AGRITECH FOUNDERS DIARY

Funding is one of the toughest challenges Agri tech founders face. In this solo episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuwana breaks down how startups can access non dilutive funding capital that helps you grow without giving up equity or taking on debt.In this episode you’ll discover: • Why your first grant is the gateway to bigger opportunities • Practical steps to position your startup for funding success • The storytelling, problem framing, and evidence investors look for • How to avoid common mistakes that cost founders funding • Ways to build credibility, partnerships, and long term sustainabilityIf you’re an Agri tech founder or entrepreneur navigating the funding maze, this episode is for you. Follow the podcast for more founder storiesLeave a review if you enjoyed this episodeStay informed with AgriTech Digest:Visit our WebsiteSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, InstagramBe Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent formSubscribe to our Newsletter

Can the right grant transform your startup’s future?In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, we sit down with Olugbenga Ogunbowale, CEO of Grant Master, known as “The Grant Master” for helping countless entrepreneurs unlock millions in non-dilutive funding.You’ll learn:• The difference between grants, competitions, loans, and VC funding• When and how agri-tech startups should apply for grants• Why documentation and focus are key to winning• How to avoid common mistakes that waste time and energyIf you’re building in agri-tech and need funding insights that go beyond loans and equity, this episode is for you.Follow the podcast, leave a review, and visit AgriTechDigest.com for behind-the-scenes content.Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, InstagramBe Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent formSubscribe to our Newsletter

What does it take to rebuild agriculture for both people and planet?In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, Peter Murage of MOOF Africa and Michael Jones of AgroReGenerations share how open source systems, local knowledge, and farmer first practices are shaping climate resilient agriculture across Africa.You’ll learn:• Why open source matters for trust and scale• How local knowledge drives better food solutions• The realities of scaling regenerative farmingIf you care about agri tech, climate resilience, or the future of farming in Africa, this episode is for you.Get more insight on this work:Follow AgroReGenerations on LinkedInExplore their tools and pilot updates via AgroReGenerations Website Support Peter Murage’s work and journey to COP30 via MOOF AfricaIf you care about sustainable farming, local knowledge, and climate action, this one’s for you.Follow the podcast, leave a review, and visit AgriTechDigest.com for behind-the-scenes content. Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent formSubscribe to our Newsletter

Can open-source tools and ancestral knowledge transform the future of farming?In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, we sit down with Michael Jones, co-founder and Lead Architect of AgroReGenerations, a regenerative systems initiative helping smallholder farmers build climate resilience through transparent tech and local collaboration.What we discussed:Why open-source tools matter for farmers and food securityHow regenerative agriculture can fight climate change and povertyThe role of AI, blockchain, and ancestral wisdom in farmingWhat scaling with integrity looks like in diverse communitiesMichael’s vision for farmer-first innovation over the next five yearsIf you care about sustainable farming, local knowledge, and climate action, this one’s for you.Get more insight on this work:Follow AgroReGenerations on LinkedInExplore Tools and Updates via AgroReGenerations Website Support Peter Murage’s work and journey to COP30 via MOOF AfricaIf you care about sustainable farming, local knowledge, and climate action, this one’s for you.Follow the podcast, leave a review, and visit AgriTechDigest.com for behind-the-scenes content. Be Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent formSubscribe to our Newsletter

Meet Adeoye Oluwatosin - he started Viscio Express after watching his sister struggle with crazy logistics costs. Now he's fixing Nigeria's 3.5 trillion naira food transportation mess.You'll learn;Why farmers are losing 40% of profits to bad logisticsHis genius solution for empty truck returnsGetting old-school farmers to trust new tech (hint: start with phone calls!)Charging just 45,000 naira per ton from Kano to LagosThat hilarious midnight disaster when his driver went rogueFirst hand insight from someone actually solving problems, not just talking about them. If you're a tech founder, rural innovator, or advocate for food security, this one’s for you.Follow the podcast for more founder storiesLeave a review if you enjoyed this episodeStay informed with AgriTech Digest:Visit our WebsiteSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, InstagramBe Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form

