8 Fund, an impact investment vehicle established by the E8 climate tech investing community and platform, announced a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for companies advancing regenerative agriculture solutions.
Nelson Maina: Betting on agriculture for economic transformation in Kenya
The gathering of experts drawn across the divide came amidst rising concerns over escalating costs in both production and consumer goods, an environment that doesn’t favour food security.
Crop tech startup moa raises $44m Series B financing to progress new generation of safe and sustainable crop protection products
moa Technology, the crop protection discovery company that is revolutionizing the future of weed control in agriculture, announced it has secured $44 million in Series B financing.
Irish agritech startup CropSafe raises $3m seed funding to support farmers globally, opens U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles
Irish agritech startup CropSafe, a platform revolutionizing the future of farming, announced it raised over $3 million in seed funding and have opened U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles.
Nelson Maina: Taming fertilizer prices to boost food security in Kenya
Kenya’s cost of living has hit unprecedented highs with prices of basic commodities being out of reach for many citizens.
Israeli agritech startup Seed-X partners with Advanta Seeds to improve seed lot quality
Seed-X, an innovative AI-driven Agritech company, and Advanta Seeds, a UPL group company, are joining forces to apply new technology in seed processing.
Kenyan farmer finds fortunes in herbs farming
The herbs and spices farming has captured international markets while creating a new age farming renaissance in an area that has traditionally been synonymous with farming of traditional low yielding crops.
Solana-based DeFi startup Delta One raises $9.1m to build 'set-and-forget' yield farming protocol
Delta One, a Solana-based DeFi protocol, announced it raised $9.1 million seed round led by Alameda Research and Ship Capital, with participation from Solana Ventures.
What Africa requires to attain sustainable and effective food systems
A variety of factors constrain those who are reliant on farming for their livelihoods – particularly smallholders, including women and youth – from stepping up or stepping in to agriculture.
French insect farming startup Ÿnsect acquires Nebraska-based Jord Producers to open first mealworm farm in the US
Jord Producers, based in Nebraska, has been incorporated into Ÿnsect’s production portfolio, signifying the global leader’s entry into North American mealworm production.
Soil water sensors, detectors to the rescue of Mozambique farmers
More than 3 million smallholder farmers contribute 95% of Mozambique’s agricultural production.
Achieving inclusive cocoa and palm oil commercialization in West Africa
Abugre also noted that questions remain with regards to the future of cocoa production given global price trends, climate change, farmers stepping into the sector, and income distribution effects at the local level.
Gender and social dynamics in smallholder groundnuts commercialisation in Southern Africa
Following these insights, expert commentator Kezia Batisai, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg, highlighted key shifts required to support agricultural transformation in the region.
Agribusiness e-Commerce startup Agrizon receives investment to expand operations in Latin America
Agrizon, a specialized cross-border e-Commerce company that connects and delivers worldwide brands of ag inputs to farmers and businesses, has received investment from Latin Leap Venture Capital Studio to expand operations in Latin America.
Solar-powered robotics startup Aigen raises $4m seed round to accelerate growth
Aigen, a company developing a scalable, solar-powered robotics platform for agriculture and soil regeneration, raised a $4 million seed round led by NEA with participation from AgFunder, Global Founders Capital, and ReGen Ventures.
Israeli agritech startup Greeneye Technology raises $22 million funding to grow its offerings
Greeneye has developed proprietary AI-enabled precision spraying technology that enables farmers to seamlessly transition from this hugely inefficient practice to precise application of herbicides and other chemicals.
African scientists make a case for home grown research on continent’s food systems
A storytelling event organized by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), saw four accomplished African researchers working on agriculture and food security share their personal journeys in agricultural research, and discuss how they are working to transform farming on the continent.
The University of Nairobi and Elgon Kenya to develop agriculture technology and innovation centre
The agriculture sector in Kenya has received a major boost following a partnership between two leading institutions to set up a technology and innovation centre, the first of its kind in East Africa.
Kenyan smallholder farmers insulated from weather vagaries by picture-based insurance
A climate-smart crop insurance scheme introduced in Kenya has come to their rescue by combining satellite data and smartphone imagery to provide farmers with much needed protection.
Biotech startup Tiamat Sciences raises $3m to manufacture plant-based biomolecules
Biotechnology startup Tiamat Sciences announced its $3 million seed financing round led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm True Ventures with participation from Social Impact Capital and Cantos.
Agritech startup FarmSense receives $2.2m SBIR funding for development of biosecurity measures against native and invasive pests
FarmSense, the agritech startup and creator of Smart Flight Sensors, announced it has been awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds in the amount of more than $2.2 million.
Kigali-based agriculture startup AflaSight, partners launch innovative projects to improve maize quality in Rwanda
The World Food Programme, IFC, Kigali-based agriculture startup AflaSight, and research firm Vanguard Economics launched innovative projects to help farmers and grain traders reduce the prevalence of aflatoxins in crops and grains in Rwanda.
GROWMARK and CHS launch Cooperative Ventures to drive technology advancements for agritech startups
GROWMARK and CHS announced the formation of Cooperative Ventures, a new capital fund that will focus on creating advancements in breakthrough technologies for the agriculture industry.
GrowMark and CHS unveil a new capital fund targeted at agtech startups
Agricultural cooperative firm GrowMark and global agribusiness company CHS have announced the formation of Cooperative Ventures, a new capital fund that will focus on creating advancements in breakthrough technologies for the agriculture industry.
Kenyan entrepreneurs reap returns from rearing insects for feeds
Aware of this fact, the Insect Feed for Poultry, Fish and Pig Production (INSFEED) project has been exploring the use of insects, such as black soldier flies (BSF) and crickets, within animal feeds.
Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
DeHaat, the technology-based platform offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers in India, announced it has raised $115 million in Series D funding, led by Belgium based investment firm Sofina and Lightrock India.
