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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.
Mobility startup NeXt unveils iFLY, a planet-friendly personal air vehicle for the masses
NeXt, an advanced air mobility startup unveiled iFLY, an all-new, all-electric vertical takeoff and landing personal air vehicle created for safe, convenient and planet-friendly transportation.
Seoul-based edtech startup Mathpresso secures $50 million in Series C funding
Seoul-based edtech startup Mathpresso announced it has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round last week, bringing the company's total funding to $105 million.
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.
Canadian space-tech startup SkyWatch partners with Wyvern to deliver next-gen earth observation data
SkyWatch Space Applications, a Waterloo-based space technology startup, signed an agreement to deliver data management capabilities to Wyvern, a commercial space data company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
STAGERIE startup launches first national online home staging marketplace
Stagerie has launched the first national online home staging consultation marketplace, connecting real estate agents, homeowners, and expert stagers.
Pittsburgh-based startup Moonstone Nutrition launches alkali citrate capsules for kidney health support
Moonstone Nutrition, a Pittsburgh-based startup, has added capsules to its kidney health product line. Moonstone's patented alkali citrate formula was created by top kidney doctors with ingredients known to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
NYC creator economy startup Pietra raises $15m to champion creators, streamline entrepreneurship
Pietra, the new platform that gives Creators the tools to bring an idea for a product line or brand to life from start to finish, today announced it has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round.
Boston-based startup Mombox acquires WellNested to provide full suite of postnatal care services
D2C postnatal care company, Mombox, announced its acquisition of WellNested, a Boston-based technology solution company designed to help new parents find and book quality and affordable postnatal care services.
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.
Food and beverage tech startup Botrista closes $10m Series A to make craft beverages accessible via robotic automation
Botrista Technology, a company revolutionizing the beverage industry with the Botrista DrinkBot, announced it has raised $10 million in a Series A funding.
Tokyo-based AI startup Attuned launches writer fellowship on Substack
Attuned, a Tokyo-based tech startup that uses psychology and AI to track intrinsic motivation and boost employee engagement, announced the launch of a global writing competition on digital newsletter-publishing platform Substack.
South African delivery startup Picup introduces premium driver network for businesses
South Africa's crowdsource delivery tech startup Picup has introduced a premium service aimed at businesses that require drivers to represent their brand.
Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators to accelerate startup-corporate partnerships
Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, today formally announced its Circle of Corporate Innovators, with its first members, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Sterling Bank, Access Bank and the VFD Group.
IFC supports early-stage technology startups in Central and Southeast Europe
Early-stage technology startups in Central and Southeast Europe will have improved access to finance, in the wake of an investment by IFC that aims to support the region's potential to foster technology development and application.
Female-founded wellness startup House of Wise raises $2m, launches full line of organic CBD products
New female-founded CBD brand House of Wise announced a $2 million seed funding round to improve the lives of women everywhere through community, content, and trustworthy CBD products.
Flats or Spikes startup raises more than $900K to scale next-generation running platform
Flats or Spikes raised more than $900K to revolutionize data capture and data science for distance runners on Cross Country, Track and Field, road racing, and professional endurance sports teams in a Pre-Seed round of financing.
Toronto-based multifamily proptech startup Yuhu launches in the US
Toronto-based multifamily proptech startup Yuhu announced a market entrance into the U.S. operations technology marketplace, offering their unique co-innovative property management software solution to owners and managers across the United States.
Neurotech startup Humm launches public beta for world's first consumer, learnable
humm, a neurotech company focused on helping people learn throughout their lives, launched a public beta for the world's first consumer, learnable - a noninvasive wearable that's clinically proven to improve your ability to learn.
Seattle based healthtech startup bttn. raises $1.5m to automate the future of medical supply
Healthtech startup bttn. closed a $1.5 million seed round from a group of technology and supply chain leaders.
GG4L acquires edtech startup Stackup
Global Grid for Learning (GG4L), announced the acquisition of Stackup, an edtech startup with a focus on learning outcomes in K-12 education.
Tech startup Drata raises $25m Series A to accelerate rapid growth of its security and compliance automation platform
Drata, a next-gen security and compliance automation company, announced $25 million in Series A funding led by GGV Capital. The new financing comes six months after the company's initial seed round and launch out of stealth.
