Three African Agtech Start-ups to Watch

By How We Made It in Africa

Agrifoodtech investment in Africa hit US$482.3 million in 2021, up from $185 million in 2020, according to venture capital (VC) firm AgFunder’s recent Africa Agrifoodtech Investment Report. African agrifoodtech companies have collectively raised $1.1 billion since 2017 but the sector accounted for just about 10% of all VC investment on the continent last year, where fintech start-ups dominated fundraising.

Agrifood challenges and opportunities in Africa differ from Europe, the U.S., Asia and Latin America. African entrepreneurs are focusing their efforts on tech that can solve, bridge or circumvent poor infrastructure and fragmented supply chains.

How We Made It in Africa takes a closer look at three agtech companies operating on the continent, as highlighted in the report.

Aerobotics, South Africa

James Paterson and Benji Meltzer launched Aerobotics in 2014 to transform everyday farming operations with technology that supports smarter business decisions and ensures a sustainable future. Using industry-leading computer vision for agriculture, the South African start-up provides precision farming insights for growers to better measure, manage and protect their yields.

The founders describe Aerobotics as a “farming company, enabled by technology,” rather than a tech company that is focused on farming. The distinction is important in a sector with a growing range of tech solutions promising to support farmers’ livelihoods, Paterson told AgFunderNews. “Farming is a specialized industry that requires one to fully understand its intricacies to succeed in serving that niche.”