North Carolina's SAS and Pappas Capital partner to propel agritech startups with analytics
Two North Carolina companies, analytics leader SAS and venture investment firm Pappas Capital, are joining forces to help advance the state as a global leader in agricultural technology.
Start-Up Nation Central signs MoU with TiE to boost technological innovation of Israeli and Indian startups
Israeli not-for-profit Start-Up Nation Central signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TiE to achieve full implementation of sustainable Israeli and Indian technologies in the foodtech sector.
Canadian precision-farming startup Semios raises $100m in capital to expand agtech platform globally
Semios, a precision-farming platform and one of the world's largest independent agtech solutions providers, announced it has raised $100 million in funding led by Morningside Group, a Boston-based private equity and venture capital firm.
Industrial automation startup Agtonomy launches out of stealth to address farm labor crisis with $4m seed round
Agtonomy, a hybrid autonomy and tele-assist service platform, launched out of stealth and announced a $4 million seed round from Grit Ventures, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Village Global.
Nigerian agritech startup Releaf secures $4.2m funding to drive industrialisation of food processing in Africa
Nigeria's agritech startup Releaf, which develops proprietary hardware and software solutions to industrialize food processing, raised $2.7 million in seed funding and grants.
Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Bartolotta, further expands in Eastern US and Canada
Food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Bartolotta, a full-service provider of fresh fruits and vegetables to customers in New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Canada.
Agricorp raises $17.5 million to become the largest spices export startup in Africa
Agricorp International, Nigerian based spices producing, processing, and exporting company has raised $17.5 million in Series A funding to increase its processing capacity up to 7000 metric tonnes.
Jiddu acquires CerraCap Ventures portfolio company Nirveda Cognition
CerraCap Ventures, a Global Venture Capital fund, announced acquisition of its portfolio company Nirveda Cognition by Jiddu Inc for an all-stock deal. The transaction is one of a slew of recent exits from CerraCap's investment fund.
John Deere acquires agritech startup Bear Flag Robotics to accelerate autonomous technology on the farm
Deere & Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire agritech startup Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million. Founded in 2017, the Silicon Valley-based startup develops autonomous driving technology compatible with existing machines.
UN announces 50 best small business winners providing “Good Food for All”
Fifty small- and medium-sized enterprises around the world have been announced as the Best Small Businesses of the “Good Food for All” competition, held in conjunction with the UN Food Systems Summit.
Oxford Foundry partners with FMDQ Private Markets to accelerate Nigeria’s startup ecosystem
Oxford Foundry and FMDQ Private Markets have launched a global partnership to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
Agritech startup Adaviv raises $2.3m seed round to scale its AI-driven plant intelligence platform for indoor farming
Adaviv, a cultivation technology company surfacing actionable insights for Controlled Environment Agriculture, announced the raise of $2.3 million in an oversubscribed Series Seed financing led by Delta Emerald Ventures.
Agritech startup GrowFlux selected to join Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator program
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator, a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, has selected GrowFlux and four other startups to participate in the program's ninth cohort.
Forum advocates for collaboration to strengthen African food systems
Speaking during the Alliance for a Green Revoluton in Africa (AGRA) organized Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit, speakers reiterated that food security cannot be achieved without a gvernment facilitated enabling environemnt for agribusiness to thrive.
Ghanaian agribusiness startup Green Gold Farms raises $1.6 million to tackle food import challenge
Green Gold Farms is tackling the problems of poverty, lack of economic opportunity, and malnutrition and related illnesses in Northern Ghana through large-scale agricultural production.
AI startup LLENA (AI) partners with Southern University to support (USDA/NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
LLENA (AI) Health Solutions, announced a partnership with Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to support their "Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life" initiative to address diet-related health disparities.
Farmtech startup Iron Ox hires first CFO, Head of Marketing as company prepares for growth
Iron Ox, a farming innovation company with deep expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence, hired its first Chief Financial Officer and its first Head of Marketing as the company accelerates growth and expands its commercial footprint.
Nigeria agritech startup Thrive Agric targets 50,000 farmers with new project
A natural partner for the Trade Hub, Thrive Agric has already helped over 140,000 farmers in Nigeria increase their capacities to meet supply, quality, and food safety standards required by domestic and export markets.
Rgenta Therapeutics closes $18m seed extension round
Rgenta Therapeutics announced it closed a $18 million seed extension round and welcomed Lilly Asia Venture (LAV) and Vivo Capital as new investors to the syndicate.
Base10 Partners raises advancement initiative to grow HBCU endowments and catalyze wealth creation
Building on their VC Diversity Pledge, Base10 Partners announced the raise of a new $250 million fund with the mission of aligning the success of technology companies with wealth creation for underrepresented minorities.
South African biotech startup LifeQ secures $47m in Series A funding
South Africa and US-based biotech startup LifeQ secured $47 million in Series A funding from One Bio Venture Studio, a Cape Town-based VC and several other investors.
AI startup Bodbox's workout device goes global
AI startup company Bodbox officially opened doors to a limited pre-sale of its American made Mark3 to notable success, selling to everyone from national governing bodies of sport to NBA teams, and is slated for a September 2021 public release.
Networking startup Linq completes $2.5m seed round fundraise to accelerate growth
Linq, a networking tech startup, announced the successful completion of a $2.5 million seed round fundraise led by Mucker Capital. The investment will largely be used to grow the Linq team.
The UN Food Systems Best Small Business competition: Startups time to shine
Small businesses around the world that help provide healthy food that is good for the environment, good for their communities and create jobs for people locally are being invited to share ideas and suggestions for how their countries and economies can maximize their positive impact.