Medtech startup Mon Health wins ECRI achievement award for technology innovation collaboration
ECRI, an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings, named Mon Health System of Morgantown, West Virginia, the winner of its 15th Health Devices Achievement Award.
Tech startup COSMO Technologies secures funding, announces new product launch
COSMO Technologies, a first-of-its-kind family technology design and manufacturing company, announced the closing of its Pre-Seed funding round.
Monetized social media startup fanbase to debut new short form video / music editor
Fanbase, the subscription-based social platform that empowers any user to monetize their content, unveiled plans to roll out a new, short form video and music editor function.
Cybersecurity startup Hive Pro secures $3m in seed funding
Silicon Valley-based Hive Pro, creator of Predictive Vulnerability Analytics (PVA), announced it has closed $3 million in seed financing led by Simpra Holdings.
B2B news wire startup Zenger raises $10m in Series Seed funding round
World's first digitally native wire service, Zenger News, announced it has closed a Series Seed round, raising $10 million. The investment is being used to enhance Zenger's propriety software and onboard an ever-growing number of news outlets.
TycoonInvest launches platform for general public to invest in startups and small businesses
TycoonInvest announced the launch of a platform for the general public to invest in startups and small businesses.
Israeli foodtech startup Better Juice raises $8m in seed funding
Israeli foodtech startup Better Juice, the first company to reduce all sugars from natural juices, announced it has raised $8 million in seed-round investment.
bp invests $7m in electric vehicle charging startup IoTecha
bp ventures has invested $7million in smart electric vehicle (EV) charging firm, IoTecha, leading a $13.2 million investment round.
Cannabis marketplace and purchasing platform MainStem named Microsoft Partner for Startups
MainStem, the cannabis industry's only marketplace and combined integrated purchasing platform, announced it has been selected as a Microsoft Partner for Startups.
Venture capital firm MetaProp closes $100m Fund III for investment in early-stage proptech startups
MetaProp, the New York-based proptech venture capital firm, announced the closing of its latest real estate technology seed fund, for investment in early-stage proptech startups.
Ivory Coast transport startup Moja Ride partners with O-CITY for its next phase of growth in mobility innovation
Moja Ride, an Ivorian startup providing a reservation and cashless payment system for transport services in Abidjan, has partnered with O-CITY for its next phase of digital innovation and future expansion.
Ethiopian-based startup Gabeya launches its revamped marketplace
Gabeya, the Pan-African source for freelance professional talent, has expanded its revamped marketplace, the first of its kind in terms of reach in Africa.
Kenyan insurtech startups benefit from IRA, Prudential innovation hub
Three Kenyan insurtech startups each received Ksh 1.25 million in cash awards from an innovation hub steered by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) in collaboration with Prudential Life Assurance and other partners, to promote insurance inclusivity.
Predictive Kids' e-Commerce startup Ten Little raises $5m to disrupt children's marketplace with personalized guidance
Ten Little, the predictive e-Commerce platform helping parents navigate the cluttered kids product space, announced the close of its $5 million seed round led by Kindred Ventures.
SynFutures startup raises $14m Series A funding to democratize derivative markets
Decentralized derivatives exchange SynFutures, announced the close of a $14 million Series A round of financing led by Polychain Capital with participation from Framework, Pantera Capital, Bybit, Wintermute, CMS, Kronos, and IOSG Ventures.
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.
Banking as a service startup Unit raises $51m Series B funding to expand the team, accelerate growth
Unit, the banking-as-a-service startup that empowers companies to embed financial services into their products, announced it has raised a $51 million Series B led by Accel.
MarketForce acquires Digiduka startup to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa
MarketForce, the end-to-end retail distribution platform for consumer brands in Africa, announced the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup on a mission to bring informal retailers in Africa into the digital economy.
B9 raises $1.7m in pre-seed round to launch fintech platform to deliver full suite of personal financial services
Fintech startup B9 Inc., announced it is launching a full suite of app-based financial services. The company raised $1.7 million in an ongoing pre-seed funding round and is building out a platform to address the needs of a huge market of potential customers.
Women's wellness startup Kindra raises $4.5m seed round to drive continued growth and expansion
Kindra, a modern wellness brand for menopause essentials, announced it closed a $4.5 million seed funding round. The new capital will be used to drive the continued growth and expansion of Kindra.
