NextBillion - A WDI Publication

MapMyCrop, Varaha, and Connektra.io Secure Fresh Funding to Drive Innovation

The following startups have announced their latest funding rounds, securing investments to drive innovation and expansion.

Source

Entrepreneur India (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture

Region

Asia Pacific

Tags

agtech, artificial intelligence, credit scoring, smallholder farmers

Africa’s Startup Funding Crisis Deepens as Mastercard Foundation Exits Top VC Firm

Mastercard Foundation pulls out of its $100 million commitment to African venture capital firm 54 Collective.

Source

Rest of World (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agtech, climate change, corporations, employment, fintech, food security, global development, MSMEs, partnerships, philanthropy, startups, venture capital, youth

Acumen Invests in Ghanaian Agritech Startup Wami Agro

Wami Agro, a new Acumen investee under the Trellis initiative, is pioneering innovative agricultural solutions in Ghana to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, reduce poverty, and strengthen food security.

Source

Acumen (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Social Enterprise, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agtech, climate change, food security, poverty alleviation, smallholder farmers, startups

Safaricom & NGO Launch AI Farming Solutions to Kenyan Agriculture

FarmerAI combines generative AI with localized agricultural insights, delivering vital information on topics like weather patterns, fertilizer application, pest management, and market prices.

Source

IT News Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Technology

Region

Global

Tags

agtech, artificial intelligence, innovation, smallholder farmers

Banyu Lands US $1.25 Million to Unlock Global Market Potential for Indonesia’s Seaweed Industry

Banyu's plans include establishing a seedling cultivation laboratory and nursery, making it the largest producer of high-quality seaweed seedlings in Indonesia.

Source

Marketing-Interactive (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture

Region

South Asia

Tags

agtech, smallholder farmers

Press Release: Leaps by Bayer Announces One of the Largest Global Surveys of Society’s Attitudes Toward Breakthrough Technologies

The impact investing arm of Bayer, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced the launch of one of the largest surveys examining global public sentiment towards transformative technology.

Source

Bayer (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Health Care, Technology

Region

Global

Tags

agtech, artificial intelligence, climate change, data, healthcare technology, impact investing, innovation, nutrition, research

Press Release: Novastar Ventures Backs the Growth of Sistema.bio in Africa

Novastar has joined Sistema.bio’s recent internal financing round of USD 7.75 million with a USD 3.5 million investment.

Source

Sistema.bio (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Energy, Environment

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agtech, climate change, decarbonization, renewable energy, smallholder farmers

James Militzer

NextBillion’s Most Influential Articles of 2024: Congratulations to the Three Winners

NextBillion's “Most Influential Articles of the Year” contest has been a yearly tradition since 2012. The contest highlights 12 of our most-read articles from the past year and gives readers the opportunity to vote for their favorites. Here are our three Most Influential Articles of 2024, as selected by our readers.

Categories

Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Investing, Technology

Tags

agtech, artificial intelligence, energy access, food security, healthcare technology, off-grid energy, Productive Use of Energy