The nexus between gender-responsive research and agricultural productivity in Africa
Smallholder farmers across Africa are looking to science to boost farm productivity and to tackle emerging threats, partiuclarly with regards to climate change and pandemics as demonstrated by COVID-19, the report further noted.
Manufacturing AI startup ExLattice joins NVIDIA Inception
ExLattice announced it has joined NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to nurture startups revolutionizing industries with advancements in AI and data sciences.
Aussie legaltech startup goes global wiith COVID-19 diagnosis tool
Australian legaltech startup Rulestar is demonstrating how its software, built to automate complex legal documents, can improve COVID-19 decision-making.
Mobility startup Beep secures $20m Series A investment for expansion
Beep, a provider of multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility solutions, announced today that it has recently closed the company's Series-A round with Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital.
AI-driven SaaS startup Provus closes $1.16m in funding from angel investors
Provus Inc., a Services Configure Price Quote (CPQ) solution company, announced it has closed a $1.16 million in financing from a number of renowned angel investors.
Wearable devices for brain analysis startup MindPortal raises 5m seed round financing
MindPortal, the creators of the next personal computer that is a wearable non-invasive brain-computer interface, announced the completion of a $5 million seed round of financing.
Israeli healthcare startup Lydus Medical raises $2.7m in seed round funding
Lydus Medical, a portfolio company of Sanara Ventures, a JV of Teva and Philips and an anastomosis technology provider, announced $2.7 million in a Pre-A funding.
Predictive analytics startup Gridware raises $5.3m seed round to curb catastrophic wildfires
Predictive analytics startup Gridware announced a $5.3 million seed round investment co-led by Fifty Years and True Ventures, with participation from Y-Combinator.
Andrew Gilroy joins IGA startup SecurEnds as Director of Strategic Accounts
Andrew Gilroy joined IGA startup SecurEnds as the Director of Strategic Accounts. He brings over 10 years of startup sales experience and 7 years of Governance & Compliance specific expertise to his new role at SecurEnds.
South Korean AI startup Riiid raises $175m from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 to accelerate growth
Riiid Inc (Riiid), an AI education company and a member of Born2Global Centre, has raised $175 million investment from SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
Canadian startup OpenUnit closes $1m seed round for expansion
OpenUnit, a Y Combinator-backed all-in-one commerce platform for self-storage facilities, announced that it has raised a $1 million seed investment round with participation from luminaries in the real estate and technology industries.
Chinese AI robotics startup Mech-Mind completes Series C funding
Chinese AI industrial robotics startup, Mech-Mind Robotics (Mech-Mind), completed Series C funding led by tech giant Meituan, bringing Mech-Mind's total funding to over $100 million, making Mech-Mind one of the world's most funded AI+ industrial robotics startups.
Synchrony commits $15m to early stage Black, Latinx and female venture capital funds
Synchrony, a consumer financial services company announced it will commit $15 million to venture capital funds led by Black, Latinx, and female investing partners.
Techstars joins Cleantech.org $100,000 GS Beyond Energy Innovation Challenge
Cleantech.org and Techstars announced that Techstars is joining the Cleantech.org GS Beyond Energy Innovation Challenge as an Accelerator Partner.
Blu Venture Investors launches $25m BVI Cyber Fund for Series A growth cybersecurity companies
Blu Venture Investors, a primary source venture capital firm, announced the launch of the BVI Cyber Fund, a $25 million fund targeted at Series A growth companies in cybersecurity.
Proptech startup zavvie taps new $1.75m inside round
PropTech startup zavvie, the first complete agent-centric brokerage selling solutions platform and marketplace, announced the completion of a $1.75 million inside round from existing investors,
Panther raises $2.5m to help businesses hire and pay employees in 160+ countries
Panther Global, which helps businesses hire and manage a global workforce in 160+ countries, announced the raise of $2.5 million in seed funding to expand, hire more internal talent, and continue to provide hiring and payroll support for businesses.
B2B insurtech startup Boost raises $20m Series B to enhance insurance market accessibility
Boost Insurance, the B2B digital insurance platform, announced the completion of a $20 million Series B financing round to fuel growth of its platform, new product development and partner marketing.
Fintech startup TiiCKER brings MarketWatch, CNBC, Benzinga and others to individual investors
TiiCKER, a Detroit-based fintech startup that engages, verifies and rewards retail investors through stock perks unveiled an aggregated news feature to its platform.
Venture builder Satgana launches first portfolio startup in Kenya, Mazi Mobility
After its launch in September last year, venture builder Satgana has announced its first portfolio startup from Nairobi, Kenya, Mazi Mobility, to address the issues faced by the public transport industry in the Global South by electrifying the motorcycle industry.
Pangea announces $3m scale-up program for locally funded Kenyan startups
Norwegian-based accelerator Pangea has unveiled a scale-up program offering private funding of up to $3 million and business support to enable locally funded Kenyan startups accelerate their enterprises to the next level.
AlphaCode announces four startups taking part in the second phase of its incubate programme in South Africa
AlphaCode has announced the four fintech startups that will be part of the second phase of the AlphaCode Incubate programme.
South African fintech startup Ukheshe expands into Asia-Pacific region
South African fintech startup Ukheshe Technologies announced it will be expanding its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region as it introduces innovative digital-first payment solutions.
Five women-led tech startups awarded $10k funding by Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator in Kenya
The Standard Chartered Bank has awarded 5 women-led businesses with KES 1,000,000 each. The businesses were picked from the 4th cohort of the Standard Chartered Bank Women in Tech incubation program.
Data integration startup Merge raises $4.5m seed round to accelerate growth
Merge, the San Francisco and New York City-based API company which seeks to transform how B2B companies think about customer-facing integrations, announced the close of a $4.5 million seed funding round.
University of Michigan's Desai Accelerator invests in four startups to launch 2021 cohort
The Desai Accelerator, a University of Michigan accelerator open to early-stage alumni startups, announced the four companies accepted into its 2021 cohort.