Israeli mobility investment startup Bringg completes $100m Series E investment round
Ituran Location and Control announced its successful early-stage mobility technology holding, Bringg, completed Series E investment round of $100 million. Following the round, Ituran's undiluted holdings are 17.2%.
Brazilian logtech startup Uello concludes $4m Series A investment deal led by the Btomorrow Ventures
Uello, a Brazilian logtech startup that uses technology and a collaborative network to provide express freight services with superior experience, concluded its Series A investment deal with an investment injection of $4 million.
London-based fintech startup ShareVision raises $2.1m seed for 24/7 streaming platform
ShareVision raised $2.1 million in seed funding to scale its financial streaming platform, where both businesses and consumers are streaming content on the stock market, economical updates and financial education.
Home design startup Yellowpop raises $4m Series A funding to continue its global expansion
Yellowpop, the home brand specializing in LED neon signs announced the closure of $4 million in Series A funding. Yellowpop plans to utilize the capital to continue its global expansion through 2021 and further develop as a lifestyle and home brand.
Canadian Esplanade Healthtech Ventures closes oversubscribed inaugural digital health fund
Esplanade HealthTech Ventures (Esplanade or the Fund), announced the closing of its oversubscribed inaugural venture fund, Esplanade HealthTech Ventures I (Fund I), with commitments totaling more than C$21 million.
Pegasus acquires early-stage venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures
Pegasus Tech Ventures (Pegasus), a global venture capital firm managing over $1.5 billion in assets, has acquired seed and early-stage venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures, based in Palo Alto.
Sustainability-focused pet care startup Petaluma launches plant-based diet for dogs
Petaluma, Inc., a pet care startup focused on sustainability, launched the world's first baked and plant-based formula for adult dogs of all breeds. The company's mission is to offer environmentally responsible diets that meet 100% of a dog's nutritional requirements.
SaaS startup Synder raises $2m in late seed round to revolutionize accounting for e-Commerce
TMT investments venture fund invested $2 million as a lead investor in a late seed round into Synder, an easy accounting solution for e-Commerce businesses.
Healthtech startup BASMA.com raises $3m Series A round to scale up its platform in the MENA region
UK-based, MENA focused, startup BASMA.com closed $3 million Series A funding led by MEVP with the participation of SOSF, IM capital and returning investors iSME, Cedar Mundi Ventures and IFA capital, to scale up its healthtech platform in the MENA region.
Arrington Capital launches $100m fund to invest in Algorand-based initiatives
Arrington Capital, a digital asset management firm in blockchain-based capital markets announced it has launched a new $100 million fund to support initiatives building on Algorand, a blockchain accelerating the convergence of decentralized and traditional finance.
Creator economy startup Koji launches New Link in Bio app, Media Wall
Koji, world's Link in Bio tool for the Creator Economy, announced the launch of Media Wall, a new Link in Bio app that gives Creators the ability to curate, organize and showcase a timeline of content to share with their audience.
Floral tech startup Something Borrowed Blooms raises $1.5m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Something Borrowed Blooms, the pioneer of the silk wedding flower revolution, announced a $1.5 million Series A funding round led by Callais Capital. This investment brings the total raise by the company to just over $2 million since 2015.
Food startup OZO expands plant-based proteins to international retail starting in Canada
Planterra Foods, an innovative plant-based protein startup based in Colorado, announced a supply agreement with UNFI Canada, a subsidiary of UNFI, the largest publicly traded grocery distributor in North America.
The Startup Squad creates ultimate business plan for kids
The Startup Squad, the go-to book series and digital platform for aspiring young girlpreneurs, released the "Startup Roadmap," a free, comprehensive business plan template for kids.
Cirona Labs startup raises $1.5m in oversubscribed seed round for expansion
Cirona Labs, a premier innovator in cannabinoids and other functional botanical ingredient manufacturing, announced that it closed an oversubscribed $1.5 million seed round led by LiDestri Food & Drink, BevSource, and Sweetener Supply.
California staffing startup Recruit Gigs announces new acquisitions and expansion
Armando Avila, CEO of the staffing company startup, Recruit Gigs, LLC has purchased Crestaff, LLC and Restoration Staffing Exchange, DBA California Labor Force.
