In 2014, Jehiel Oliver founded Hello Tractor, driven by a simple yet powerful idea: what if smallholder farmers in Africa could access tractors the same way people hail rides on Uber? Today, his platform has connected thousands of farmers to mechanised services, increasing productivity and transforming livelihoods.
But Oliver is not alone in this mission. Across Africa, brilliant minds are tackling the biggest challenges in agriculture, bridging the mechanisation gap, ensuring financial inclusion, and leveraging technology to revolutionise farming.
Between 2014 and 2024, over 700 Agritech startups raised more than $1.56 billion to reshape Africa’s food systems. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa are leading this wave of innovation, building solutions that empower farmers and boost food security.
As we look ahead to 2025, a new generation of startups is emerging. Here are 10 Agritech companies poised to make a major impact this year.
Top 10 African Agritech Startups to Watch Out For in 2025
Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy, contributing 30–40% of the continent’s GDP and providing a livelihood for more than 50% of its population. The surge in agritech investments is driving advancements in precision farming, supply chain optimisation, and market access, enabling smallholder farmers to boost yields, minimise waste, and reach broader markets. Here are the top 10 Agritech startups to watch out for in 2025
Pullus Africa: Transforming Poultry Supply Chains
Poultry farming is one of Africa’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors, yet many small- and medium-scale poultry farmers struggle with inefficiencies in supply chains, limited access to financial services, and unpredictable market conditions. The Nigerian agritech startup, Pullus Africa is tackling these challenges by leveraging data-driven technology to streamline poultry production and distribution.
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Through their platform, poultry farmers gain access to premium markets, ensuring that their products reach high-value buyers at fair prices. Additionally, Pullus Africa integrates financial services such as loans, insurance, and credit facilities tailored to the needs of poultry farmers. This financial inclusion helps farmers invest in quality feeds, better housing, and improved production techniques, leading to increased profitability.
Funding: No specific funding amount has been disclosed.
Apollo Agriculture: Empowering Smallholder Farmers
Smallholder farmers make up the backbone of Africa’s agricultural sector, yet they often face limited access to quality inputs, financing, and real-time agricultural guidance. Apollo Agriculture, a Kenyan agritech startup, is addressing these challenges by offering an all-in-one platform that equips farmers with the tools they need to maximise productivity and profitability.
One of Apollo Agriculture’s biggest innovations is its use of machine learning and automation to assess farmers’ creditworthiness, helping them access loans for purchasing high-quality seeds, fertilisers, and other essential inputs. This data-driven approach ensures that even farmers without traditional banking history can obtain financing, breaking down barriers to growth.
Funding: Recently secured $10 million from Swedfund and ImpactConnect to expand its services and reach more farmers.
AkoFresh: Reducing Post-Harvest Losses with Solar-Powered Storage
One of the biggest challenges facing African farmers is post-harvest losses, with up to 40% of harvested crops going to waste due to inadequate storage and preservation methods. AkoFresh, a Ghanaian agritech startup, is solving this issue with an innovative solar-powered cold storage system that helps farmers preserve crops for extended periods. By leveraging renewable energy, AkoFresh provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution that reduces food waste and enhances food security. Unlike traditional cold storage, which relies on expensive and inconsistent electricity, AkoFresh’s system is off-grid and sustainable, making it ideal for rural farming communities.
Funding: Recently secured a $29,000 UNDP grant to further empower farmers and scale operations.
AgriPredict: AI-Powered Farming Insights
Access to timely and accurate agricultural information is a game-changer for African farmers, especially in regions where unpredictable weather, pests, and crop diseases threaten harvests. Without proper guidance, many smallholder farmers suffer preventable losses, struggling to diagnose plant diseases or make informed decisions about planting and harvesting.
AgriPredict, a Zambia-based agritech startup, is closing this information gap by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. The startup offers a smartphone app and USSD-based service that provides crop disease diagnosis, real-time weather forecasts, and a digital marketplace connecting farmers with buyers.
Funding: No specific funding amount disclosed. The company focuses on partnerships and data sales as revenue streams.
