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Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3869634 | Tags:









Indian agritech startup Fasal raises $12 million funding to grow its precision farming solution
Published: 12-01-2024 | 12:27:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 06-10-2023 | 12:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Treetoscope has closed $7m seed round.


Indigo Ag accelerates sustainability programs for farmers with $250m fundraise
Published: 19-09-2023 | 13:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Indigo Ag has raised $250m to drive innovation and sustainability.


50 African women to benefit from fellowship on agri food policies
Published: 15-09-2023 | 13:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 14-09-2023 | 11:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 28-07-2023 | 09:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SatSure announced partnership with Rabo.


Freiburg-based constellr secures new funding to springboard US expansion
Published: 26-07-2023 | 12:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
constellr has secured further investment to extend its seed round to a total of €17m.


Belgian agritech startup Aphea.bio raises €70m to accelerate growth
Published: 14-07-2023 | 16:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 10-07-2023 | 11:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.


Aigen unveils world's first AI-driven, solar-powered, agricultural robotics platform
Published: 03-07-2023 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Agritech startup Aigen, unveiled an autonomous, scalable robotics platform.


SK networks invests $2m in AI farming Dutch startup Source.ag
Published: 09-06-2023 | 11:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 05-06-2023 | 16:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.


Absa acquires minority stake in South African agritech startup Khula!
Published: 18-05-2023 | 14:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 17-05-2023 | 13:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 16-05-2023 | 12:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Start-Up Nation Central has collaborated with Microsoft to promote Israeli agri-food tech startups in the international marketplace.


Innovate UK launches £100m AI Fund for UK business
Published: 09-05-2023 | 13:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency, has unveiled BridgeAI, a new programme which aims to drive growth and competitiveness in the UK economy through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). 


Denmark-based soil carbon startup Agreena raises €46m to scale the regenerative revolution
Published: 04-05-2023 | 10:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Denmark-based climate and fintech startup Agreena, whose soil carbon platform is one of the largest globally, announced its Series B raise of €46 million.


Factor[e] Ventures launches a new venture studio to transform the African startup ecosystem
Published: 23-03-2023 | 12:08:01 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 14-03-2023 | 11:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 23-02-2023 | 13:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 21-02-2023 | 10:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 21-02-2023 | 10:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 03-02-2023 | 11:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, kicked off the final phase of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech.


Catalyst Fund invests $2m in 10 startups to improve resilience to climate change in Africa
Published: 27-01-2023 | 11:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pre-seed venture capital (VC) fund and accelerator Catalyst Fund, announced a $2 million investment in 10 startups developing solutions to improve the resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate change in Africa.


Irish agritech startup Proveye secures €1m seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 26-01-2023 | 14:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 23-01-2023 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 19-01-2023 | 09:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 16-01-2023 | 10:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 11-01-2023 | 10:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 09-01-2023 | 10:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 04-01-2023 | 09:30:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 20-12-2022 | 11:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Agroforestry startup Propagate raises $10m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 30-11-2022 | 13:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 22-11-2022 | 13:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 22-11-2022 | 10:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Katapult launches startup accelerator in Kigali, Rwanda
Published: 14-11-2022 | 17:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Katapult Africa announced the launch of its Accelerator program in Kigali, Rwanda, welcoming 9 companies to the Katapult portfolio.


Cooperative Ventures announces first investment in agritech startup Sabanto to improve sustainability
Published: 07-11-2022 | 08:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund formed by North America's agricultural cooperatives, announced its first investment in Sabanto, a hardware and software company.


Danish blockchain startup Drivn enables users earn an income while saving the planet
Published: 27-10-2022 | 11:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Drivn, the brainchild of three Danish founders, aims to change the world's travel behavior towards a more sustainable future.


Ugandan agritech startup Inputi receives investment to boost inputs distribution
Published: 14-10-2022 | 12:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ugandan agritech startup Inputi announced it received an investment funding to boost inputs distribution across the country.


FNHIC launches to invest $2.5b in startups improving hunger and health outcomes through food
Published: 28-09-2022 | 11:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 27-09-2022 | 15:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 22-09-2022 | 10:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 19-09-2022 | 09:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 16-09-2022 | 11:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


FMO partners with SBC AfriTech to support next generation of early-stage African tech startups
Published: 30-08-2022 | 13:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FMO has partnered with a pan-African tech accelerator, Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech, for the third installment of the Africa Startup Initiative Accelerator Program which is designed to scout skill and scale early-stage tech startups in Africa.


