US venture capital firm Village Capital has selected nine startups from seven countries across the continent for its Africa Agriculture 2019 programme.
The programme, which Village Capital runs with the support of family office Ceniarth and the Small Foundation, is aimed at startups that develop granular solutions for smallholder farmers.
Tech publication Disrupt Africa reported in an article last week Friday (6 September) that Ceniarth will provide each of the top two peer-selected startups in the programme with $50 000.
The nine startups taking part in the programme hail from Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria and Rwanda. They are:
- Agro Supply (Uganda): Agro Supply’s mobile layaway platform allows farmers to save money for seed and fertiliser using their mobile phones
- Akello Banker (Uganda): Kampala-based fintech that enables rural farmers and small-scale traders to access products and services on credit
- Aywajieune (Senegal): Aywajieune is an online e-commerce platform that specialises in the distribution of fresh fish and seafood
- Capture Solutions (Kenya): Capture Solutions develops business-to-business ICT applications that help companies re-organize and streamline their working processes
- Complete Farmer (Ghana): Accra-based “crowdfarming” platform
- eMsika (Zambia): This e-commerce platform specialises in the distribution of farming inputs
- Raino Tech4Impact (Kenya): This Nairobi-based social enteprise deploys technology-driven solutions in agriculture and health
- ReelFruit (Nigeria): Lagos-based dried fruit processing company
- Volta (Rwanda): Kigali-based irrigation service for smallholder farmers
The nine will now participate in a series of three-day workshops that will take place on 8 to 11 October, 3 to 6 December and 14 to 17 January.
Village Capital says on its website that its curriculum encourages deep collaboration within the cohort and will help entrepreneurs to explore and leverage collaboration among themselves.
The startups are set to benefit from access to leading investors and experts who will offer mentorship during the workshops.
In addition, during the programme, the nine will also interact with potential customers, partners and industry stakeholders who will participate in business development sessions at the three workshops.
The programme will culminate in curated investor meetings between the nine startups and investors from Village Capital’s network.