Cybersecurity startup ActZero announces platform enhancement, alliance with CrowdStrike to accelerate managed detection
ActZero, a cybersecurity startup whose mission is to democratize cybersecurity for small and mid-size businesses, announced a major enhancement of its AI-driven managed detection and response (MDR) platform.
Creator economy startup Koji launches Shoutout, personalized video requests for everyone
Koji, the Link in Bio tool for the Creator Economy, announced the launch of its newest Link in Bio feature, Shoutout. Available now in the Koji App Store, Shoutout offers Creators an opportunity to sell personalized videos to their followers.
Data automation startup Syncari raises $17.3m Series A to automate cloud data management
Syncari, the company behind the world's first no-code data automation platform, closed $17.3 million in Series A funding. Crosslink Capital led the round, with participation by seed-round investors ANIMO, NextGen Venture Partners, SignalFire, and Dig Ventures
Creator platform Fanbase attracts high-profile artists and creators, expands into three new territories
Fanbase, the subscription-based social platform that empowers creators to monetize their content and grow their fanbase, is on the verge of closing its seed round, already raising $3.1 million dollars on StartEngine.
Tech enabled startup investment firm Lieef closes seed round to accelerate growth
Lieef, a startup investment firm focused on sustainability, has officially closed its seed round. The proceeds will be used to scale the firm's operations and hire additional investment professionals.
Plug and Play Canada selects 12 startups to participate in Toronto Supply Chain and Logistics Program
Plug and Play Canada announced the selection of 12 startups into the first batch of the Toronto Supply Chain & Logistics Program.
U.S., Taiwanese AI startup Aesop Technology partner to improve patient safety
Researchers at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Taipei Medical University, and Aesop Technology, a Taiwan-based startup, announced the results of a new joint study into the international transferability of machine learning.
Canadian startup Agnostiq secures $2m seed round to further develop SaaS-based quantum solutions
Agnostiq, Inc., the quantum computing SaaS startup, has raised $2 million in seed funding to support the continued development of its software platform.
Huobi Group launches Huobi Ventures with $100m for early stage DeFi investments, mergers and acquisitions
Blockchain company Huobi Group announced the launch of Huobi Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on growing Huobi's venture investment portfolio and supporting innovative blockchain projects through long-term investment strategies.
Consumer warranty startup Upsie secures $18.2m Series A round to accelerate growth
Upsie, a consumer-centric platform for purchasing product warranties, announced it has raised a $18.2 million fundraising round led by True Ventures.
Silicon Valley startup ArmorCode emerges from Stealth with $3m in seed funding to redefine application security
ArmorCode, the Silicon Valley startup delivering application security at the speed of DevOps, has secured $3 million in seed financing led by Sierra Ventures with participation from Tau Ventures and Z5 Capital and individual investors.
Consumer technology startup Allstar raises $3.85m to democratize gaming content
Allstar, a consumer technology startup focused on democratizing the creation of gaming content, announced a $3.85 million seed round led by members of New York Angels.
On-demand delivery management startup Cartwheel raises $1m seed round to accelerate growth
Cartwheel, an on-demand delivery management platform for restaurants and retailers, announced it has raised a $1 million seed round led by TenOneTen Ventures with participation from Act One Ventures and Portillo's Hot Dogs,
Israeli AI-powered identity and security management startup Authomize secures $16m to accelerate growth
Authomize, the Identity and Security Management Platform (IDSM), announced the close of $16 million in Series A funding. Innovation Endeavors led the round with participation from return investors Blumberg Capital, Entree Capital and M12.
Blockchain startup Candela Coin creates first consumer-facing transactive solar energy system
Blockchain startup Candela Coin has created the first consumer-facing transactive solar energy system. Candela Coin is a cryptocurrency that allows holders to take part in the first ever decentralized blockchain based peer-to-peer transactive solar energy system.
Creator economy startup Koji launches Photo Guestbook, a customizable photo booth for your Link in Bio
Koji, the Link in Bio tool for the Creator economy, announced the launch of its newest Link in Bio feature the Photo Guestbook. The new feature allows Creators to customize a UGC photo booth that can be used for any occasion.
Treasury Prime raises $20m in insider round
Treasury Prime, the Banking as a Service (BaaS) company, announced it has completed a $20 million Series B insider round co-led by Deciens Capital and QED Investors and with participation from SaaStr Fund, and Susa Ventures.
Alternative VC firm Chisos launches public Reg CF crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder
Chisos Capital, the investing firm for early-stage entrepreneurs, announced the launch of a public Reg. CF crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder.
HONK supports insurance startup Branch with digitally-driven roadside assistance solutions
HONK Technologies, the digital platform connecting drivers and towing professionals, announced it is supporting Branch, the startup that pioneered bundling home and auto insurance online.
Travel blockchain startup travelBloc.ai files CO2 & flight safety patents
Silicon Valley travel blockchain startup travelBloc.ai reinventing travel solutions for today's tech savvy traveler, leveraging AI & Blockchain based innovation that will disrupt status quo and improve the traveler experience.
Venture capital firm TampaBay.Ventures launches $20m seed fund to support regional tech startups
New venture capital firm TampaBay.Ventures, has launched its first $20 million seed fund in order to support the growing tech scene in the Tampa Bay region.
Hearable tech startup Noopl launches directional hearing device to enhance hearing in loud environments
Tech startup Noopl announced the availability of its acclaimed iPhone compatible directional hearing device to enhance hearing in loud environments to U.S. consumers.
Marketing AI Institute closes $1m seed round, appoints new Chief Growth Officer
Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute has appointed Cathy McPhillips to Chief Growth Officer, and announced the closing of a $1 million seed round to accelerate understanding and adoption of artificial intelligence across the marketing industry.