[Startup Interview] Alfiya Kayumova, CEO and co-founder, Green Growth, USA
Published: 24-08-2022 | 15:16:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 22-08-2022 | 13:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 19-08-2022 | 11:32:53 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 19-08-2022 | 10:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 15-08-2022 | 12:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
AgriKool, a South African e-trading platform, is connecting agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the sale of products between retailers and farmers.


Agritech startup Lumo raises $2.1m to tackle the global water insecurity crisis
Published: 25-07-2022 | 13:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 04-07-2022 | 12:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
To help communities reduce their post-harvest losses and access a more reliable supply of processed fish products.


EuraTechnologies raises €24m to back deep tech startups, open 10 incubators in Eastern Europe
Published: 24-06-2022 | 11:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EuraTechnologies announced the raising of €24 million to back deep tech startups and open 10 incubators in Eastern Europe.


AfricArena partners with FMO to accelerate tech startups in Ghana, Morocco and Tanzania
Published: 15-06-2022 | 11:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
AfricArena, the African series of tech events, announced a partnership with FMO Ventures Program, the Rise Open Innovation Challenge, which focuses on accelerating the growth of startups looking to improve the state of Africa.


German agritech startup CROP.ZONE secures $11m equity funding to expand to new international markets
Published: 13-06-2022 | 14:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 13-06-2022 | 13:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 13-06-2022 | 12:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Crop tech startup moa raises $44m Series B financing to progress new generation of safe and sustainable crop protection products
Published: 31-05-2022 | 11:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 24-05-2022 | 15:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Israeli agritech startup Seed-X partners with Advanta Seeds to improve seed lot quality
Published: 16-05-2022 | 14:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Solana-based DeFi startup Delta One raises $9.1m to build 'set-and-forget' yield farming protocol
Published: 22-04-2022 | 14:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


French insect farming startup Ÿnsect acquires Nebraska-based Jord Producers to open first mealworm farm in the US
Published: 30-03-2022 | 11:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Jord Producers, based in Nebraska, has been incorporated into Ÿnsect’s production portfolio, signifying the global leader’s entry into North American mealworm production.


[Kenya] Applications for 5th cohort of Standard Chartered Bank's Women in Tech program open
Published: 10-03-2022 | 15:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Standard Chartered Bank has opened applications for the 5th cohort of its Women in Tech incubator program.


Soil water sensors, detectors to the rescue of Mozambique farmers
Published: 18-02-2022 | 10:02:00 | By: Bob Koigi
More than 3 million smallholder farmers contribute 95% of Mozambique’s agricultural production.


Gender and social dynamics in smallholder groundnuts commercialisation in Southern Africa
Published: 10-02-2022 | 13:45:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 08-02-2022 | 12:59:51 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 19-01-2022 | 12:38:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Israel tech startups raised $25.4 billion in 2021, report
Published: 03-01-2022 | 09:54:13 | By: Bob Koigi
The unprecedented figure represents a 136% increase over last year, which concluded with a full-year total of $10.8 billion raised.


Israeli agritech startup Greeneye Technology raises $22 million funding to grow its offerings
Published: 03-01-2022 | 09:40:12 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 24-12-2021 | 12:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 17-12-2021 | 17:40:11 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 14-12-2021 | 12:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 25-11-2021 | 10:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 24-11-2021 | 08:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 24-11-2021 | 07:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 18-11-2021 | 10:20:41 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 17-11-2021 | 17:05:27 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


JICA kicks off 2nd Cohort of its NINJA Accelerator in Kenya
Published: 28-10-2021 | 16:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The NINJA Accelerator in Kenya, powered by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with Double Feather Partners, Deloitte Tohmatsu and Kenyan implementation partner GrowthAfrica, is kicking off its 2nd cohort with five tech-enabled Kenyan startups.


North Carolina's SAS and Pappas Capital partner to propel agritech startups with analytics
Published: 21-10-2021 | 13:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Google selects nine Kenyan startups to receive equity-free funding via its Africa Investment Fund
Published: 19-10-2021 | 07:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
During its very first “Google for Africa” event held early this month, Google announced it will be investing up to $50 million in African early- and growth-stage startups via its Africa Investment Fund.