Huobi launches incubator program to provide assets, resources and guidance for startups
Huobi Group, a world cryptocurrency and blockchain company, announced the initiation of its incubator program, Huobi X Center, who's goal is to empower startups by providing customers a range of resources.
Workflow management startup MaintainX raises $50m to accelerate revenue growth
MaintainX, the mobile-first workflow management platform for industrial and frontline workers, announced a $39 million Series B round led by Bessemer Venture Partners.
Creator economy startup Koji launches brand partnership app, Sponsor Quiz
Koji, the world's powerful Link in Bio tool for the Creator Economy, announced the launch of its newest Link in Bio app, Sponsor Quiz.
B2B AI-driven startup MetaSpark secures initial seed round to accelerate growth
MetaSpark, a B2B AI-Driven Productivity Hub SaaS platform for enterprises, announced the closing of an initial seed round of funding. The funding was secured from an undisclosed partner and is the first round of funding raised by the company.
QIMA acquires stake in London-based supply chain resiliency startup Kavida.ai
QIMA, the provider of quality control and supply chain compliance solutions, announced it has invested in Kavida.ai, a London-based startup that builds supply chain digital replicas and uses artificial intelligence.
Silicon Prairie startup Loophire raises $300K seed round to disrupt the recruitment industry
Silicon Prairie startup Loophire, announced it secured $300K seed round to disrupt the recruitment industry, currently dominated by outdated processes.
Speedaf express completes Round A+ financing to build China-Africa express brand
Speedaf express, a China-Africa integrated logistics service provider, officially announced the completion of its Round A+ financing, led by TRUSTBRIDGE, followed by Northern Light VENTURE CAPITAL, and VISION+CAPITAL on the basis of Round A.
IFC launches program to support startups expand across the Maghreb region
IFC launched a new advisory program aimed at making it easier for startups in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, expand their operations across North Africa.
XLIO Ventures closes $53m funding facility
XLIO Ventures, with offices in London, Seattle, New York, Tel Aviv, and Sao Paulo announced the closing of $53 million funding facility to back an expanding roster of the Made-to-Order Startups it creates for its enterprise technology customers.
Toyota AI Ventures rebrands as Toyota Ventures, adds $300m to invest in emerging technologies and carbon neutrality
Toyota's first standalone, early-stage venture capital firm, Toyota AI Ventures, will change its name to Toyota Ventures and grow its total assets under management to more than $500 million with the addition of two $150 million early-stage funds.
Blockchain startup Candela Coin develops solar powered eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining protocol
Candela Coin, a cryptocurrency that allows holders to take part in the first ever decentralized blockchain based peer-to-peer transactive solar energy system, has developed a solar powered eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining protocol.
Moroccan Digital Development Agency, GrowIN Portugal launch initiative to support startups internationalization
The Moroccan Digital Development Agency (ADD) and GrowIN Portugal have launched an initiative to support Moroccan and Portuguese startups internationalization by signing a strategic agreement.
London-based workplace ethics & compliance startup Vault Platform secures $8.2m in Series A funding
Vault Platform, the pioneering workplace ethics & compliance platform, has closed an $8.2 million Series A funding round to service demand from its fast-growing client base, drive Artificial Intelligence technology for misconduct reporting and expand its team.
Hibob acquires workplace relationships analytics startup Cassiopeia
Hibob, the company behind the innovative HCM platform bob, announced its acquisition of Cassiopeia, a startup that developed AI-based workplace relationship analytics technology to help teams improve communication.
Fintech startup The Beans announces $2m in funding to simplify the path to financial success
The Beans, a financial technology startup built for America's Caring Class, announced $2 million in funding, led by Precursor Ventures.
Blockchain startup CiSApp to launch next gen social network
These days all the biggest social media platforms leave little to be desired due in no small part to rampant agenda-driven censorship, profit-driven privacy invasion and rampant use of fake accounts bent on selling sex or committing fraud.
Voice-enabled healthtech startup HandsFree Health joins Microsoft for Startups program
HandsFree Health, provider of WellBe, a secure, HIPAA compliant, voice-enabled virtual health assistant platform, has been selected to join the Microsoft for Startups program.
