Africa, tech, and the agric culture🛰🌽
“From newspaper editors to TV anchors to bloggers, the default symbol of African agriculture is an African woman holding a hand hoe. This imagery highlights the drudgery African women face in farming,”- Calestous Juma.Hello Venturers,Imagine being on a farm in any part of Africa. From the farming process to the farmers, what do you see? The picture described by Kenyan Scientist, Juma?I'm glad to break it to you, agriculture on the continent is now on a different level, driven by technology. Agritech startups are changing the narrative. Now you can walk into a farm in South Africa and sight smart drones in the sky. Visit farms in Eastern Africa and find automated irrigation systems, not watering cans.Across the continent, Agritech companies are using cutting-edge technologies to solve problems and boost productivity. One of our articles this week is a listicle of these mission-driven companies and the solutions they provide.Adekunle AgbetiloyeStaff Writer, Ventures Africa.
What's New
Chooya: Africa’s TikTok for e-commerce.
A survey by ReferralCandy shows that word-of-mouth is the most trusted form of marketing among consumers. The need for the opinion of other users is so high that nearly nine out of ten consumers read reviews before buying products online. E-commerce platforms need customer reviews to promote their businesses, but it’s not easy for consumers to find reviews they can trust. Chooya, a Nigerian startup located in Aba, is plugging this gap by bringing social media and e-commerce into one platform. Read more.
11 mission-driven agritech startups in Africa you should know about
To bridge the continent’s productivity deficit and meet the needs of its burgeoning population, many agritech companies have emerged across Africa. In 2020, agritech startups across Africa raised $59,990,000, representing 8.6 per cent of the total funding secured by tech startups in the year in review. These startups use cutting-edge technologies to help farmers achieve productivity. Read more.
Africa is due for a telemedicine boom, but is it ready?
The after-effects of pandemic-induced lockdowns continue to linger as many disruptions are irreversible. The health sector is also a big part of Africa’s transition. More people have become aware of its importance, including investors. Health-tech startup funding surged 257.5 per cent in 2020. Many of the startups redefining the health sector offer telemedicine services. Africa needs telemedicine. This wave of innovation is potent to revamping the health sector, but there are numerous roadblocks to overcome. Read more.
A new healthtech hub aims to help entrepreneurs develop revolutionary tech for Africa’s health challenges.
The Covid-19 pandemic showed how frail the health sector was in Africa. But many are rising to the occasion to reshape the sector and speed up its growth. Health-tech investment reached $106.7 million in 2020 across 62 funding rounds and represented 12 per cent of all disclosed investment rounds. This year, the HealthTech Hub Africa is adding to these numbers through its inaugural competition.
Mastercard and Meta partner to support the growth of SMEs in MEA
The world is moving faster, with globalization being fueled by technology, which allows companies to scale beyond borders in months rather than years previously. In this context, Mastercard is collaborating with Meta to support the digitization and growth of SMEs across the MEA region by organizing a training webinar with industry experts, and a masterclass on how to manage uncertainty.
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