Start-Up Nation Central signs MoU with TiE to boost technological innovation of Israeli and Indian startups
Published: 07-10-2021 | 11:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 29-09-2021 | 13:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 24-09-2021 | 13:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 16-09-2021 | 13:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 07-09-2021 | 16:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Israeli startup Quantum Machines raises $50m to make quantum computers ubiquitous and disruptive across all industries
Published: 07-09-2021 | 15:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tel Aviv based startup Quantum Machines, creator of the Quantum Orchestration Platform, announced it has secured $50 million in Series B funding to expand its growth into quantum cloud computing and drive its worldwide distribution.


Jiddu acquires CerraCap Ventures portfolio company Nirveda Cognition
Published: 13-08-2021 | 13:44:58 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 06-08-2021 | 13:49:56 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Tech executive Mark Bregman launches Quidnet Ventures, a venture capital fund based in New Zealand
Published: 03-08-2021 | 12:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mark Bregman, a successful tech executive and entrepreneur, has launched Quidnet Ventures, a venture capital fund based in New Zealand and operated out of New Zealand, San Francisco and New York City.


UN announces 50 best small business winners providing “Good Food for All”
Published: 27-07-2021 | 11:31:35 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Agritech startup Adaviv raises $2.3m seed round to scale its AI-driven plant intelligence platform for indoor farming
Published: 21-07-2021 | 13:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 14-07-2021 | 12:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 13-07-2021 | 11:00:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


AI startup LLENA (AI) partners with Southern University to support (USDA/NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Published: 29-06-2021 | 14:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 18-06-2021 | 12:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 04-06-2021 | 08:52:56 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


The UN Food Systems Best Small Business competition: Startups time to shine
Published: 28-05-2021 | 12:44:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


AlphaCode announces four startups taking part in the second phase of its incubate programme in South Africa
Published: 20-05-2021 | 14:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 10-05-2021 | 11:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


FarmTogether, Backstage Capital join forces to generate grater access to diverse farmland investments
Published: 06-05-2021 | 11:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 30-04-2021 | 13:04:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 30-04-2021 | 10:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 30-04-2021 | 09:27:19 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Telecel Group launches applications for Africa startups accelerator programme
Published: 14-04-2021 | 15:47:19 | By: Bob Koigi
The Program helps startups achieve 18-24 months of growth in just three months. Now, the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting a wide range of industry sectors are being sought.


Grow-NY startup business competition kicks off year 3
Published: 14-04-2021 | 10:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 30-03-2021 | 15:25:13 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


ASIP Accelerator Program open for applications from disruptive startups in Africa
Published: 26-03-2021 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
To develop the potential of startups driving the internet economy, Telecel Group has opened applications for the ASIP Accelerator Program powered by Startupbootcamp AfriTech.


Texas-based Precision Livestock Technologies completes $600K seed round on Harvest Returns agriculture crowdfunding platform
Published: 24-03-2021 | 14:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


IFC invests in Savannah Fund to support Africa’s tech startups funding growth
Published: 11-03-2021 | 12:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
IFC announced an investment in the Savannah Fund, a technology seed fund in Africa, to increase lending to startups across sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and disruptive companies in high-growth sectors.


Investing in mentorship to inspire women in agribusiness
Published: 09-03-2021 | 16:02:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 09-03-2021 | 13:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Union Bank of Nigeria to support startups through UnionX Innovation Challenge
Published: 26-02-2021 | 15:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Kenyan young agripreneurs reel under impacts of COVID-19
Published: 05-02-2021 | 12:15:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


John Deere adds new companies to its 2021 Startup Collaborator program
Published: 28-01-2021 | 12:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 25-01-2021 | 14:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


India's Z3Partners announces first close of Tech & Digital Fund, invests in Cyfirma and DealShare startups
Published: 12-01-2021 | 10:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Z3Partners Tech Fund announced its First Close of $14 million and its investments in Cyfirma, a Cyber Threat Intelligence Software startup and DealShare, a Social Commerce-led online grocery startup.


South Africa agritech startup Aerobotics raises funds for global expansion
Published: 16-12-2020 | 09:05:40 | By: Bob Koigi
FMO and Cathay AfricInvest Innovation have invested in Aerobotics, a South African AgriTech startup developing intelligent tools to the feed the world.