Loan infrastructure startup Spinwheel raise $11m to better manage, pay consumer debt
Spinwheel, the platform that lets companies embed consumer debt solutions in their applications, disclosed fundraising of $11 million led by QED Investors with participation from Core Innovation Capital, Fika Ventures, and Firebolt Ventures.
Chinese biopharma startup Alebund Pharmaceuticals raises $60m in Series B financing round
Alebund Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for the treatment of renal diseases and related chronic conditions, announced the raise of $60 million in its Series B financing round.
AI-powered fintech startup Expend announces impressive start to crowdfunding campaign
Expend, the AI-powered fintech startup changing the way businesses manage expenses and spending, announced a great start to its crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs.
Robotics startup ViaBot announces public launch with $6.1m in funding
ViaBot, a robotics startup bringing maintenance and management automation to large properties, announced its public launch with $6.1 million in funding.
UN launches hunt for startups and enterprises changing the face of food systems
The UN Food Systems Summit has announced a competition to identify the best small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the world who are transforming food systems for a better tomorrow.
Rice sector players set for conference on boosting research and inclusivity
Rice sector players in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are set to lead discussions on accelerating progress in rice research & development, inclusive markets & value chains.
Danish startup MATE accelerates e-Bike expansion with new funding from Marcy Venture Partners
The Danish design startup MATE announced a new investment from Marcy Venture Partners to accelerate the future of smart transportation, with the global aim for the world to go greener via a new, smarter, more flexible, and flashy form of transportation.
Revere VC raises $1.35 m seed round to give venture capital its vanguard moment
Revere VC, a San Francisco and Hong Kong based asset management firm, announced the launch of its flagship products and services; "The Portal,' a curated VC platform, and its inaugural fund strategy, 'The Prime Access Fund.'
Quantum drug discovery startup PolarisQB hires pharmacologist Ian Reynolds as Advisor
Quantum drug discovery startup Polarisqb has hired Dr. Ian Reynolds, a world renowned expert in pharmacology, as an Advisor to the company.
Mental health biotech startup Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals closes $27m Series A round
Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals, a mental health science focused biotechnology company utilizing psychedelic-related medicines for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, today announced the closing of a $27 million Series A round of funding.
Mastercard Start Path selects Tippy to grow fintech solution for service industry professionals
Tippy, the digital tipping platform, announced it has been selected to join Mastercard Start Path, an award-winning program for fintech innovators.
MentalHappy startup closes $1.1m seed round to expand worldwide expert-led peer support groups
MentalHappy, an online mental health platform designed to help individuals improve their emotional wellbeing through positive peer support, announced the close of a $1.1 million seed funding round.
FarmTogether, Backstage Capital join forces to generate grater access to diverse farmland investments
FarmTogether, the technology-enabled investment platform democratizing access to farmland, announced a partnership with Backstage Capital, an investment firm focused on startups founded by people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.
The Batchery introduces next wave of innovative startups in Berkeley, California
The Batchery announced its 12th Demo Day featuring eleven early-stage startups from the Berkeley-based incubator's intensive Deep Dive program.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara selected for Japan-led Ninja Accelerator programme
Digital banking platform and fintech company Kwara has been selected for the first cohort of the Ninja Accelerator programme in Kenya.
Kenyan insurtech startup Lami Technologies raises $1.8m in seed funding
Lami Technologies, a Kenyan insurance technology (insurtech) company that aims to democratize insurance products and services for low-income Kenyans, has raised $1.8 million in seed funding.
[Startup Interview] Marvin Akankwasa, CEO, Social Lend Africa, Uganda
Social Lend Africa is a Uganda-based financial technology company that facilitates transactions between micro-lenders and small business owners on its web and mobile app
DBSA launches second edition of the Youth Challenge in South Africa
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), launched the second edition of the DBSA Youth Challenge, a competition aimed at harnessing innovative solutions from young people in South Africa to help address infrastructure challenges.
Deathcare startup Parting Stone closes $1.3m in funding round to accelerate growth
Parting Stone, the deathcare startup solving the uncomfortable experience of dealing with cremated remains, announced the close of a $1.3 million seed-plus capital raise.
Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Vaccaro & Sons to expand to St. Louis, Missouri
San Francisco-based food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Vaccaro & Sons in St. Louis, Missouri.
Asset management startup JupiterOne raises $30m Series B funding to accelerate growth
JupiterOne, the provider of cyber asset management and governance solutions, announced a $30-million Series B funding round led by Sapphire Ventures to support the company's rapid growth in revenue, customers, and employees.
Untapped Ventures joins Global Startup Studio Network to help people self-actualize at work
Untapped Ventures (Untapped) announced it has been accepted in the exclusive Global Startup Studio Network (GSSN) community.
West Africa's Uhuru Investment Partners closes growth fund at $113m with capital support from CDC
Uhuru Investment Partners (Uhuru), a middle-market private equity firm based out of Lagos and Abidjan, announced the first close of Uhuru Growth Fund I (UGF) at $113 million, with capital support from CDC Group.
Atlanta-based startup Outsource Monetic commences commercial and technical operations in West and Central Africa
Outsource Monetic™, an Atlanta GA based startup, officially started its commercial and technical operations in West and Central Africa regions.
Mastercard invests in Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha Global
Mastercard announced a new investment in Rwandan female-focused e-Commerce platform Kasha Global, to continue shared efforts to ensure women across emerging markets have essential access to health.
VISO Trust raises $3m to deliver automated third party cyber due diligence at the speed of business
VISO Trust announced it has raised $3 million in seed funding to automate third party cyber due diligence with an AI-driven social due diligence network.
interviewIA secures $2m seed round to expand HR tech product offerings
interviewIA, a technology platform that manages all aspects of the job interview workflow to enable the coexistence of equitable and efficient hiring, has raised $2 million in its seed round.