Can passive investment models revolutionize African agriculture?Our Host. Kenneth Obayuwanna,  an agri-investment strategist who’s unlocking new pathways for wealth creation in Africa—without the need to till the soil.In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, we explore: How digital platforms are helping everyday investors earn big from agri-business What "non-farming" investment looks like in practice across Nigeria and beyond Strategies that reduce risk and increase ROI in agritech investing The role of partnerships and cooperatives in scaling impact Behind-the-scenes of the investor mindset: from small capital to big returns If you’re an aspiring investor, agritech founder, or curious about how agriculture can scale without land ownership—this is your episode.Follow the podcast for more founder stories.Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.Stay informed with AgriTech Digest:Visit our Website:https://agritechdigest.comSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, InstagramBe Our Guest, Fill the Guest Intent form

Can data-driven farming end food insecurity in rural Africa?Meet Esineye Shilombo, founder of Chiseko, a Zambian agri-tech startup building a digital bridge between smallholder farmers and high-demand markets. From IT lead at the U.S. Embassy to agri-innovator, Esineye is rewriting what it means to be a tech-powered changemaker in Southern Africa.In this episode of AgriTech Founders Diary, we explore:How Chiseko uses market data and remote sensing to boost farmer productivity What it takes to turn a farming hobby into a scalable digital marketplace The power of bootstrapping, grants, and partnerships (like Hilton Hotel & Standard Chartered Women in Tech)Real challenges: power cuts, rural connectivity, and gender bias in tech Sustainable growth: building climate resilience through smart farming tools Why the future of African agriculture is borderless — and how Chiseko is scaling into GhanaIf you’re building in agri-tech, battling startup barriers, or just want to hear from a founder walking the talk, this episode is your spark.Follow the podcast for more founder storiesLeave a review if you enjoyed this episodeStay informed with AgriTech Digest:Website:https://agritechdigest.comSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

Can a $500 grant spark a sustainable agritech revolution?  Meet John Samuel, the 21-year-old founder of KITA Farms United, who’s reshaping agriculture in Northern Nigeria through circular farming, youth empowerment, and digital innovation.In this inspiring episode of Agritech Founders Diary, we explore:How John scaled KITA Farms from 20 bags to 100+ using smart irrigationWhat circular farming really looks like in the Nigerian contextHow his startup empowers IDPs, women, and underserved farming communitiesThe real story behind startup rejection and building resilienceTools and grant strategies that helped fuel their journeyIf you're a farmer, tech founder, or change-maker, this is a masterclass in building sustainable agritech solutions with real impact. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episode Stay informed with AgriTech Digest:Website:https://agritechdigest.comSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

In this episode of the AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuana talks with Winnie Wambaku , the founder of Nakuru Tubers, a trailblazing AgriTech startup using tissue culture technology to boost seed potato farming in Kenya. From the greenhouse to the farm, Wanjiru shares her transformation from a horticulture graduate to an agricultural entrepreneur, driven by a mission to improve food security and farmers’ livelihoods. We explore: The role of science in producing climate-resilient, disease-free seed potatoes  Bridging the gap between academic research and real-world agricultural application  Empowering women and youth through training and job creation in the agricultural sector  Overcoming challenges in scaling an AgriTech startup and accessing government and donor support  How smallholder farmers are benefiting from high-yield varieties and modern planting techniques If you're a farmer, AgriTech innovator, or policy-maker, this episode offers inspiration and practical insight on creating impact through sustainable agriculture. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episodeStay informed with AgriTech Digest:Website:https://agritechdigest.comSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