HexGn, AFRIEF launch startup program to accelerate African youth careers
Published: 15-12-2020 | 08:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
HexGn, a consulting firm known for fast-tracking entrepreneurship and upcoming technologies globally, has joined hands with the Africa Islamic Economic Foundation (AFRIEF), to launch its flagship startup program, HexGn Startup Explore, in Africa.


AgTech startup SeeTree raises $30 million funding to expand into new crops
Published: 09-12-2020 | 11:10:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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
Published: 01-12-2020 | 13:44:11 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Kenyan agritech startup Farmers Pride raises $220k funding from Gray Matters Capital’s coLABS
Published: 06-11-2020 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 23-10-2020 | 10:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 22-10-2020 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 07-10-2020 | 12:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Health and wellness hydration startup LARQ raises $10m series A funding for further expansion
Published: 30-09-2020 | 16:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
LARQ, health and wellness hydration brand, announced a round closure of $10 million in Series A funding to continue its global expansion through 2021 and further develop as a 360-degree hydration brand.


S2G Ventures, CDPQ announce funding for startups in sustainable food business
Published: 30-09-2020 | 15:55:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Scrum Ventures launches Food Tech Studio - Bites!
Published: 30-09-2020 | 15:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Scrum Ventures announced the launch of Food Tech Studio - Bites!, a global community of stage-agnostic startups who share a common vision of solving key challenges plaguing food supply chain.


Alfa Bank, Plug and Play collaborate on innovation in Fintech
Published: 30-09-2020 | 14:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Along with 80 other financial institutions across the United States, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo, Alfa Bank will join Plug and Play's global ecosystem.


Copenhagen biotech startup Synklino raises seed round to develop breakthrough infection treatment for transplant patients
Published: 29-09-2020 | 15:02:14 | By: Pie Kamau
Synklino ApS, an emerging biotech company developing first-in-class breakthrough treatment to eliminate cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in the transplant setting announced the successful closing of a seed financing.


Cannabis cultivation software startup Trym closes $3.1m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 29-09-2020 | 14:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Trym, a pioneering cannabis cultivation software company announced the completion of its $3.1 million seed funding round of financing to accelerate growth.


Taiwanese healthtech startup iWEECARE extends $2.4m pre-series A financing to serve global demand for remote patient monitoring
Published: 29-09-2020 | 13:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
iWEECARE, developer of world's smallest continuous temperature monitoring product, Temp Pal®, raised $2.4 million in extended pre-series A financing to serve global demand for remote patient monitoring.


Robotics solution startup Exotec raises $90m for international expansion of its warehouse automation technology
Published: 29-09-2020 | 12:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Exotec, a robotics solution for logistics and creator of the Skypod 3D warehouse robots, announced a $90 million financing round.


Cyber security startup Cerby announces $3.5m seed round to accelerate product development and hiring
Published: 28-09-2020 | 15:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cerby, a stealth cybersecurity company focused on helping enterprises harness Shadow IT, announced a $3.5 million seed round led by Bowery Capital with participation from AV8 Ventures, Global Founders Capital, and the Incubate Fund US.


Swisscom, Ericsson and Qualcomm join forces to find world's most innovative 5G startups
Published: 28-09-2020 | 15:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Switzerland's telecommunications and IT company Swisscom is joining forces with Ericsson and Qualcomm CDMA Technologies GmbH to identify the world's most innovative startups and research teams working on 5G applications.


AltoIRA enables individuals invest in startups using IRAs
Published: 28-09-2020 | 15:06:01 | By: Pie Kamau
AltoIRA, a technology platform that simplifies and streamlines the process for investors to add alternative assets to their IRAs announced a new partnership with Republic, a leading investment platform for startups.


Cannon Quality announces new compliance essentials for startups program
Published: 28-09-2020 | 14:54:52 | By: Pie Kamau
Cannon Quality Group (CQG) announced a new medtech quality management program designed to help startups set the foundation for a quality management system (QMS) compliant to FDA QSR and ISO 13485 requirements.


Airsmat raises $100,000 investment to deepen AI application in agriculture
Published: 25-09-2020 | 09:33:19 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Mastercard announces Fintech Express to empower Middle East and Africa fintechs to launch and expand rapidly
Published: 24-09-2020 | 16:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mastercard has launched Fintech Express in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), a program designed to facilitate emerging fintechs’ launch and expansion.