Fortú launches Latino digital bank, raises $5m led by Valar Ventures
Fortú announced the launch of its digital bank account focused on Latino and Hispanic U.S. residents who remain underserved by the "one size fits all" approach of traditional financial institutions.
Hashflow raises $3.2m seed round to bring professional market makers to DeFi
Hashflow, a decentralized exchange connecting DeFi traders with top crypto market makers, closed a seed funding round of $3.2 million from leading venture capital firms and angel investors.
Dutch impact investment firm Goodwell Investments launches €50 million fund to support African SMEs
Goodwell V will build a new portfolio of companies across various sectors in Africa: at least a third will be invested in financial inclusion, a quarter in agriculture, and the remainder in mobility and other impact sectors such as education and healthcare.
UN targets startups transforming food systems in new competition
The UN Food Systems Summit has announced a competition to identify the best small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the world who are transforming food systems for a better tomorrow.
Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation launch $2 million AgriTech competition for African entrepreneurs
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech is a $2 million global competition for innovative solutions to increase economic value to farmers, from seed to sale.
Insurtech startup OKO raises $1.2m to bring innovative insurance to smallholder farmers across Africa
OKO, an insurtech startup that provides inclusive agricultural insurance to secure farmers’ income across Africa, closed a seed investment round of $1.2 million, led by Newfund and ResiliAnce.
SWARM Engineering startup raises $2.7m in seed funding led by S2G Ventures and Serra Ventures
SWARM Engineering, the next generation of cognitive software for the food supply chain, announced it closed funding for a $2.7 million seed round.
Grow-NY startup business competition kicks off year 3
The application window for the 2021 Grow-NY million-dollar top prize business competition is now open for submissions. Grow-NY, a unique initiative which connects innovators and investors in the food, beverage and agriculture.
Zimbabwe agritech startup Farmhut secures investment to scale operations
Zimbabwe agritech startup Farmhut has received $US100 000 investment from the Hult Prize Foundation. This follows through the Hult Prize accelerator program of the 2020 cohort.
Texas-based Precision Livestock Technologies completes $600K seed round on Harvest Returns agriculture crowdfunding platform
Harvest Returns announced that Dallas, Texas-based Precision Livestock Technologies has successfully completed a seed round raise totaling $600,000 on the Harvest Returns agriculture crowdfunding platform.
Investing in mentorship to inspire women in agribusiness
Jolenta Joseph, a Tanzania entrepreneur has built her business tackling malnutrition, an endemic problem in Tanzania, thanks in part to the support she has received since winning the 2020 SUN Pitch Competition.
BioPhero startup raises $17m Series A for sustainable pest control
BioPhero, the insect pheromone company, announced it has raised $17 million in Series A funding led by DCVC Bio with participation from new investor FMC Ventures, as well as existing investors Syngenta Group Ventures and Novo Holdings.
Western Kenya farmers cash in on traditional vegetables
Western Kenya have found new fortunes by investing in the cultivation, consumption, preservation and sale of traditional vegetables and seeds.
Union Bank of Nigeria to support startups through UnionX Innovation Challenge
Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, has unveiled the 2021 UnionX Innovation Challenge, as part of efforts to support young startups and boost innovation in the startup ecosystem.
Lux Research names top food and agriculture startups of 2020
In recent years, the majority of growth in the food and beverage industry has gone to companies outside the top 20 players, with smaller and more agile brands capitalizing on the demand for personalized products.
From grass to cash: Harnessing the power of climate smart forage grasses in Western Kenya
Kenyan researchers have been working with farmers in Western Kenya to test new varieties of fodder grasses known to have higher protein, low fiber and are fast maturing.
Kenyan young agripreneurs reel under impacts of COVID-19
Kenyan agribusiness enterprises run by young people experienced a 48 per cent failure rate last year at the height of the novel corona virus a new study has shown.
Kenyan organics recycling startup Sanergy receives funding to scale operations regionally
With AXA IM Alts’s support, Sanergy would be well-positioned to scale its operations in Kenya and across the region.
One Planet Fellowship: Investing in the next generation of African scientists
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) has announced that the call for third cohort of the One Planet Fellowship is now open as it seeks to invest in the next generation of African scientists.
John Deere adds new companies to its 2021 Startup Collaborator program
John Deere & Company announced the companies that will be part of the 2021 cohort of the Startup Collaborator program.
Agritech startup Bear Flag Robotics raises $7.9m seed extension round
Bear Flag Robotics announced a $7.9 million seed extension funding round led by True Ventures. The Silicon Valley-based agritech company is developing autonomous technology for farm tractors, which enables growers to increase productivity.
CropIn raises $20 million funding to deepen machine learning application in agriculture
CropIn, a global artificial intelligence and data-led agri-tech organization empowering stakeholders to reimagine agriculture with data, has raised $20 million in a Series C funding.
South Africa agritech startup Aerobotics raises funds for global expansion
FMO and Cathay AfricInvest Innovation have invested in Aerobotics, a South African AgriTech startup developing intelligent tools to the feed the world.
AgTech startup SeeTree raises $30 million funding to expand into new crops
SeeTree, an AI-powered, end-to-end service that provides growers with intelligence on trees and tree clusters, has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by the International Finance Corporation
Flagship summit to support growth of digital agriculture start-ups in Africa
African entrepreneurs in digital agriculture will have new opportunities to secure support and investment as the African Green Revolution Forum takes on the AgriHack Talent project.
Peer-to-peer solar leasing startup Sun Exchange announces African expansion in Zimbabwe
South African peer-to-peer solar leasing startup Sun Exchange marked its official expansion into sub-Saharan Africa with the first of three crowdsales for a multiphase, 1.9 megawatt (MW) solar-plus-storage project for Nhimbe Fresh.