In this episode of the AgriTech Founders Diary, host Kenneth Obayuana talks with Winnie Wambaku , the founder of Nakuru Tubers, a trailblazing AgriTech startup using tissue culture technology to boost seed potato farming in Kenya. From the greenhouse to the farm, Wanjiru shares her transformation from a horticulture graduate to an agricultural entrepreneur, driven by a mission to improve food security and farmers’ livelihoods. We explore: The role of science in producing climate-resilient, disease-free seed potatoes  Bridging the gap between academic research and real-world agricultural application  Empowering women and youth through training and job creation in the agricultural sector  Overcoming challenges in scaling an AgriTech startup and accessing government and donor support  How smallholder farmers are benefiting from high-yield varieties and modern planting techniques If you're a farmer, AgriTech innovator, or policy-maker, this episode offers inspiration and practical insight on creating impact through sustainable agriculture. Follow the podcast for more founder stories Leave a review if you enjoyed this episodeStay informed with AgriTech Digest:Website:https://agritechdigest.comSocial Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram

Bruno Ferreira, CEO of a transformative food bank in Bolivia. Bruno has dedicated his career to building a sustainable food system that not only addresses food insecurity but creates lasting change for communities in need. In this episode, he’ll be sharing the realities and challenges he faces on the front lines of food security, along with the groundbreaking innovations his organization is implementing. Don't miss this inspiring conversation with a leader who's making an undeniable impact—tune in to learn, engage, and be part of the solution.

Step into the world of agricultural innovation with Andrew Mack, the mastermind behind Agromovil, a game-changing software connecting farmers with markets around africa and the Latin America. In this exclusive Interview, Andrew shares the remarkable story of building Agromovil from scratch, navigating challenges, and paving the way for a brighter future in farming. Join us for an insightful journey through the triumphs and trials of entrepreneurship in agritech, and discover the transformative impact of technology on agriculture, both in Africa, Latin America and beyond.

In this episode of Agritech Founders Diary podcast Mr. Soji Sanyaolu, CEO of AirSmat Inc, shares his inspiring journey in the agritech industry. In this exclusive episode, Mr. Sanyaolu will delve into the challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons learned while building AirSmat from the ground up. He share with us how AirSmat Inc is revolutionizing the industry with innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology.

Meet Mr. Ammar Al-Shami, the founder of EFRESCO. He is an economist and agribusiness entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business and international development. EFRESCO is a global cross-border trading portal for fresh produce. EFRESCO supports cross-border trade, technology, and distribution solutions for the fresh produce industry. In the interview, he will be sharing his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them. He will also discuss the future of retail and food systems. Be sure to watch the interview to the end.

In this inspiring episode, we dive into the journey of Gugulethu Mahlangu, an entrepreneur who turned her passion for sustainability into a thriving aquaponics farm. From humble beginnings to growing fresh produce and raising fish in a symbiotic ecosystem, Gugulethu shares her unique path to building a successful and eco-friendly farm. Tune in as we explore the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way in creating a sustainable agricultural model that is changing the way we think about food production. Whether you're an aspiring farmer, sustainability advocate, or just curious about innovative farming practices, this episode will leave you motivated and inspired to pursue your own dreams. Listen now to discover how Gugulethu is making waves in the world of aquaponics and reshaping the future of farming!

Meet Ana Rosa De Lima, the founder, Meli Bees Network gUG, an independent organisation that engages & empowers indigenous peoples and local communities in vulnerable areas lead regeneration in a bottom-up movement for climate justice. Through Meli Bees Network gUG, Ana Rosa engages over 50 communities, connect them amongst peers and partners and fund community-led projects. On this episode, Ana Rosa De Lima shared with us how she built Meli Bees Network gUG and the inspiration behind it.

Meet Emmastella Gakuo the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-founder of Savanna Circuit, Africa's leading manufacturer and distributor of mobile and stationery solar chillers of customized capacities for all your business cooling needs! Emmastella's solar-powered mobile chillers are designed to assist dairy farmers in remote areas of Kenya in preserving the freshness of their produced milk for an extended duration. This groundbreaking innovation has enabled over 22,000 smallholder farmers to transport millions of litre's of milk safely. In this episode, Emmastella shared insights into the inspiration behind launching her agritech company, the challenges encountered, and the strategies employed to overcome them.

