Emata, an agricultural finance solution for East African farmers, has recently announced the successful completion of a $2.4 million seed fund raise. This funding round was led by African Renaissance Partners, Norrsken Accelerator, Zephyr Acorn, renowned Swedish angel investor Marcus Boström, and the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.
Funding Utilization and Expansion Plans
The funds raised will be used to expand Emata’s agricultural loan services throughout East Africa. The expansion will include its initial market, Uganda, and a likely international expansion to Tanzania. Emata’s primary focus during this expansion will be to increase its presence in its core markets, specifically the dairy and coffee sectors. The company also has operations in oilseeds and maize, with plans for further expansion into the potato market.
Addressing Agricultural Financing
Emata’s business model directly addresses the critical issue of agricultural financing in East Africa. By offering automated loans to farmers, Emata significantly reduces the cost associated with borrowing and facilitates access to affordable credit for small-scale farmers. This provides an alternative to the informal loans that many farmers have historically relied upon.
Digitization and Strategic Partnerships
One of Emata’s strengths lies in its complete digitization of the lending process. This is seamlessly integrated into the agricultural value chain through strategic partnerships with cooperatives and farmer-based organizations. These partnerships expedite Emata’s expansion efforts and mitigate risks associated with its business model.
Achievements and Recognition
In 2022, Emata achieved a sevenfold year-on-year growth rate. It is currently operational with 50 agricultural partners, facilitating access to over 40,000 individual farmers, and has successfully disbursed loans totaling $1 million.
Emata’s outstanding track record has garnered global recognition. The company has received numerous awards, including the prestigious “Best Newcomer / Best New Startup” accolade at the 2023 Global Startup Awards. Additionally, Emata has earned a place on the Yale Africa Startup Review’s list of 30 startups to watch in 2023.
What they said:
Magdi A. Amin, Managing Partner at African Renaissance Partners, commented:
“We are delighted to back Emata – the digital and affordable solution for East African farmers. Our portfolio is geared to high-growth companies that use technology to solve real problems that Africans face every day. Emata is a perfect fit for us: growing rapidly, with many competitive differentiators, digital strategy at its core, and materially impactful. The company has a great future ahead and we look forward to working closely with its management team.”
Kanini Mutooni, Managing Director at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, commented:
‘’Emata is one of those rare early-stage companies that has a business model where impact is seamlessly baked in; more loans to farmers means increased financial inclusion for farmers who would never have had access to formal credit. This investment represents the ultimate sweet spot for DRK and we are delighted to welcome Emata into our Africa portfolio.’’
Alex Bakir, General Partner at Norrsken Accelerator, commented:
“Norrsken Accelerator invested in Emata because we believe their team and model places them in the top 1% of impact companies, globally. We’re excited to support the team on the next leg of their impact journey.”
Mike Mbari, Investment Principal at Zephyr Acorn, commented:
“We are excited about this partnership with Emata. With agriculture contributing 25% to East Africa’s economy and employing over 70% of the population, improving access to affordable and flexible financial services such as credit facilities is poised to spur economic growth and improve livelihoods. Emata fits well within Zephyr Acorn’s thesis of investing in promising and impactful high-growth start-ups that are utilizing technology to bring vital services to the underserved markets in East Africa.”