Startup STOW IT partners with airport parking operators to offer long-term travelers monthly parking at airports around the US
Set up and designed for long-term and monthly travelers, startup STOW IT has partnered with airport parking operators to offer the cheapest monthly rates at over 20 airports around the US, making long-term airport parking an easy option.
Kenya's Industrialization Ministry launches Startup Savanna, a business acceleration programme for early-stage startups
The Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED), launched Startup Savanna, an international business acceleration programme that will link Kenyan startups to global angel investors.
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.
Africa's e-logistics startup Lori Systems appoints Uche Ogboi as new CEO
Lori Systems, Africa's e-logistics platform has announced the appointment of Uche Ogboi as its new Chief Executive Officer effective July 1 2021.
BMZ launches startup support programme for Kenyan entrepreneurs
The Federal Development Ministry (BMZ), has expanded its developPPP Ventures programme in Kenya to support local startups.
Cloud startup Golioth announces private beta launch and $2.5m seed round
Golioth, the cloud platform for hardware developers, announced a $2.5 million seed round in conjunction with a private beta launch for developers.
Arcline Investment acquires Resolution Medical
Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), a growth-oriented private equity firm, announced it has acquired a controlling stake in Resolution Medical, LLC from founders Steve Schmidt and Shawn Patterson.
MetaVC Partners launches debut venture capital fund focused on startups using metamaterials
MetaVC Partners has launched its first fund which will focus on venture investments in early-stage startups employing metamaterials technology.
Conquer Accelerator selects six startups for 2021 cohort
Conquer Accelerator announced its sixth season and summer 2021 cohort. The 10-week accelerator welcomes six selected teams to its East Lansing program: CrossBraining, Frizzmo, Nickels, Rebound AI, SafetySit, and Tandem.
Rapyd launches venture arm to propel digital commerce and payment innovation globally
Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-Service company, announced today the launch of Rapyd Ventures, its new venture arm that will focus on investing in early and growth stage businesses that are delivering the next wave of financial services innovation.
Canadian commercialization venture firm FACIT leads seed round in Nanology Labs
FACIT, a commercialization venture firm focused on advancing Ontario's top-tier oncology innovations, announced a new follow-on investment in startup Nanology Labs.
Healthcare fintech startup Green Feather secures $1.5m in seed round
Green Feather, an Atlanta-based healthcare fintech company, announced a seed capital raise of $1.5 million. The capital will bolster customer acquisition and engineering resources for Feather Pay, Green Feather's next-generation patient payments platform.
Shaquille O'Neal invests in at-home fitness startup MAXPRO
MAXPRO, the startup making at-home and connected fitness accessible to all, announced a strategic partnership with basketball Hall of Famer and entertainment icon Shaquille O'Neal.
PharmStars launches accelerator to transform how pharma and digital health startups do business
PharmStars announced the launch of its global digital health accelerator to transform how pharma and startups do business.
Audiotech startup Chaos Audio revamps inventive guitar multi-effects platform
Student-led startup Chaos Audio returns to Kickstarter with a much-improved version of its next-generation multi-effects guitar pedal, Stratus.
Tech startup Britive raises $10m to secure privileged access for multi-cloud enterprises
Britive, a cloud-native dynamic access management platform announced it has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Crosslink Capital with participation from seed round investors Upfront Ventures and One Way Ventures.
Digital wallet startup Eco raises capital from cultural and business leaders to create a better financial future for everyone
Eco, a digital wallet for saving and spending, announced some of the world's most prominent cultural icons participated in its recent fundraise of more than $26 million, alongside a16z Crypto, Founders Fund, and more than one hundred others.
Latin American proptech startup Houm raises $8m to expand and consolidate across the region
Latin American proptech startup Houm raised $8 million round after Y Combinator Winter 2021 program which it will invest in for growth and consolidation its actual markets.
Podcasting startup Spokn closes oversubscribed $4m seed round funding for market expansion
Spokn, the podcasting platform for work, announced it has closed an oversubscribed $4 million seed round with funding from NEA, Y Combinator, along with Reach Capital, Funders Club, Liquid2, Share Capital, SOMA Capital, Scribble VC and Hack VC.
Plug and Play Japan selects 91 Startups for its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch
Global Innovation Platform, Plug and Play Japan has selected 91 Japanese and international startups into its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch, which will be carried out from June to September 2021.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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