Meet Mathias Charles Yabe, the co-founder and CEO of AkoFresh, a green cold chain enterprise, offering farmers and traders solar powered cold storage preservation services to put an end to post-harvest losses. On this episode, Mathias shared the challenges he encountered while building his agritech company how he solved them.

Meet Mr Balogun Olagoke, CEO of SO FRESH Ltd, Nigeria's pioneer and number one healthy food chain company, providing fresh, delicious, nutrient-rich healthy meals and committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Founded in 2010, Mr. Balogun has made So Fresh LTD (formerly Fruitvegies Limited) a prime and preferred destination for people to make clean, safe, & healthy food choices in Nigeria. In this interview, Mr. Balogun shared with his transition story from his oil company to start an agritech business and how he has been able to build and scale it.

Meet Kenneth Obayuwana, the CEO of Agritech Digest, a platform that serves as a meeting point for agriculture and technology. Through Agritech Digest, Kenneth connects, inform, and inspire hundreds of stakeholders in the agritech industry for maximum productivity. On this special episode, Kenneth shared his strategies and insights for his agritech company.

Meet Mrs. Pretty Kubyane, co-founer, eFama App, an app that enables farmers to sell their fresh produce and meat directly to consumers and commercial buyers. In this interview, Mrs. Pretty shared how she and her husband managed to establish and develop their family agritech business.

Meet Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula, Co-Founder of Farmspeak Technology, an agritech startup that focuses on manufacturing hardware devices that is powered by internet-of-things (IoT) and artificial intelligence to help smallholder poultry farmers diagnose poultry diseases, combat climate change, monitor and regulate the poultry environment. Amongst other things, Adaeze was recognized as the top 5 women in the agritech industry by the Guzakuza awards 2022. As a speaker, she recently shared her insights on artificial intelligence in agriculture and youth inclusion at prestigious the Diverse Science Diplomacy Takes 2022 in California, USA. She also spoke at the Lagos State Economic Summit - Ehingbeti, 2022, discussing Forward Thinking Agricultural Systems with Digital Technologies. In this interview, she shared her entrepreneurship journey with us and how she was able to navigate the agritech industry.

Meet Mariana Vasconcelos, the Chief Executive Officer of Agrosmart, a company that provides end-to-end solutions for farmers and agribusinesses to become more resilient, adapted, and sustainable in the face of climate change. Mariana is a technology pioneer alumnus of the World Economic Forum. she also serves as an advisory board member at Thought For Food, Fundação Espaço ECO (BASF) and Instituto Interamericano de Cooperação para a Agricultura (IICA). She is a climate activist and an expert in digital agriculture, considered one of the most influential people in Latin America by Bloomberg Linea. With a business background and degrees from UNIFEI, LSE and Singularity University, she was also recognized as an Innovator under 35 by MIT Technology Review, Forbes 30 Under 30 Brasil and Fast Company world's 100 Most Creative in Business. In this interview, Mariana shared how she built her AGROSMART.

Meet Ben Scott-Robinson who is an accomplished digital entrepreneur focused on geospatial and mobility technologies. Ben co-founded Small Robot Company in 2017 with a vision to transform food production with accurate, smart, lightweight robots. Ben is an experienced technology entrepreneur and early mobile technology innovator, including a phone for blind people. On this special episode, Ben shared the inspiration behind starting Small Robot Company.

Meet Eneyi Oshi, a passionate Agripreneur, is the co-founder of Agrisiti. Agrisiti as an agritech brand provides smart, urban agricultural infrastructure and appropriate awareness for urban dwellers to primarily aid the sustainable cultivation of high-quality protein foods whilst earning a sustainable living and also creating decent livelihoods for many people via agriculture. In this interview, Eneyi shared her entrepreneurship journey with us.