EasySend raises $16m to enable insurance companies and financial institutions to build a no-code digital future
Published: 24-09-2020 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EasySend, the no-code AI-powered platform transforming manual processes into digital journeys, announced it has raised $16 million in funding following the completion of an $11 million Series A round led by Hanaco with participation from Intel Capital.


Insurtech startup cogniSure launches AI platform for commercial loss run automation with 9 pilot customers
Published: 24-09-2020 | 13:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The insurance industry spends a significant amount of manual effort, time and money analyzing PDF and Excel loss runs that are in nonstandard, carrier-specific, unstructured document formats.


Peterson Ventures announces $65m in fresh capital to invest in early stage consumer and SaaS startups
Published: 24-09-2020 | 13:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Peterson Ventures, a founder-first seed stage venture fund, announced that it has raised $65 million in fresh capital.


 [Startup Interview] Myron Leskiv, CEO, Atama.AI, Netherlands
Published: 24-09-2020 | 08:42:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Atama A.I is a Netherlands startup that develops Artificial Intelligence-based trading algorithms for financial markets informed by years of research and development. It uses over 170 technical indicators and trained and back-tested millions of times to predict where the markets will go.


Neighbor attracts top tech talent to usher in new wave of growth for Silicon Slopes startup
Published: 23-09-2020 | 13:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Neighbor, the self-storage marketplace disruptor, has added three strategic hires to its executive team to fuel a new wave of growth for the Andreesesen Horowitz-funded startup, which has grown 5X in 2020.


Legendary Ventures invests in Elon Musk's SpaceX
Published: 23-09-2020 | 13:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Legendary Ventures announced an investment in Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) through its Series N funding round.


London-based startup TopTip plans to give half its shares to its users
Published: 23-09-2020 | 13:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
London-based startup Useful Interruptions, owner of the TopTip recommendations app, announced the launch of its Founders Club programme that aims to give half the shares in the company to users of TopTip.


Phytolon secures $4.1 million funding for natural food colour tech
Published: 22-09-2020 | 15:17:00 | By: Bob Koigi
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.


Finish startup ICEYE raises $87m to accelerate growth of its SAR satellite constellation
Published: 22-09-2020 | 14:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ICEYE, a SAR data provider, announced the closing of a larger than planned $87 million Series C funding, led by return investor True Ventures, with a significant additional investment by OTB Ventures.


Finch secures $1.8m to launch all-in-one checking and investing account for millennials
Published: 22-09-2020 | 13:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Finch, a New York based fintech startup that integrates the benefits of investing and the flexibility of checking into an all-in-one account has raised $1.8 million in seed funding to launch its platform and help transform how people manage their money.


Neurostimulation startup Salvia BioElectronics raises €26m to develop innovative therapy for chronic migraine
Published: 22-09-2020 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Salvia BioElectronics B.V., a neurostimulation platform company targeting chronic migraine, has raised €26 million in new financing from new and existing investors.


Amsterdam based startup Zeta Alpha launches AI platform to help experts navigate new research
Published: 22-09-2020 | 13:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Amsterdam based startup Zeta Alpha is launching AI Research Navigator, a new deep learning-based search platform, to help AI experts navigate new research.


[Startup Interview] Marthinus Coetzee, CEO, iPTT Africa, South Africa
Published: 22-09-2020 | 11:02:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Iptt africa (pty) Limited, a South African telecommunications startup, solves the communication problems faced by many businesses and organizations in Africa through its italkptt platform that allows businesses to communicate from anywhere in Africa to anywhere in the world. The CEO Marthinus Coetzee elaborates.


ARM launches API service for fintech startups in Nigeria
Published: 22-09-2020 | 09:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigeria's financial services provider ARM launched ARM Sandbox, a new and more efficient way for fintechs to scale their integration and customer acquisition plans.


Online sales program startup Virtanza closes $1m in private investment funding round
Published: 21-09-2020 | 14:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sales2Job Academy, DBA Virtanza, an Orange County-based company that offers higher education a scalable sales training solution directly connected to employers, announced it has raised seed round funding totaling $1 million from private investors.


South Korean fntech startup WireBarley raises $10m Series B to strengthen global remittance service capabilities
Published: 21-09-2020 | 14:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
South Korean fintech startup in global memittance WireBarley has raised $10 million in Series B funding from Magna Investment, Shinsegae I&C and Dt & Investment.