Aerobotics: AI-Driven Precision Farming
In modern agriculture, data is as valuable as soil and water. South Africa-based Aerobotics is pioneering precision agriculture by harnessing drones, satellite imagery, and machine learning to help farmers make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Through its flagship platform, Aeroview, the startup provides early pest detection, crop health analysis, and orchard management solutions. Farmers can access high-resolution aerial imagery and AI-powered insights that pinpoint areas of concern, allowing for targeted interventions rather than costly blanket treatments. This technology not only improves yield efficiency but also minimises waste and reduces chemical usage, promoting sustainable farming practices.
Funding: Raised $2 million in Series A funding from investors like Nedbank CIB Venture Capital and AngelList.
Livestock Wealth: The Rise of Crowd-Farming
Owning a farm is no longer a prerequisite for investing in agriculture. Livestock Wealth, a South African crowd-farming platform, is democratising agricultural investment by allowing individuals to own livestock, macadamia trees, and maize plants without needing farmland.
Through an intuitive mobile app, investors can track the growth and market value of their agricultural assets, while farmers gain access to much-needed capital to expand their operations. This win-win model bridges the gap between traditional farming and modern fintech, enabling urban professionals, diaspora investors, and everyday people to participate in agriculture, an industry that has long been limited to landowners.
Funding/Valuation: Valued at R100 million (~$5.5 million) as of 2024.
Thrive Agric: Empowering Smallholder Farmers with Technology & Finance
In Nigeria, smallholder farmers produce up to 80% of the country’s food, yet they struggle with limited access to quality inputs, financing, and technology. Thrive Agric is addressing these challenges head-on by offering agricultural inputs, digital financial services, and tech-driven support to farmers.
Through its apps, Tradr and Tmoni, Thrive Agric connects farmers to seeds, fertilisers, and funding, while also equipping them with market access and agronomic advice. Their platform doesn’t just provide resources, it empowers farmers to meet local and international quality standards, increasing their competitiveness in global markets.
Funding: No specific funding details available; Thrive Agric collaborates with agricultural organisations and financial partners.
Hello Tractor: The Uber for Farm Machinery
Mechanisation remains one of the biggest barriers to increased productivity for smallholder farmers. Hello Tractor, a Kenyan agritech startup, is solving this problem by offering an Uber-like service for tractors connecting tractor owners with farmers who need their services via an IoT-powered app.
Through its pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model, small-scale farmers can access affordable mechanisation without having to buy expensive machinery. At the same time, entrepreneurs and booking agents can become tractor owners with minimal upfront investment, expanding the availability of equipment in rural areas.
Funding/Impact: No specific funding disclosed; the platform has significantly expanded access to mechanisation for smallholder farmers.
BioBuu: Turning Food Waste into Sustainable Agriculture Solutions
Agriculture and sustainability go hand in hand, and BioBuu is proving just that. Based in Tanzania, this agritech startup is tackling organic waste management by using black soldier fly larvae to convert food waste into high-protein animal feed and organic compost.
Funding: Secured $200,000 in seed funding from the GIIG Africa Fund, with additional investments from Catalyst Fund (undisclosed amount). The company is valued at $5 million following grants and further invest
Selina Wamucii: Digitising Market Access for Smallholder Farmers
Selina Wamucii is transforming how smallholder farmers in Africa connect with markets by simplifying the agricultural supply chain. Based in Kenya, the startup operates a B2B sourcing platform that leverages USSD technology, allowing farmers to access premium buyers without needing smartphones or internet connectivity. This innovation bridges the digital divide, enabling rural farmers to seamlessly participate in commercial agriculture using basic mobile phones.
Funding: Secured a $100,000 grant to expand platform features and onboard more farmers.
Conclusion
While Africa’s Agritech sector has made impressive strides, there’s still a long road ahead. Millions of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the continent’s food supply still lack access to modern tools, financing, and market connections. More investment is needed to scale solutions that are not just innovative but also inclusive, ensuring that even the most underserved farmers benefit from technological advancements.