Meet Maryna Kuzmenko, a visionary agritech leader. She is the co-founder of the UK-based company, Petiole Pro. With Petiole Pro, Maryna is revolutionizing plant phenotyping through AI-powered smartphone tools for accurate plant assessment. Maryna worked for over five years in governmental organizations in Ukraine and served as an assistant to Member of Parliament, focusing on digitalization in farming and environmental services. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Law (2015) from Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, Ukraine. In this interview, Maryna Kuzmenko shared her entrepreneurship journey with us and how she raised a grant of 25000 pounds for her business Petiole Pro.

Meet Luis Escobedo, founder of Agrobyte, an innovative company dedicated to integrating drones, sensors, and digital agriculture techniques into farming so as to optimize crop yield and support farmers in their quest for efficiency and sustainability. In order to make Agrobyte more accessible, Luis acquired NJ Drone Academy (now Byte Drone Centre); a robust platform to offer comprehensive drone training programs and services. On this episode, Luis shared with us his entrepreneurship journey, challenges faced, and lessons learnt along the way.

Meet Christine Gould, founder and CEO of Thought For Food. In her previous roles, Christine has led external affairs, public policy, and corporate affairs functions for leading multinationals, fast-growing startups, think tanks, and industry associations. Her work has been covered by The Economist, MIT Tech Review, Forbes, and the Financial Times. She was recently appointed by the UN Deputy Secretary-General to serve on the Advisory Committee for the UN Food Systems Summit. Christine is the author of "The Change-makers Guide to Feeding the Planet" and the producer of 2 feature films about agri-food-tech solutions. In her free time, Christine DJs and listens to electronic music. In this interview, she shared with us how she built the world's entrepreneurial innovation engine for food and agriculture called Thought For Food, an innovation platform for young agri-food entrepreneurs aka the silicon Valley of Agritech ecosystem.

Meet Shadrack Kubyane, co-founder of eFAMA App, an app that connects farmers of fresh agro products directly to commercial buyers and consumers. As usual, Shadrack shared his agritech story with us, lessons learned and victories earned.

Meet Linda Ekweogu, co-founder of Agrolinka, a mobile app that connects farmers and food processors to consumers. She ventured into the agritech space in 2020 when she decided to digitize the process of moving food from farms directly to consumers. Despite Agrolinka being young agritech company founded Q4 2020, it currently seerve over 2000 users. In this interview, Linda shared with us her inspiring and audacious stories, how she navigated the agritech industry to the top.

Meet Mr Elisha Caleb, an agritech innovator, CEO of Agrotech Plus LTD, a Kenya based Cooling as a Service (CaaS) for smallholder farmers, retailers and wholesalers of horticultural produce. Through Agrotech Plus LTD, Elisha mitigates food spoilage by deploying and operating a robust off-the-grid cold storage. By improving access to cooling services and subsequently increasing the income of farmers and retailers, uplifting and empowering local Kenyan communities – women in particular. In this episode of Agritech founders Diary, Elisha shared how he built Agrotech Plus LTD, challenges faced, and progress made.

Meet Ojo Endurance Peter, an Israel University Scholar who consulted for the Taraba State Government of Nigeria in a state wide project. Amongst other feats, he also developed an agro production template for an FCMB Nigeria project. In 2020, he founded Marketprice Vegetables Farms LTD, a vegetable production company using state of the art indigenous greenhouse high tunnels to grow vegetables for the Nigeria markets. In this interview, Ojo shared how he built his vegetable greenhouse farm and how he navigated the agro industry.