South Korean healthcare startup WellsCare signs in-store contract with b8ta for IASO
Published: 21-09-2020 | 14:00:35 | By: Pie Kamau
WellsCare, a member company of the Born2Global Centre, signed a store contract with b8ta, a famous American flagship store that is dedicated to innovative products.


Harvard-incubated startup MarqVision launches AI-powered platform to protect brands from counterfeits
Published: 21-09-2020 | 13:43:44 | By: Pie Kamau
MarqVision, an AI-based SaaS company, launched its brand protection platform that helps brands effortlessly detect and remove counterfeits on online marketplaces.


[Startup Interview] Jason Gras, Emile Fulcheri, Stima, Kenya
Published: 19-09-2020 | 10:54:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Stima is a Kenya-based startup that operates a smart service swap stations providing charging services to enable moto-taxi riders to switch to electric motorcycles.


German urban farming startup Infarm raises $170m to grow urban vertical farming network in the world
Published: 18-09-2020 | 13:22:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


ZenSports closes additional $1.46m Seed funding for U.S. and international expansion
Published: 18-09-2020 | 12:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ZenSports, the mobile peer-to-peer sports betting marketplace announced a new $1.46 million Seed round of funding to expand into the United States, as well as to continue to grow its international presence.


Plug and Play selects 147 startups for its winter 2020 batches
Published: 18-09-2020 | 12:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play announced the selection of 147 new startups into its winter 2020 batches. The startups were selected to join one of the following programs that will run through November 2020.


Imagine Impact closes Series A financing with Benchmark
Published: 18-09-2020 | 11:42:17 | By: Pie Kamau
Imagine Impact, the content accelerator and online marketplace startup founded by Academy Award-winning duo Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, announced the close of its Series A financing round led by Benchmark, a Silicon Valley Venture Capital firm.


Fintech startup KodyPay raises £1.8m to transform payments industry
Published: 17-09-2020 | 12:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
London based fintech startup KodyPay, raised £1.8 million to transform the payments industry, allowing users to pay for goods in-store without queueing thereby making shopping a prompt and effortless process.


Cellular agriculture startup Wildtype launches salmon in sushi restaurants
Published: 17-09-2020 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


SEMrush acquires Poland's SaaS PR tech startup Prowly
Published: 17-09-2020 | 11:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SEMrush, an online visibility management and content marketing SaaS platform, has further expanded its ecosystem with the acquisition of a 100% stake in Poland's public relations SaaS startup Prowly.com.


Trust Payments partners with messaging and e-commerce startup Wakanda Messenger to empower Africans around the world
Published: 17-09-2020 | 11:05:41 | By: Pie Kamau
Trust Payments, the global unified payments group for global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies, has partnered with social network, messaging and e-commerce startup Wakanda Messenger.


Hetz Ventures closes on $77m for oversubscribed second fund to invest in B2B enterprise tech
Published: 16-09-2020 | 14:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Hetz Ventures, a leading venture capital fund for early-stage investments, announced the close of its second flagship fund, oversubscribed at $77 million.


Flagstar Bank now accepting applications for MortgageTech Accelerator Program
Published: 16-09-2020 | 14:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Flagstar Bank and the Fintech Consortium are accepting applications for the Flagstar MortgageTech Accelerator Program now through Sept. 30.


Wix announces Wix Capital, internal venture arm to invest in global startups
Published: 16-09-2020 | 14:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Wix.com, the global leader in website creation, announced its own venture capital initiative, Wix Capital, to invest in technology innovators that are focused on the future of the web.


Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery releases WooCommerce plugin, enabling 2-hour deliveries for online merchants
Published: 15-09-2020 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery released a WooCommerce plugin, enabling thousands of Nigerian online merchants to integrate seamlessly its delivery service to their WordPress online stores.


Medical device startup Spine Align raises $1.75m Series Seed Round to reach FDA clearance
Published: 15-09-2020 | 08:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Spine Align, a medical device company developing a portfolio of products that enable spine surgeons to measure, visualize, and adjust patients' spinal alignment during surgery, closed a $1.75M Series Seed round.


Virtual reality startup Nanome partners with Fujitsu to bring drug design software to Japanese market
Published: 15-09-2020 | 08:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
San Diego-based virtual reality (VR) startup Nanome, has entered into an agreement with Fujitsu to bring their signature product, an immersive scientific design and collaboration platform to the Japanese market.