Kenyan agritech startup Farmers Pride raises $220k funding from Gray Matters Capital’s coLABS
US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital announced its funding in Kenya's agritech startup Farmers Pride, a one stop e-commerce platform that connects village level farmers to quality inputs, services and information.
Plug and Play partners with Evergy to foster new relationships, innovation in Topeka
Global innovation platform Plug and Play announced that Evergy will be a founding partner for its Topeka location, which is centered around animal health and agriculture technology
Nufarm, German agritech startup CROP.ZONE partner for alternative weed control across European markets
Australian crop protection and specialty seed company Nufarm and the German agritech startup CROP.ZONE have partnered to launch Nufarm's and CROP.ZONE's hybrid herbicide solutions across major European markets.
Rabobank unveils 45 food & agriculture startups selected for FoodBytes! Pitch 2020
Rabobank unveiled the 45 startups selected to participate in FoodBytes! Pitch 2020, its global food and ag startup discovery program that helps entrepreneurs scale their impact through mentorship and connections to corporate leaders and investors.
[Zambia] Good Nature Agro secures $2.1 million funding to scale production in legume value chains
Good Nature Agro, a Zambian company working from end-to-end within the specialised legume value chains, has closed Series A equity funding totaling $2.1 million.
S2G Ventures, CDPQ announce funding for startups in sustainable food business
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and S2G Ventures (S2G) have announced creation of a co-investment partnership that will target ventures that aim to make the food and agriculture industry more sustainable.
Cannabis cultivation software startup Trym closes $3.1m seed round to accelerate growth
Trym, a pioneering cannabis cultivation software company announced the completion of its $3.1 million seed funding round of financing to accelerate growth.
Airsmat raises $100,000 investment to deepen AI application in agriculture
AirSmat, a Nigeria-based Pan-African Software company, has received a boost of $100,000 from Zetogon as pre-seeding investment to help the organization on the journey to deliver world-class service in Africa.
Phytolon secures $4.1 million funding for natural food colour tech
Israel-based Phytolon, a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group Ltd has announced that it secured $4.1 million in funding for its fermentation-based technology for the production of plant-based food colours.
German urban farming startup Infarm raises $170m to grow urban vertical farming network in the world
Infarm, German urban farming network announced $170 million investment raised in the first close of a Series C funding round expected to reach $200 million.
Cellular agriculture startup Wildtype launches salmon in sushi restaurants
Cellular agriculture startup Wildtype has unveiled its latest cell-based salmon. This version is "sushi-grade" and crafted with the sushi industry's favorite raw salmon applications in mind.
Infarm announces $170 million financing to grow innovative urban farming model
Berlin urban farming network Infarm has announced $170 million investment raised in the first close of a Series C funding round expected to reach $200 million.
GreenTec invests in Cameroon digital farm startup Freshbag
GreenTec has announced its investment in Freshbag, an innovative digital Cameroon platform that connects farmers and vendors to ensure a fair and reliable food supply network.
West Africa's Miro Forestry raises $48 funding close led by CDC to combat climate crisis
CDC Group, the UK’s publicly owned impact investor announced a further $12 million commitment to Miro Forestry, a sustainable forestry and timber business with plantations in Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Tanzania startup tackles hidden hunger with bio fortified foods
An upsurge in cases of malnutrition among children in rural Tanzania, combined with the issue of poor markets for farmers, inspired Jolenta Joseph to venture into the nutrition business in 2017.
Irish agtech startup MagGrow raises €6m Series A round
Irish startup MagGrow, the agtech innovator that specialises in delivering crop protection products where they matter most while protecting the environment, has completed a €6m Series A round.
Kenyan women and youth agritech startups invited to apply for $100k FoodTech Africa accelerator
Kenyan youth and women-led agribusinesses have been awarded an opportunity to access $100,000 as investment for their companies through the FoodTech Africa accelerator.
US startup Atomo Coffee raises $9m to bring molecular coffee to the market
Seattle based startup Atomo Coffee announced it has closed an additional $9 million in Seed funding to bring its molecular coffee to market.
[Startup Interview] Tracy Mapfumo, CEO, Eny's Treats, Zimbabwe
Eny's Treats, a startup based in Zimbabwe, manufactures seed-based gluten free snacks that are topped up with natural and unrefined sweeteners for the upmarket urban health-conscious consumers. The startup’s CEO Tracy Mapfumo elaborates.
African startups win big at the 2020 SUN Pitch competition
The founder of Baby Grubz Nigeria, Oluwaseun Sangoleye, led Africa in winning this year’s 2020 SUN Pitch Competition.
Kenyan agritech startup Lentera, MCFI ink deal to provide satellite based crop analysis for Mauritian farmers
The Mauritius Chemical and Fertilizer Industry (MCFI), and Lentera Africa have signed a partnership that will see Lentera provide satellite-based crop health analysis and crop modelling services for Mauritian customers of MCFI.
Africa and Asia startups set to showcase innovations in nutrition pitch competition
Twelve African entrepreneurs are among 21 finalists in this year’s SUN Pitch Competition where entrepreneurs will pitch their innovative business ideas to address malnutrition.
Evonik invests in Chinese tech startup to support intelligent, healthier pig farming
Evonik’s venture capital arm has invested in SmartAHC, a Chinese technology startup that enables more intelligent and healthier pig farming.
Dutch startup PlantLab raises €20 million to grow its vertical farming technology
Dutch scale-up PlantLab has raised a first external investment of € 20 million from De Hoge Dennen Capital.
Healthy Maisha startup tackles nutrition gap in Tanzania
Neema Lugangira’s enterprise Healthy Maisha, meaning Healthy Life, operates in Tanzania’s commercial city of Dar es Salaam and seeks to bridge the nutrition gap, and iron deficiency in particular.