Meet Dr. Balaji Vasudevan, an AgroBioscience Chief Scientist at a top VC firm based in Africa. With over 20 years of agtech experience in industry and academia combined, he is driven by a desire to help companies bring break-through agri-food technologies to market that create a better food and agriculture eco-system. He is also an advisor/science consultant/SAB member for global agri-foodtech companies. Dr. Balaji earned his Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology from Madurai Kamaraj University, India. He has Worked with 5 agtech industries in USA and India, 3 globally reputed Universities. His post-doctoral training was at Cornell University, USA; Nobel Research Institute, USA and Tel-Aviv University, Israel He has 17 refereed international publications in top plant science journals (eg. Nature Communications, Nature Scientific Reports, Plant Cell, Plant Physiology, Plant Journal, MPMI etc.) He has 1 patent filed on “Plant Molecular Farming to Produce Animal Proteins in Plants” In this interview he shared his agritech experience and what the future of agriculture will be in the coming decades.

Meet Saumya Rawat, the CEO of EkoSight, an Agritech company focused on making soil testing highly accurate, accessible, affordable and sustainable for end users. Aside providing precise fertilizer recommendation for agriculturists, EkoSight has also developed Soil Doctor, a fertilizer recommendation device that solves the problem of complex, delayed and costly soil testing processes. In this interview Saumya shared her entrepreneurship journey, challenges she faced and how she overcame them.

Meet Christina Aton Villa, a passionate, green tech ecosystem, multi-cultural agri-food leader. She is the CEO and co-founder of Agrosymbiose, a service platform that maximizes the value of agricultural natural capital. In this interview she shared her entrepreneurship journey, her motivation and what inspired her to start her agritech business.

Meet Roland de Bruijn, the CEO of Agrisim, an agricultural decision support system that uses big-data, technology and algorithms to optimize farm ouputs. In this interview, Ronald de Bruijn, shared his story, career, experience and lesson learnt while building Agrisim.

Meet Mr. Aderinola Amole, the Co-Founder of Farmsquare Nigeria, a leading online agricultural platform offering affordable and quality farm inputs. In 2021, Mr. Amole won over 2 Million Naira in the Wema Bank Hackaholic 2.0 Agritech Bootcamp. He is an alum of Venture Building Start-up program by Engenesis. He intends to make his Agritech firm the leading Agricultural supply-chain institution in Africa in thr coming years.

Femi Adekoya, popularly known as the Flyingfarmer is an AgTech professional and experienced in the agricultural & horticultural industry with a decade of experience in agricultural innovations and precision technologies. He is very passionate about agricultural development, agricultural technology, environmental sustainability, value-based leadership, food security, and community development. Femi is the founder of Agridec Ltd and Integrated Aerial Precision Ltd (www.iaprecision.com), both of which are agricultural enterprises leading with various innovations in Africa. In this interview, Femi Asdekoya shared why ran with is innovation, the challenges he encountered and his wins in the agtech niche.

Matylda Szyrle is the CEO of Listny Cud / Future Friendly Farm, one of the first vertical farms in Poland. The farm grows organic microgreens and herbs in various formats, ranging from small vertical farms for offices and schools to industrial vertical farms. Listny Cud aims to sustainably produce good food and strengthen food security in the face of the looming climate crisis.  Matylda's Listny Cud is an alum of the biggest CEE accelerator for foodtech startups; foodtech.ac. She has also been featured in the Forbes Women Polska list of 100 Women of 2021. In this interview Matylda Szyrle shared with us her experience, challenges and lesson learnt while building her Agritech company.

Meet Farmer Samson Ogbole, the Innovator and Team Lead at Soilless Farm Lab, an AgriTech Firm deploying the use of protected technology (commonly called greenhouse farming) with soilless farming technology (hydroponics and aquaponics) for the growing of crops. They trained over 20,000 youth in Nigeria. Soilless Farm Lab also deploy the use of artificial intelligence in their irrigation for precision-based farming, they promote healthy food production processes for the benefit of farmers, the consumers and for the environment. In this interview Farmer Samson Ogbole shared with us what led to this innovation, the challenges he faced building Soilless Farm Lab and how he was able to overcome them.