Kenyan tech startup Xetova shortlisted for MIT 2020 health security & pandemics track
Published: 15-09-2020 | 08:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan technology startup, xetova, has been named 2020 Global Solve finalist by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the health security and pandemics track.


AI-based startup SafeRide expands into Germany to support, accelerate growing business in Europe
Published: 14-09-2020 | 12:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SafeRide Technologies, a leading provider of AI-based vehicle health management, data analytics, and cybersecurity solutions for connected and autonomous vehicles, announced the opening of a new office in Germany.


IME Medical Electrospinning secures €3m financing from Dutch VCs to expand its Medispin XL production platform
Published: 14-09-2020 | 12:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
IME Medical Electrospinning, a global leader in electrospun medical devices and regenerative medicine, announced it has successfully raised €3 million in equity financing and debt.


Danish drone startup QuadSAT raises €2m to accelerate product testing
Published: 11-09-2020 | 13:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
QuadSAT, a Danish company that is revolutionising test and measurement of satellite antennas, announced it has closed a €2 million Pre-Series A Investment, the largest venture investment in a Danish drone tech company in history.


Spain's Banco Santander spins out fintech venture capital arm, doubles allocated funds to $400m
Published: 11-09-2020 | 13:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Banco Santander announced the launch of Mouro Capital, a new, autonomously managed venture capital fund focused on fintechs and adjacent businesses linked with the financial services industry.


Zurich-based turicode closes €2m seed investments round for growth plans
Published: 11-09-2020 | 12:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
turicode, a successful Software-as-a-Service provider in the field of document processing solutions based on machine learning and deep learning raised €2 million seed investments to fund the company’s growth plans.


UK's curated audio platform for journalism Curio closes $9m Series A funding for international expansion
Published: 11-09-2020 | 11:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Curio, the premium audio platform with a curated library of expert journalism, closed a $9 million Series A round led by Earlybird. Draper Esprit, Cherry Ventures, and Horizons Ventures also took part in the investment.


Belgian startup InviteDesk raises €500K to expand its event marketing software
Published: 10-09-2020 | 14:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
InviteDesk, developer of event marketing software, has increased its capital by more than €500 thousand. With InviteDesk, companies increase their return on investment (ROI) from event marketing.


Belgian scale-up Oncomfort raises €10m in Series A funding
Published: 09-09-2020 | 15:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Oncomfort, the Belgian inventor of and leader in Digital SedationTM a method for relieving patients' pain and anxiety without medication announced the completion of a €10 million Series A funding round.


PopSQL raises $3.4m to help teams collaborate using data
Published: 09-09-2020 | 15:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
PopSQL, the collaborative SQL editor for teams announced $3.4 million in seed funding, led by Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund.


Pcysys announces $25m Series B funding round led by Insight Partners
Published: 09-09-2020 | 14:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cybersecurity Validation company, Pcysys, announced it has completed a $25 million Series B funding round led by US-based venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners.


SaaS Ventures announces launch of second fund, raises $20m in first close
Published: 08-09-2020 | 16:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
SaaS Ventures, a Maryland-based venture capital firm focused on investing in early stage enterprise technology companies in secondary markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, has announced the launch of a second fund (Fund II).


Early investors in 4IR startups set to reap rewards
Published: 08-09-2020 | 15:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Early investors in startups with exposure to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) are benefiting from significant revenue growth despite the physical constraints introduced by governments’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.


Fintech startup Thunes raises $60m in Series B funding to accelerate global growth
Published: 08-09-2020 | 14:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Fintech startup Thunes, which operates a global B2B cross-border payments network, continues to attract investment as emerging markets take off.


Smart consumer technology startup Dreame raises $14.6m in Series B+ funding
Published: 07-09-2020 | 16:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Dreame Technology (Dreame), a smart consumer technology company specializing in cordless vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners and mops, announced it raised $14.6 million in its Series B+ funding led by IDG Capital.


Paul Lamontagne steps down as CEO of FinDev Canada
Published: 07-09-2020 | 11:27:26 | By: Pie Kamau
Following close to three years as the first CEO of Findev Canada, Paul Lamontagne has announced that he is stepping down effective September 11, 2020.