IFC helps boost clean tech startups in Egypt, enables farmers switch to solar
IFC is joining forces with the National Bank of Egypt and MSMEDA to strengthen the clean technology entrepreneurship sector and boost Egyptian farmers’ access to finance for solar irrigation.
Nigeria's FCMB, Passion Incubator partner to launch FCMB Agritech Epic Pitch 2020
Nigeria's First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has partnered with Passion Incubator, a Lagos-based early-stage incubator and accelerator that has invested in some Agritech startups, to launch the virtual edition of the FCMB Agritech Epic Pitch 2020.
Dutch agritech startup Connecterra lands €7.8m to accelerate industry digitization
Amsterdam based startup Connecterra, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) leader for the dairy sector has secured €7.8 million in a Series B funding round. The round adds new AgTech and industry insiders as investors in the Company.
Greenlight Biosciences secures $102 million financing to expand agriculture and life sciences applications research
GreenLight Biosciences has raised an oversubscribed $102 million round of funding from new and existing investors to rapidly expand production of its RNA products for agricultural and life sciences applications.
Naspers Foundry invests R100 million in South African agri-tech startup, Aerobotics
Naspers announced a R100 million investment in agritech business Aerobotics, through its early-stage business funding initiative Naspers Foundry. Aerobotics is a subscription-based artificial intelligence (AI) company that provides intelligent tools for the agricultural industry to manage its crops.
[Startup Interview] Dumisanie Mambiya, CEO, FADC, Malawi
Malawi-based Food & Agribusiness Development Company, FADC, is an agriculture startup that is working with horticulture and groundnut farmers to boost their earnings through offering an array of services.
[Startup Interview] Timi Oke, Founder, AgroEknor International, Nigeria
Timi Oke is the founder of AgroEknor International Limited in Nigeria that trades and exports processed agricultural products `agricultural products to clients in 9 different countries globally.
Six agritech startups selected for Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator programme
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator has selected six new participating startups focused on agriculture technology solutions to join the programme.
[Startup Interview] Yassir Ali, CEO, Hasania Foods, Nigeria
Hasania Foods Ltd, a startup in Nigeria is assisting farmers by adding value to a variety of agriculture products and introducing new ways of packaging foods. Yassir Ali the founder and CEO of the startup explains the model, the challenges and the plans to expand to West Africa.
Reinvestment Fund announces $3 million financing for agriculture startups
Reinvestment Fund is inviting applications for financial and technical assistance through the 2020 round of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Targeted Small Grants Program.
Nigeria agriculture startup Tomato Jos secures €3.9 million financing to bolster growth
Tomato Jos, an agro-processing company focused on the local production of high-quality tomato paste for the African market, has completed a €3.9 million Series A round.
Kenya's Apollo Agriculture secures $6 million funding to reach more farmers
Kenya’s agritech and financial services startup Apollo Agriculture has raised $6 million in Series A financing to bolster its resolve to empower small-scale farmers to maximize their profits.
Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator targets cleantech and agriculture startups in new round of funding
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) has accelerated its awards program to provide $900,000 to help cleantech and sustainable agriculture startups retain staff and stay on track.
[Startup Interview] Bridget Bello, CEO, Debmark Allied Farms, Nigeria
Debmark Allied Farms, a Nigerian agriculture and manufacturing startup runs innovative solutions meant to curb food wastage that continues to take a toll on household incomes and national economy.
[Startup Interview] Takudzwa Mlambo, CEO, Forestry & Citrus Research, Zimbabwe
Forestry & Citrus Research based in Harare Zimbabwe is an agro forestry research startup working with farmers in exploiting the potential of food and fruit trees through value addition with an eye on the export market.
[Startup Interview] Elton Greeve, CEO, EMG Agri Solutions, South Africa
EMG Agri Solutions, a South African startup offers business planning, management consulting, strategic management, and specialized project management for agri-businesses. The focus is on providing farmers and agri-businesses with specialist advisory solutions.
[Startup Interview] Grace Wanjiru, Director of Operations, Agricultural Solutions, Kenya
Agricultural Solutions Kenya has been working with rural communities and youth in the supply of agricultural machinery, biogas installations and training. It recently started a crowdfunding campaign to make available to farmers seed planters
France startup TOOPI Organics raises over 1 million euros to transform urine into biofertilizer
TOOPI Organics, a French startup specialized in the valuation of human urine for agriculture has raised over one million euros as part of its first capital round.
[Startup Interview] Mhlengi Ngcobo, CEO, CoffeMM, South Africa
CoffeeMM, a South African startup in the coffee business has been working with smallholder farmers in South Africa, Mozambique, Burundi and Zimbabwe to process their raw coffee for the retail market. Besides connecting them to international
[Startup Interview] Priscilla Musenge, Director, Prote-IN, Zambia
Inspired by the school of thought that holds that insects are the future of food, Priscilla Musenge runs a Zambia-based startup Prote-IN producing low cost, high quality protein alternatives from insects to make fish, chicken, pig feed, fertilizer as well as for human consumption.
Interviews.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo. Caroline joined Glovo in December 2022 from Swvl Kenya where she also served as the General Manager from December 2021. In this interview...read more here
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world to find their purpose. She has gained significant networking and communication...read more here
[Interview] Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSD Africa
Anne-Marie Chidzero is the Chief Investment Officer at the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) Investments. In this interview, she talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups...read more here
[Interview] James Kilpatrick, Chair, Gravitilab, UK
Gravitilab is a "Space as a Service" business providing research, testing and qualification facilities to space agencies, government, academia and commercial enterprises. The company’s Chair and Chief Finance Officer...read more here
[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
Woosper is a US-based digital advertising and marketing agency focused on creating experiences that help clients discover their place in the digital world. The CEO Ramanjeet Singh...read more here