Software development startup Zymr expands footprint in India, opens new development center in Bengaluru
Published: 04-09-2020 | 15:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Zymr, a full-stack cloud-native software development company headquartered in California announced the establishment of a third development center in Bengaluru, India, to respond to an increasing customer demand despite COVID slowdown.


SafeButler, Liberty Mutual partner to offer instant renters insurance
Published: 04-09-2020 | 15:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
YCombinator funded startup SafeButler has partnered with Liberty Mutual, an insurance industry leader for over 100 years, to provide instant access to a comprehensive renters insurance plan at a very low rate.


StartUp Namibia launches Round 2 of COVID 19 Startup Grant
Published: 04-09-2020 | 08:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
In order to support more startups and young enterprises, StartUp Namibia and its partners announced Round 2 of the COVID-19 Startup Grant, called “Startup Survival Grant”.


Demodesk raises $8m to scale world’s first intelligent online sales meeting software
Published: 03-09-2020 | 16:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Demodesk has raised $8 million in the latest Series A funding round, led by Balderton Capital with participation from Target Global, to scale the platform that has revolutionized screen-sharing for great customer conversation.


BorgWarner expands collaboration with startup ecosystem Plug and Play
Published: 03-09-2020 | 16:02:58 | By: Pie Kamau
BorgWarner announced its next venture with Plug and Play, a global innovation platform and accelerator ecosystem for startup companies, by becoming a partner of its newly planned incubator location in Detroit.


South Korean Doit5 launches advertising content service using web AR technology
Published: 03-09-2020 | 15:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Social marketing platform Doit5 announced the launch of an advertising service that uses content with web based AR technology.


e-commerce startup Pharmapacks closes $40m bridge round financing
Published: 03-09-2020 | 15:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pharmapacks, a leading e-commerce enablement platform and retail seller for brands across major ecommerce marketplaces announced the closing of a $40 million bridge round financing.


West Africa's Miro Forestry raises $48 funding close led by CDC to combat climate crisis
Published: 02-09-2020 | 15:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Fielding Norton joins advisory board of InsureTech startup Pricing Platform
Published: 02-09-2020 | 10:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pricing Platform, an InsureTech startup that integrates Property & Casualty underwriting, pricing, and portfolio analytics in a cloud-based platform announced Fielding "Fid" Norton has joined as founding advisor and Chair of the advisory board.


Digital Horizon invests in Nigerian health startup Healthlane
Published: 02-09-2020 | 09:55:45 | By: Pie Kamau
Digital Horizon venture fund has invested in Y Combinator alumnus Healthlane, the startup focusing on modern, online consultations for local and remote patients, alongside traditional face-to-face public health services across Africa.


Chromologics raises €1.9m seed round to accelerate development of fermentation-derived next generation food colorants
Published: 01-09-2020 | 17:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Chromologics, which is developing innovative natural food colorants, announced it has raised €1.9 million in seed financing led by Novo Seeds and supported by Nordic FoodTech VC and Vækstfonden.


Paris-based startup Klassroom raises $3m to expand from France to other countries including the U.S.
Published: 01-09-2020 | 17:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Klassroom, the Paris-based company that reinvents parent-teacher communication in pre-kindergarten and all elementary school grades, raised a $3 million seed round led by Bpifrance.


LimaCharlie receives $500K seed funding to accelerate growth of security infrastructure as a Service
Published: 01-09-2020 | 15:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
LimaCharlie, the market leader for delivering Information Security Infrastructure as a Service (SIaaS), has secured seed $500K funding from Lytical Ventures to accelerate growth and support its continued success.


Irish agtech startup MagGrow raises €6m Series A round
Published: 17-08-2020 | 14:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 14-08-2020 | 15:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 13-08-2020 | 15:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Seattle based startup Atomo Coffee announced it has closed an additional $9 million in Seed funding to bring its molecular coffee to market.


Kenyan agritech startup Lentera, MCFI ink deal to provide satellite based crop analysis for Mauritian farmers
Published: 29-07-2020 | 11:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.


Evonik invests in Chinese tech startup to support intelligent, healthier pig farming
Published: 28-07-2020 | 13:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Evonik’s venture capital arm has invested in SmartAHC, a Chinese technology startup that enables more intelligent and healthier pig farming.


IFC helps boost clean tech startups in Egypt, enables farmers switch to solar
Published: 15-07-2020 | 12:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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
Published: 07-07-2020 | 16:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
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.